Weslaco East shuts out Donna in 15-5A DI opener

by Henry Miller

WESLACO — The Weslaco East Wildcats played lights out defensively to blank the Donna High Redskins 26-0 on Thursday at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco to win their District 15-5A DI opener.

Weslaco East, the No. 9-ranked team in the latest RGVSports.com 5A/6A Poll, was suffocating from start to finish. The Wildcats consistently blew up running plays in the backfield and poured the pressure on with the pass rush to hold Donna to under 75 yards of total offense.

While the Wildcats’ defense was locked in, the offense had it going on the ground early.

Weslaco East quarterback Malachi Rodriguez (4) carries the ball against Donna High during a 15-5A Di opener at Bobby Lackey Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Weslaco. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

East’s 1-2 punch of senior running back Margarito Pompa and freshman athlete Malachi Rodriguez took turns toting the rock to keep the chains moving.

One week after rushing for a combined 343 yards and three scores in a 34-31 win over Mission High, the duo combined for another three touchdowns in East’s District 15-5A DI opener against Donna.

Rodriguez scored first on a 2-yard quarterback keeper by powering his way into the end zone for a 7-0 advantage midway through the first quarter.

Pompa did his damage on a 3-yard toss around the left edge and out-ran everybody to the front pylon for six in the second quarter. He followed with a 9-yard rushing touchdown up the gut of the Donna defense during the third quarter to make it a 26-0 game.

Weslaco East ball carrier Margarito Pompa (3) moves against Donna High defense during a 15-5A Di opener at Bobby Lackey Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Weslaco. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

The Wildcats started the second half with a bang as safety Jay Herrera stepped up from his secondary spot and put his hat on a ball to force a Donna fumble, which teammate Nehemias Munoz was quick to jump on to give possession back to the East offense.

Kicker Alan Alejos had a stellar day to lead the Wildcats’ special teams unit by going 2-for-2 on field goal attempts from distances of 20 and 38 yards and 2-for-2 on extra point attempts.

Donna’s defense tightened up in the second half to limit East’s rushing attack but the Redskins were unable to generate any offense against the Wildcats’ stingy defense.

Next for Weslaco East (3-0, 1-0) is a matchup against PSJA Memorial (1-1) at 7 p.m. next Thursday at PSJA Stadium in Pharr. Donna High (0-3, 0-1) moves on to face Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (2-0, 0-0) at 7 p.m. next Friday in Corpus Christi.