Huskies, Patriots, Rattlers and Coyotes seek first win
Week 1 could’ve gone better for the seven football teams from the Mission, Sharyland and La Joya ISDs, the Big 7. The Palmview Lobos and the Mission Eagles were the only two Big 7 teams that emerged victorious from their 2024/2025 season opening games. Will Week 2 go better? Only time will tell. All we can do for now is look at the matchups and hope for the best.
With the Pioneer Diamondbacks having played the Rio Grande City Rattlers at Richard Thompson Stadium last night and with the Roma Gladiators at the Palmview Lobos game being previewed separately as the Progress Times Game of the Week, we’ll be taking a look here at the remaining five Big 7 teams and their Week 2 matchups.
Progress Times photo by Mario Magallon.
Weslaco East Wildcats (1-0) at Mission Eagles (1-0)
As previously mentioned, the Mission Eagles opened their 2024/2025 season with a win. That win came by a score of 23-21 against cross-town rivals, the Mission Veterans Patriots in the 23rd iteration of the Battle of Conway. It was an exciting game with the Eagles pulling the victory out with a field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Tonight, the Eagles are hosting the Weslaco East Wildcats at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium. These are the same Wildcats that pulled off a 33-27 overtime victory against the Sharyland Rattlers last week. In that game, the Wildcats only completed three passes for 69 yards and one touchdown, but it was their rushing game that not only kept them in the game, but eventually led to their victory. Freshman Malachi Rodriguez (#4) led the way for the Wildcats’ rushing attack with 19 carries for 132 yards and three touchdowns.
Historically speaking, the Eagles have a 5-1 record against the Wildcats. The most recent matchup between these two teams took place in 2009 and resulted in a 42-35 win for the Eagles. Despite their losing record against the Eagles, the Wildcats have put together quite an impressive record in recent years by compiling winning records against district opponents for the past 15 years and by qualifying for the UIL state playoffs in 15 of their last 17 seasons.
La Joya Coyotes (0-1) at Brownsville Lopez Lobos (1-0)
Last week the La Joya Coyotes lost to the Brownsville Rivera Raiders by a score of 27-14. Tonight they’re making a return trip to Sam’s Memorial Stadium to take on the Lopez Lobos. The Lobos are coming off a 41-14 victory over the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies. In that game, the Lobos outgained the Huskies 214 yards to 67 yards through the air, but only 214 yards to 212 yards on the ground.
Against the Raiders, the Coyotes’ offense compiled 304 yards of total offense. Of this total 95 yards were via the pass and 209 yards via the run. On third down conversions, the Coyotes were five out of 10.
The Coyotes’ five non-district games this season include four games on the road. Their only non-district home game is coming up next week against the Brownsville Pace Vikings. Having just come off a winless season, head coach Reuben Farias and his Coyotes will be looking to get back on the winning track tonight against the Lobos.
Juarez-Lincoln Huskies (0-1) at Donna North Chiefs (0-1)
As previously mentioned, the Huskies are coming off a 41-14 loss against the Brownsville Lopez Lobos. In that game, Huskies’ junior quarterback John Menchaca completed five passes in 15 attempts for 67 yards. He also ran the ball 14 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Huskies’ other touchdown was scored by junior running back Ramiro Olivarez who carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards.
Tonight, the Huskies will be traveling to Bennie La Prade Stadium to take on the Donna North Chiefs. The Chiefs are coming off a 31-13 loss to the Edinburg Economedes Jaguars. The Chiefs limited the Jaguars passing offense to three completions in four attempts for 22 yards. However, they gave up 456 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries to the Jaguars.
Like the Coyotes, the Huskies are coming off a winless 2023/2024 season. However, the Huskies were also winless throughout the 2022/2023 and the 2021/2022 seasons. Under first-year head coach Daniel Cortez, Juarez-Lincoln is hoping to chalk up a win or two, or possibly even more this season. If all goes well, the first of those wins could happen tonight.
Mission Veterans Patriots (0-1) at Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets (1-0)
Coming off a tough 23-21 loss to the Mission Eagles in last week’s Battle of Conway, the Patriots will be looking to bounce back this week against the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets. The Yellowjackets defeated the Donna Redskins last week by a score of 17-7.
Against the Eagles, junior quarterback Cameron Sarinana completed 26 passes in 43 attempts for an impressive 290 yards and three touchdowns . His top receiver last week was senior wide receiver Jordan Rodriguez who caught six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Junior running back Benjamin Martinez, who carried the ball 13 times for 66 yards last week, was the Patriots’ top rusher. Defensively, junior outside linebacker Ryan Guerra led the Patriots with nine solo and two assisted tackles.
Over the years the Yellowjackets have been the Patriots’ nemesis. Of the 12 times they’ve met on the gridiron, the Yellowjackets have emerged victorious 10 times. However, in their most recent matchup, which took place in 2021, the Patriots defeated the Yellowjackets by a score of 27-21.
Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles (0-1) at Sharyland Rattlers (0-1)
As previously mentioned, the Sharyland Rattlers are coming off a 33-27 Week 1 overtime loss to the Weslaco East Wildcats. Tonight the Rattlers are hosting the Hanna Golden Eagles, who are coming off a 37-13 loss to the McAllen Memorial Mustangs. Against the Mustangs, the Golden Eagles struggled offensively as they were only able to compile a total of 205 yards of offense; 170 yards rushing and 35 yards passing.
Against the Wildcats, junior quarterback Calvin Harris completed 19 passes in 28 attempts for 226 yards and one touchdown. Harris also carried the ball 16 times for 75 yards and three touchdowns. Harris’ favorite receiver last week was senior Federico Morales who caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.
The Rattlers and the Golden Eagles have played each other 11 times over the years, with the Rattlers winning six of those. However, the Golden Eagles have won the five most recent matchups with the Rattlers having won the first six. Their most recent head-to-head matchup was in Week 2 of last year.