MID-VALLEY REPORT: E-E starts season with big splash

Edcouch-Elsa wanted Calallen.
Year after year, the Wildcats block Valley schools like E-E from advancing deep into the playoffs. So head coach Joe Solis figured facing a team that needs no introduction would have his kids' attention.
Solis admitted when the scheduled was released, the program and community got pumped about the opportunity to face Calallen. They remember all too well how close they were from breaking the Coastal Bend curse in the 2004 bi-district playoff game.
For La Maquina, Week Zero was more like a playoff game instead of a pre-season game.
"When they beat you every time, you don't count how many losses you've had with them anymore," Solis said.
So they figured facing the seventh-ranked team in the state to start the 2008 season was the perfect way for the ‘Jackets to get some kind of redemption for the Valley.
"I told them, ‘Hey guys, that team stole the 2004 game from your brothers,'" Solis said. "You would make your brothers happy if you beat them."
Enough was enough.
In 2005, E-E officially broke the Coastal Bend curse when they defeated Gregory-Portland, another past Valley stopper, in the Class 4A bi-district playoff game.
But it wasn't Calallen.
Solis said a big chunk of the off-season was primarily focused for the Wildcats game on the road. Solis got what he wanted. The Yellowjackets were big underdogs. A victory over the Wildcats would set the tempo for the rest of the season.
All the Yellowjackets did was contain the Wildcats' offense and forced six turnovers, including three interceptions for a monumental 14-7 win in hostile territory.
Solis' psychological strategy worked to perfection. The sixth-year Edcouch-Elsa coach now believes La Maquina has opened the door for themselves as well as the other Valley schools.
"You can say to yourself, we played them and beat them, we can do it again," Solis said. "It meant a lot to beat them. We feel like we helped out the Valley."
But what was on the line?
It was only a pre-season game. The Wildcats will probably be a little better prepared should they square off in the playoffs. Those factors are certainly true, but if anything, all Solis wanted was for his squad to beat Calallen once so they will not be intimidated should they see each other again.
"This is a team that stops people from advancing 2-3 rounds deep," Solis said.
It was Week Zero, but truly a historic weekend for the Edcouch-Elsa football family. 

La Maquina ‘D'

As mentioned, the Yellowjackets did it with defense. Forcing six turnovers, including three interceptions, is no easy task. Quarterback Erik Niño rushed for a touchdown, passed for another, but also came up with a key interception when Calallen was threatening to score. Middle linebacker Tony Sanchez used all of his 6-foot-1, 240-pound frame to run sideline to sideline to help the unit only allow 223 yards to a Wildcat squad, who Solis said is used to getting 300-400 yards a game. The defense didn't allow a score as Calallen's lone TD came off a fumble recovery in the third quarter.
"I haven't seen our defense play like that since I've been a coach," Solis said. "I think we went in there and beat them and embarrassed them."

Backs off to fast start

Progreso's Juan Vega and Weslaco East's Andrew Alvarado started 2008 with a bang. Vega was the Red Ant's offense in the win over Valley View as he rushed for an astounding 347 yards and five touchdowns in 31 carries. The senior is Week Zero's Mid-Valley Town Crier Player of the Week.
Alvarado can't be forgotten in the conversation. In fairness to the senior, Alvarado had six less carries than Vega, but still rushed for 257 yards and one touchdown.
The Wildcats are off this week and will play La Feria, another Class 3A school, next week on the road while Progreso faces St. Joseph Academy on Friday in Brownsville.

At least it was an experience

Not many Valley athletes can say they played a high school football game at San Antonio's Alamodome. Port Lavaca Calhoun proved to be a mismatch for Mercedes in the Texas Football Classic. The Sandcrabs are used to the spotlight week in and week out as a state powerhouse, while the Tigers are just trying to take their program to the next level. If anything, they can say they played in the Alamo City.

The Iron Man Award

This has to go to Donna's Richard Garza and Ray Arrambide for their production in the fourth quarter in the ‘Skins win over PSJA North. Despite struggling with his timing throughout the contest, Garza managed to keep his composure. His game-winning TD pass was a 23-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Jackson with just over a minute left for the one-point win.
Earlier, Arrambide coughed up the ball on a punt return that would've given Donna great field position, but later redeemed himself with a 46-yard punt return to set up the game-winning score.