BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
During consecutive weeks to close out September, Weslaco High had a game-tying touchdown overturned by penalty and surrendered a late lead because of a bad snap on a punt attempt. Even as the pair of miscues helped drop the Panthers to 1-4, the team stayed true to what coach Tony Villarreal calls the “Panther Brotherhood”.
“We lost the games, but their confidence never wavered,” Villarreal said. “They always believed. They really believed in each other and what they’re doing. I’m real proud of those kids, especially the seniors, for keeping it together.”
Against Harlingen in Week 4, Weslaco led 29-23 before an errant snap on a punt gave Harlingen the ball at the 16-yard line with 2:30 on the clock. Harlingen would punch it in to hand Weslaco a 30-29 loss Villarreal called “gut wrenching.”
Villarreal said the Panthers played well the next week against PSJA North, and late in the game Weslaco believed it had tied the score at 14 on Undrae Galindo’s interception return for a touchdown. But Galindo was flagged for pass interference, and North prevailed 14-7.
Despite the tense losses, Weslaco bounced back with a 46-0 trouncing of Edinburg High. Then, last week, Weslaco dominated Edinburg North 62-10. Villarreal said he thought the team played well in all three phases.
“Those seniors, they always believed that they could put a whole game together,” Villarreal said. “After the PSJA North game, they’ve kind of done that. They’ve put it all together, and it’s been a good little run the last few weeks.”
Weslaco will be looking to keep that run going against PSJA Memorial at 7 tonight at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.
Nearly every game is critical at this point in the District 31-6A season. PSJA North tops the standings at 3-1, with Weslaco East and Weslaco right there at 2-1. PSJA Memorial and Edinburg North both sit at 2-2.
Weslaco hardly looked like a contender at 1-4, but PSJA Memorial coach Gus Cavazos knows the Panthers have been getting better with each game.
“They’re getting healthy at the right time,” Cavazos said. “They’ve been moving the ball well. Coach Tony always has those guys ready to play. So it’s going to be a tough ball game.”
Villarreal said Weslaco is as healthy as it’s been since Day 1 of the regular season. The Panthers have also learned how to replace the two players lost during the preseason — offensive tackle Jose Margo and center Jacob Rodriguez.
“Roy Cantu at center has been doing an amazing job, and Nick Hinojosa has done an amazing job at quick tackle,” Villarreal said. “Those two guys have really stepped it up with no experience.”
Villarreal described Cantu and Hinojosa as overachievers who have gotten better week-to-week, a process Villarreal has stressed for every player at every position.
“Even though there for a while we were losing quite a few games by a point here or a touchdown there, we just kept telling the kids, ‘Improve in your area,’” Villarreal said. “And they did.”