HARLINGEN — Harlingen High still remembers last year’s heart-breaking loss to Weslaco High. A go-ahead touchdown catch by then-running back Eli Rodriguez with 11 seconds remaining sent the Cardinals home stunned that night.
There would be no heartbreak this year.
After a game-tying score by the Panthers with 11:14, the Cardinals responded with back-to-back fourth quarter touchdowns to surge past Weslaco High 42-28 during a non-district opener Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
“Obviously when they tied it in the fourth, it did bring back memories, but we didn’t let that stop us,” Harlingen High running back Noah Huerta said. “We had to keep going. The thing is, once you start going down, that’s the end. We have got to keep going. Doesn’t matter if we’re tied. We just have to keep on scoring. The game is not over until it is over and look, we came out with a W.”
Huerta was a catalyst during Harlingen High’s fourth-quarter outburst, rushing for 35 yards during the team’s two scoring drives during the period, including a 26-yard touchdown run to ice the contest with 6:02 left.
Junior Aiden Flores also played a key role down the stretch, taking a catch 27 yards for a touchdown with 8:04 left to give the Cardinals the lead after Weslaco High’s game-tying score.
The touchdown marked the third of the day for Flores, finishing the night with three catches for 95 yards and two scores and one carry for seven yards and a touchdown.
Huerta added 13 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman quarterback Hassan Woolery shone in his debut, rushing for 99 yards and on nine carries, including a 61-yard sprint to the end zone on his first varsity carry.
Senior Jonas Serna got it done through the air, completing 7-of-11 passes for 130 yards and two scores.
“I tell the kids every day that Michael Jordan didn’t always score 80,” Gomez said. “So, we don’t know who’s going to show up every week. Next week they might say let’s double cover one guy and another kid has got to be ready to step in. That is the mentality that we have with our guys.”
Weslaco High played from behind most of the contest, finding itself in an 18-point hole midway through the third. They refused to go down without a fight, with senior quarterback Franky Trevino hooking up with Joseph Leal and Chris Luna for score before the half to make it a four-point game at the break.
A 25-yard field goal by Gustavo Rodriguez cut the Panther’s deficit to one near the end of the third, with Weslaco High tying the game on a three-yard touchdown run by David Garcia and a successful two-point conversion by Joseph Leal to start the fourth.
The rally attempt would end there, with an interception by Harlingen High defensive back Arturo Torres sealing the Panthers’ faith late in the fourth.
“First of all, glory to God,” Gomez said. “We’re feeling amazing. It was a great fight, just a great Valley game. Being a fan of Valley football, I love to see games be competitive and tonight it was competitive. Our kids persevered and fought, and we came up victorious. It is always important to win the first game.”
The Cardinals (1-0) return to action at 7 p.m. Friday against Harlingen South (1-0) in the Bird Bowl at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
Weslaco High (0-1) hits the road for a second straight week at 7:30 p.m. Friday, taking on the McAllen Memorial Mustangs (1-0) at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.
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