BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
CORPUS CHRISTI — As is often the case when Valley teams run up against San Antonio-area schools in the third round of the playoffs, the difference Friday was simple: Speed.
Cibolo Steele darted to huge gains on offense and swarmed to the ball on defense, routing Weslaco East 48-17 at Buccaneer Stadium in the regional round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs.
“They had a lot of size and speed,” East quarterback Darren Rivas said. “It’s a whole different ballclub when you play in the third round.”
Cibolo Steele started fast and never looked back. On the game’s first offensive play, Bryson Denley ran right on a toss, cut back to the left side of the field and beat Weslaco East’s defense to the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.
“They were really fast to the outside,” East linebacker Ram Mendoza said. “It’s pretty tough to stop them. … We’re right there, and then it’s just cut back, cut back, cut back.”
The Knights needed two plays to extend the lead on their next drive, scoring on a 7-yard pass from LG Williams to Antoine Wesley.
Steele seemingly scored at will throughout the half, racking up 393 yards and 34 points on just 23 offensive plays.
East, meanwhile, struggled to generate any offense. The Wildcats failed to even cross midfield until 36 seconds remained in the half. That drive ended in East’s only first-half score, an 8-yard strike from quarterback Darren Rivas to Ciro Rojas. Before that 65-yard drive, the Wildcats had fewer total yards (19) than Steele had points (34).
“Our coaches told us it would be a game between speed and strength,” center Jerry Decanini said. “Usually speed gets tired, but in this case, they just worked hard.”
Wildcats running back Lupe Moron, who came into the game questionable because of an ankle injury, carried 24 times for 98 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown in the second half. Moron completed an incredible season — his first with a 6A program after playing at La Villa — with 2,205 yards and 31 touchdowns.
He and many of his teammates were emotional after the game, with tears dripping from their eyes as the school band played the alma mater.
“I’m proud of my team,” Rivas said. “I love my team.”
Weslaco East finishes the season 10-3 and as the only 6A team in the Valley to win double-digit games.
“Overall, it’s been a great senior year,” Mendoza said. “I couldn’t ask for a better senior year. Came three deep. Wish we would’ve won this game, but they’ll be all right.”
In the second season under coach Mike Burget, East has continued to establish itself as one of the Valley’s best and most consistent programs. East has won at least 7 games in every season since 2007 — a streak matched in the Valley only by Sharyland High.
“We’re getting closer,” Burget said. “I know it don’t look like it on the scoreboard, but I’m telling you, we’re going to work hard for next year.”
State-ranked Steele advances to the fourth round for the fifth consecutive season, a streak during which they’ve trampled four Valley opponents. Steele played McAllen Memorial in 2010 and Edinburg North in 2012 and 2013. In the four games, Steele has won by an average margin of 30 points.
“We’ve got to get to a level where we can match that speed,” Burget said. “I don’t know if we could ever match their size. We have to get their speed, and you see what speed did tonight.”