(Harlingen, Texas)-After playing a hard-fought game against the Harlingen South Hawks last Saturday afternoon, the Harlingen Cardinals had only one thing in mind on Friday night, beat the Weslaco Panthers in the High School Sports Magazine’s Featured Game of the Week. The Cardinals won 52-17 to move into a four-way tie for second place with San Benito, Weslaco, and Los Fresnos. The Cards will travel to play San Benito this Friday night at Bobby Morrow Stadium in the annual “Battle of the Arroyo”.
The Weslaco Panthers entered Friday night boasting the best defense in the league allowing a low-39 points scored against their defense this season. The Cardinals did their homework and put up 52 points against a shocked Panther defense. “We were outplayed tonight,” said Panther head coach Roy Stroman.
The Game Plan? Run the ball and play defense. Cardinals running backs IIzaiah Bell, Kian Torres, both gave Harlingen a 14-0 lead early in the first half, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Sandoval from QB Joe Lopez to make it 21-3. The Cards defense, led by Blue-Grey All-American invitee, Nathan Huerta, forced the Panthers to three first half turnovers to lead 24-3.
In the second half, the Cardinals were on fire. Bell would score two more touchdowns on a 6-yard and 40-yard run to make it 38-3. Another run by RB Dominick Capetillo for 72-yards gave head coach Manny Gomez another district win in 32-6A. “I’m proud of our team tonight,” said Gomez.
