Yanez, Donna rally to defeat upset-minded McAllen Rowe

DONNA — Donna quarterback Alahn Yanez passed for 277 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to help lead the Redskins’ rally past McAllen Rowe 30-20 in District 30-5A action Friday at Bennie La Prade Stadium.

The game was delayed nearly an hour because of lightning in the area.

The Redskins (4-1 overall, 2-0 district) fought back from a two-touchdown deficit with three scores — including two on passes by Yanez — in the second quarter.

Yanez helped seal the game with a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that made the score 30-20. Yanez’s main target, Erin Perez, had six catches for 124 yards.

Rowe (2-3, 0-2) used its two quarterbacks — Daniel Navarro and Josh Gatling — with great success early in building a 14-0 lead. Navarro scored on a 40-yard run and Gatling provided a 33-yard run that led to Danny Chapa’s 1-yard score early in the second quarter.

But Donna stormed back with touchdowns on three consecutive possessions later that quarter. Perez hauled in a 15-yard pass from Yanez that pulled Donna to 14-7.

The Redskins tied the game at 14 when Joey Chapa burst through the middle untouched for a 25-yard score at the 4:20 mark of the second quarter.

The Redskins took a 21-14 lead when Estevan Garcia hauled in a 60-yard pass from Yanez on the first play of their next series. Garcia was locked in on man coverage and the Rowe defender whiffed on his attempt to snag an interception. Garcia raced about 35 yards along the right sideline all alone with 1:31 remaining in the second.

Rowe drove to Donna’s 13 but missed a 31-yard field goal in the waning moments of the first half.

Rowe pulled to 21-20 on a 2-yard TD run by Eli Suarez, but the Warriors missed the extra point.

The Redskins milked away the game with some nice ball control in the fourth quarter. Fernando Sanchez kicked a 31-yard field goal that made the score 24-20. Yanez’s 1-yard TD run capped an eight-play, 43-yard drive with 5:15 remaining.