By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
WESLACO — The West defense certainly made a statement.
Behind four interceptions, two of them by Robert Guajardo of PSJA High and one returned for a touchdown by Sean Landez of Sharyland High, the West was dominant during a 36-7 victory over the East in the 19th annual Rio Grande Valley Coaches Association All-Star Game on Saturday night at Bobby Lackey Stadium.
The West also had three sacks, harassing the East quarterbacks throughout the night.
“I think (the defense) did a great job,” West coach Mike Salinas of Edinburg Vela said. “We talked to the kids prior to the ballgame about enjoying the moment as individuals, but when we step between the lines that we needed to come together as a team. I’m really excited with the way they ran to the football and the intensity and effort they played with.”
The West got on the board during the second quarter and never let up. West running back Ricky Rodriguez of McAllen High scored two touchdowns, the first on a 3-yard run minutes into the second quarter to give the West a 7-0 lead.
On the next East drive, quarterback Rene Presas of Mercedes was intercepted by Guajardo, and he returned it to the East 10-yard line. But the East defense stopped the West offense on fourth down and took over at its own 1-yard line.
Presas got the East offense going, hitting Mercedes teammate Josh Garza on three straight pass plays. But Presas again was picked by Guajardo to stop the threat seconds before halftime.
“They have some good players on the West side, they did a good job with their defense,” East coach Roger Adame Jr. of Mercedes said. “Offensively, I thought our guys did a good job out there, things just didn’t go our way.”
During the third quarter, West quarterback Edward Garcia of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln scored a touchdown on a 14-yard run, and later West quarterback Ebher Lopez of Edinburg Vela found receiver Homero Alanis of PSJA Southwest on a 39-yard pass play for another score to give the West a 21-0 lead.
The East answered, scoring its only touchdown on a 34-yard pass from quarterback Pierce Ruiz of Los Fresnos to Garza to open the fourth quarter.
But the West defense didn’t allow anything else. After the offense got the ball back, Rodriguez scored his other touchdown on a 40-yard scamper to take a 29-7 lead.
On the next East possession, East quarterback Danny Elizondo of Rivera was intercepted by Landez, and the safety returned it 34 yards for a touchdown to put the West up 36-7.
And fittingly enough, with the East trying to put another score on the board, Armando Regalado intercepted Ruiz to end the game and seal the victory.
“They made some big plays (on defense), some explosive plays,” Adame said. “They broke some big plays on us.”
Salinas said the offense sputtered at times.
“The play of the defense ignited our offense a little bit,” he said. “The defense gave us some more opportunities, and fortunately for us we took advantage of them.”
But regardless of which side claimed victory, both coaches enjoyed the experience.
“It was a great experience for us and our staff,” Adame said. “I’m proud of every single one of them out there.”
Salinas thought the time was well worth it.
“Anytime you get asked to represent your school and your community as a coach you take it,” he said. “We had a great group of kids. We challenged our kids to be selfless, and they would be rewarded on the field.
“We asked them to be committed to the process and not compliant. I believe they did, and that’s why they were successful.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.