BY NATE KOTISSO | THE MONITOR
Coach Ramiro Leal knew he had his hands full heading into Donna High’s second game of the year. Friday night marked the team’s second road game in as many weeks. Donna’s first road trip wasn’t exactly a memorable one to start the season, as the team dropped its opener to Valley View 21-20 after holding onto the lead for much of that game.
Last week’s game at PSJA North started on shakier ground, as Donna fell behind 20-0 in the second quarter. But Donna scored 24 unanswered points to win, evening up the team’s record at 1-1.
“That game really was a character builder,” Leal said. “We finally felt these young kids started believing in what they were doing.”
Donna’s comeback included two touchdown catches by junior wide receiver Daniel Nino. Nino’s second TD grab came on a designed halfback pass from junior Eric Rangel that went for 37 yards and tied the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter. Kicker Geronimo Fragoso’s extra point gave Donna its first lead of the night.
The Donna offense, made up of 10 sophomores and juniors with only one senior, pulled together to get the win.
“It was a situation where they had confidence in themselves and each other,” Leal said. “This was a totally different team in the second half. Some of the mistakes we made against Valley View, we didn’t make. It’s a great win for the program.”