MIKE GONZALEZ | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Weslaco East defensive back Ciro Rojas woke up Friday morning psyched for his squad’s game against Class 6A bi-district playoff clash with San Benito.
Rojas knew Friday night at Bobby Lackey Stadium he would have a chance to be a difference-maker going up against a passing team in San Benito. Well, he recorded three picks and a 13-yard touchdown catch in East’s convincing 42-14 win.
The Wildcats (9-2) will face the winner of La Joya-Palmview-Laredo LBJ playoff game, which is played tonight. If the Lobos win, the game is set for next Friday in La Joya and, if it’s vice LBJ, the Wildcats would face the Wolves a week from today either at Alamo Stadium or the Alamodome.
“Give it to the glory of God,” Rojas said. “I had to play deep and break to the ball. I got the first golden ball of my career and we have another game.”
Rojas is referring to his first playoff win as an athlete while the school earned their first postseason win since 2011 as a Class 4A program. All three of Rojas’ interceptions led to touchdowns.
The other Greyhound (6-5) woes consisted of a first half fumble and a miscue on a punt, both of which led to touchdowns.
Lupe Morón led the Wildcats with 169 yards on 16 carries and scored four touchdowns, all while he is nursing an ankle injury that’s bothered him for much of the season. In fact, Morón didn’t take any snaps during practice this week. Last year, Morón was a member of a district title team with La Villa, but Friday marked his first playoff win, which he admitted means more.
“I would have to say, ‘Yeah,” Morón said. “This was win or go home.”
The night began well for San Benito, scoring the first 14 points of the game in the opening quarter after it took advantage of a fumble by Morón and then recovered an onsides kick, which set up a 30-yard touchdown run by Edward Alvarez. It was all downhill from there.
Aside from that, the Greyhounds won a share of a district title for the first time in four seasons, which has something the team can build on.
“Nobody thought these kids could do anything,” Greyhounds coach Dan Gomez said. “Nobody thought the coaches couldn’t do anything.”