By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Knowing the type of stingy defense Roma possesses, Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Marichalar kept reiterating to his players the importance of scoring early Friday.
The Yellowjackets heeded his words from the get-go, scoring on a 70-yard interception return, and they steamrolled the Gladiators, 50-32, in their Class 5A bi-district collision at Tom Landry Stadium.
All year, Roma (8-3) hadn’t allowed more than 27 points in a single game. On Friday, E-E (7-4) exceeded that mark before halftime, taking a 28-3 lead. It was senior cornerback Noe Ramirez, who provided a big lift for his team, picking off Roma quarterback Andy Marroquin to break a scoreless tie midway through the opening quarter.
“Aw man, that was a big confidence-booster,” Marichalar said. “Those are the momentum-boosters we needed, and it happened at the right time. We’ve been through a long season, and for something to happen like this, it’s exactly what we needed.”
E-E entered the game hobbled, with quarterback Marco Aguinaga, among other players, watching from the sideline. But senior Tey Valdez provided a big spark in his return from a high-ankle sprain.
Despite sitting out the previous four games, Valdez showed little signs of rust, making six catches for 99 yards and a score, while running six times for 57 yards and three touchdowns. It was a big lift for a team that had averaged 14.8 points per game with Valdez out.
“He came in and unleashed the beast and was ready to go,” Marichalar said. “Tey’s a playmaker, and it doesn’t take much to get him going. When the ball’s in his hands, he wants to do something great for his team. So just put him in space, give him the ball and he’ll make something happen.”
Between Valdez and quarterback Andrew Segura, who passed for 179 yards and rushed for 38, the Yellowjackets put up 343 offensive yards, the second-most Roma has surrendered this year.
During the regular season, the Gladiators had allowed a meager 222.4 yards per game, second-best among Class 6A and 5A Valley teams, behind Mercedes (212.9).
“We were just hyped,” Segura said. “After that first touchdown, we just wanted to go next and score, and keep scoring.”
COMING UP SHORT
Roma was inside the 30-yard line three times during the first half and came away with just three points. The Gladiators were intercepted once during that stretch before coming up empty on a field-goal attempt. They converted a 22-yard FG, facing a fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line.
“Those touchdowns make a difference,” Roma coach Max Habecker Jr. said. “Offensively, they did a tremendous job. I’m not going to point fingers on anybody. It’s nobody’s fault. The kids played hard. We just put ourselves in a hole early and we couldn’t get out of it.”
The Gladiators outscored E-E 29-22 in the second half, including 22-10 in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.
“As an offense, we sputtered. And it was too little, too late,” Habecker said. “But our kids continued to play. We should’ve scored 21 in the first, but we didn’t, and that’s the biggest difference in the game.”
UP IN THE AIR
Marichalar said he was uncertain whether Aguinaga would play in their area-round game against Somerset next week.
The junior quarterback has sat out the past eight games with a finger injury. Marichalar said he could have a better idea today, when the team meets to go over film.
The Yellowjackets are also expected to finalize the details for their upcoming matchup later this morning.