(Mission, Texas)-In the McDonald’s Game of the Week, it was definitely the Battle of Conway and it finished that way too. With less than two minutes to play, the Mission Eagles led 23-21 after kicking a field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Mission Veterans fumbled the ball, ending the Patriots possible come-from-behind victory. “This was battle,” said Mission head football coach, Dan Longoria. “This was a battle to the end.” Mission (1-0) will now play host to Weslaco East (1-0) on Friday night while Edcouch-Elsa (1-0) will host Mission Veterans (0-1).
Mission Veterans QB Cameron Sarinana made his first varsity start but his completed his pass to WR Freddy Villarreal was stripped of the ball by Mission DE Elian Garcia with LB Jeremy Aleman recovering the ball. On the next play, Mission QB Diego Salinas spotted WR Shelby Sital for a quick throw and Sital would find the endzone for a 59-yard run to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Sarinana led the Pats on their next drive to tie the game at 7-7 on a touchdown pass.
In the second quarter, Salinas spotted WR Christopher Kirk for a 37-yard touchdown to make it 14-7. Sarinana went to work and led his Pats to the ten yard line. Under pressure, Sarinana found WR Julian Guerra for a one-handed catch to tie the game.
In the third quarter facing third and eight, Salinas went to Kirk again, this time for a 75-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good. Mission 20 led Mission Veterans 14. Salinas finished the night with 262 yards passing and three touchdowns with Kirk hauling three passes for 136 yards and two scores.
The Patriots outlasted the Eagles in total offense 355 yards to 332 yards. Sarinana ended the night with 290 yards passing competing 26-of-43 passes and three touchdowns. Pats receiver Jordan Rodriguez had six catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. (HSSMImages/Ibarra)
