Top-ranked Cardinals dominate No. 3 Raiders in 42-14 romp

PHARR — Home is where the heart is.

For Harlingen, PSJA Stadium is like home away from home.

Playing at the Pharr Stadium for the third time in four weeks, the No. 1 Harlingen Cardinals handled No. 3 PSJA North 42-14 here on Friday night.

Harlingen clinches at least a share of the District 31-5A title with the win.

“First off I just want to thank the good Lord for providing us with all this talent ad ability,” Cards head coach Manny Gomez said. “We’ve been blessed. The guys practiced hard all week and I’m very proud of the leadership on this team. I’m thankful for the administration for backing us up and the community for all their support. You look out here and see a sea of red and it’s just great. This was a total team effort.”

A team win indeed but one play made all the difference in the world. Trailing 20-7 to start the second half, PSJA North’s defense intercepted Mack Sanchez on the Cards; first drive of the third.

Pharr North forced a punt on Harlingen’s next drive and the Raiders looked in good shape.

But as PSJA North was driving on their second possession and reached the Harlingen six, PN QB Noe Garcia fumbled the ball on a keeper and Harlingen’s Tipper Ramirez recovered it on the seven.

If that wasn’t a knockout blow, Sanchez and the Cards went 93 yards the other way capping a seven-pay drive with Sanchez’s first TD run of the night to go up 28-7.

“We score and it’s 20-14 and we’re in the ball game,” Raiders head coach Bruce Bush said. “That was a momentum changer. They just whooped us tonight.”

Harlingen scored again to start the fourth quarter as Sanchez pushed his way in from seven yards this time.

Cards RB Pablo Garza scored this third TD of the night with late in the fourth to go up 42-14.

“We just wanted to get this win for coach Gomez,” said Garza, who gained 142 rushing yards and three scores on 16 carries and caught four passes for 500 yards.

“We wanted this one for Harlingen and all of the community.”

PSJA North added a fourth quarter TD when Mario Guerrero scored from four yards to make it 35-14 Cards with 6:16 left in the game.

That Raiders drive was aided by 45 yards in penalties by Harlingen.

For the night, Harlngen tallied 416 total yards including 205 passing from Sanchez.

The shifty Harlingen QB completed 14-of-22 passes and threw one TD pass.

“The defense played a heckuva game tonight,” Sanchez said. “And the O-line did a great job of blocking. I felt like I had all day to throw back there. Everything came together tonight.”

Harlingen held the Raiders to 157 total yards including 112 on the ground.

“We just wanted to come out here and prove to the Valley and any other teams we might face in the playoffs that we can play,” Cards’ defensive end Mingo Rincon said. “They were tough and aggressive and fought to the end. But we played hard and I just want to congratulate all my teammates. Our hard work paid off.”

PSJA North was playing catch up from the opening gun.

After the Raiders were pinned at their own two yard line on the opening kickoff, Harlingen’s defense went to work nearly causing a safety of the QB Garcia.

The Raiders punted away after getting to the 17 and the Cards explosive offense exploded.

Garza scored his first of two first half TDs from seven yards with 4:50 left in the first quarter.

On its second possession, Harlingen scored again when Sanchez hit Anthony Reyna for a 40-yard TD strike as Big Red took a 14-0 lead.

But the Raiders didn’t roll over.

On their next possession, PSJA North ran the ball well against Harlingen’s defense.

North scored when super back Justin Luna swept around the home side of the field and broke free for a 31-yard run.

Harlingen added another TD in the first half when Garza broke free for a 30 yard run as Harlingen took a 20-7 lead late in the first half.