(McAllen, Texas)-In the High School Sports Magazine’s Game of the Week, three big plays, three quick scores in the first half put the McAllen Memorial Mustangs (7-1, 7-0) up early as they rambled past Brownsville Veterans (5-3, 5-2) 35-17 on Thursday night at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The win gives the Mustangs a playoff berth in the Class 5A Division I upcoming playoffs with two games left to play. Brownsville Veterans drops into a three-way tie for third place with McAllen Nikki Rowe and Weslaco East.
Mustang junior quarterback, JP Cortez handed the ball to RB Max Alaniz-choy and he rambled down the sidelines for a 55-yard score to put the Mustangs up 7-0. After a turnover by the Chargers, the Mustangs went to work again, this time a 65-yard run by Marcos De La Cruz for another score to make it 14-0. In the second quarter, the Chargers downed a punt inside the 15-yard line, and Mustang head coach Moses Patterson wasted no time and made the call, a passing play. Cortez spotted WR Arian Elizondo for a 75-yard touchdown bomb.
The Mustangs rushed finished the night with rushing for 365 yards with De La Cruz rushing for 200 yards on 17 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Choy rushed for another 135 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, the Chargers were held to 248 total yards. “Our defense did a great job tonight,” said Patterson. “The deserve a lot of credit.”
The playoff-bound Mustangs will travel to play Brownsville Porter next (2-5, 1-5) Thursday at Sams Stadium while the Chargers will host the Donna Redskins (2-5, 2-5) next Friday.
