(McAllen, Texas)-For the second week in a row, the McAllen Nikki Rowe Warriors (6-4, 4-3) lost again, this time to Edinburg Vela (9-1, 6-1) 62-14 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday night. With the win, the Sabercats will play District 16-5A DI Donna or Harlingen South next week in the first round the Class 5A DI Bi-District Championships. Rowe will meet either District 16-5A DI Weslaco East or Brownsville Veterans.
The Warriors ended their season with a 1-3 finish with losses to PSJA North (63-14), McAllen (40-21), and Vela (62-14). It was not the finish that Rowe head coach Robert Flores was looking for after starting the season 5-1.
Vela looked good on Friday night. As a matter of fact, they looked really good. Defensive end Alejandro Pinzon stripped the ball from Rowe QB Lance Salinas and Vela recovered the ball at the Rowe 48-yard line. On second down, Sabercats QB Bobby Garcia handed the ball to RB Jamal Polley and he would find daylight for a 42-yard touchdown run, untouched, to put Vela up 14-0 in the first quarter. On Vela’s next possession, Garcia would connect with WR Justin Navarro for 55-yards to put the Rowe Warriors down for good, trailing 31-7 in the second quarter.
Then came the Vela defense. MLB Robert Cantu forced another Rowe fumble, stripping the ball from RB Chris Zavala at the Sabercats five-yard line, and in the fourth quarter, trailing 55-14, Rowe QB Adrian Botello rolled out to the right side of the hash-marks, and Sabercats DB Phillip Hernandez tackled Botello, forcing a fumble. Sabercats LB Ryan Botello picked up the loose pigskin and rambled to end zone, propelling his arms as he celebrated with his defensive players, ending Rowe’s night.
Sabercats QB Garcia ended the night with 241 yards passing and Polley rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns. WRE Justin Navarro had a big night with six receptions for 148 yards.
(HSSMImages/Jose Flores)