WEEK 1 ROUNDUP: Bobcats make statement; Cougars outlast Falcons; Hawks upset Weslaco

By ARMANDO GARZA
Special to the NEWS

(Photo by Edward Cruz) Marco Garate, Rio Hondo Bobcats running back, scampers upfield against the Santa Rosa Warriors in Week 1 action at Bobcat Stadium on Friday.

(Photo by Edward Cruz)
Marco Garate, Rio Hondo Bobcats running back, scampers upfield against the Santa Rosa Warriors in Week 1 action at Bobcat Stadium on Friday.

RIO HONDO – That Rio Hondo Bobcat defense? Yeah, statement made.

The Bobcats used their tenacious defense to swarm all over Santa Rosa, and the result was an impressive 35-0 shutout win in the season opener for both teams on Friday night at Bobcat Stadium.

Rio Hondo’s stoppers set the tone early and often, allowing well under 70 total yards offensively and forcing three turnovers to a Santa Rosa team that did not cross midfield more than twice the entire night.

“Defensively we played a great game all night,” Rio Hondo head coach Rocky James said. “We played great, the kids stepped up and that was starters, backups everybody.”

The Cats (1-0) got on the board late in the first half when Marco Garate took a screen pass to paydirt for a 7-0 lead. Then the Bobcat defense got in on the party when Marco Carrizales returned a Warrior fumble for a touchdown and the Cats led 14-zip with 44 seconds left before halftime.

“Offensively, we shot ourselves in the foot with penalties,” James said. “But the second half we came out and played a lot better.”

Running back Alan Alfaro was a key, recording all three Rio Hondo touchdowns after intermission as the home team put the game well out of reach. Interestingly, the weather did not affect this contest whatsoever.

“Alan’s energy brought a lot to the offense and sparked us as did Josh Gonzalez at quarterback,” James said.

A key for Santa Rosa was two-way starter Wally Olivarez going out with an injury early in the game, which allowed Rio Hondo to bring the heat the rest of the way.

Marco Garcia and Joey Guzman added fumble recoveries for the Bobcats, who take on La Joya Juarez-Lincoln next week.

EDINBURG NORTH 22, LOS FRESNOS 19: At Los Fresnos, the rain wasn’t the only thing to put a damper on the Falcons’ evening.

Despite a lengthy delay due to the weather, the Falcons surged out to a three-touchdown lead over Edinburg North at the half only to watch the lead and game evaporate in a disappointing loss to the Cougars.

Pierce Ruiz got things started for Los Fresnos as he hit Pete Perez on a 19-yard scoring pass in the first quarter. Ruiz then showed his running ability with a 10-yard TD rush, making it 13-0 Falcons with 3:55 left before intermission.

The Falcons went up 19-0 when Ruiz found Raul Lopez on a swing pass which resulted in an 18-yard TD early in the third.

It was all downhill from there.

Edinburg North found its groove and got an 18-yard TD jaunt from Martin Rodriguez, who later connected with Michael Cantu on a 28-yard hookup to close the gap to 19-13 in the third.

Enter kicker Diego Sanchez. As the Falcons struggled offensively, the Cougars kicker hit field goals of 35 and 44 yards, the latter tying the game at 19 midway through the fourth.

Despite a huge defensive stop by Los Fresnos, the Falcons couldn’t cash in and the Cougar booter made a 33-yard FG with eight seconds left in the contest to break the tie and Falcons’ hearts in the process.

HARLINGEN SOUTH 28, WESLACO 18: At Weslaco, the South Hawks sent shockwaves through the Valley by upending the Panthers on the road.

South (1-0) was thought by many to be a rebuilding team which lost many seniors and had fewer than 40 varsity players. But the Hawks got two-TD nights from Steven Rodriguez and Alec Garza to go up on the Panthers and come away with the victory against a Top 10 Weslaco team.

South hosts Edinburg Vela next week at Boggus Stadium.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/08/30/week-1-roundup-bobcats-make-statement-cougars-outlast-falcons-hawks-upset-weslaco/

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