Falcons, Mustangs enter playoff game on winning streaks

After dismantling opponents in the bi-district round, two of the hottest teams in Class 5A football will clash in the next step of the playoffs.

McAllen Memorial and Los Fresnos have a combined winning streak of 20 games, but only one will keep its run alive as the teams meet at 7:30 Saturday night at Leo Aguilar Stadium.

"We feel good about our team," Mustangs coach Bill Littleton. "We've been getting better every week, and we are going to have to play our best game (against Los Fresnos)."

After dropping their first two contests of the season, the Mustangs are riding the wave of a nine-game win streak, which includes last week's 53-28 victory over Laredo Alexander.

Littleton has gone with freshman quarterback Matthew Kaufmann, who has been an integral part of the Mustangs' success.

The freshman has demonstrated poise during his first campaign, completing 61-of-120 passes with four interceptions and seven touchdowns in the regular season.

Falcons coach Scott Ford said he recognizes Kaufmann's development throughout 11 games and that it's reminiscent of his 2007 team with quarterback Danny Silva taking over the offense.

"Yes, we're going to give him more pressure," Ford said. "(Kaufmann's) got a lot of game under his belt and is mature. We're going to try to make life hard on him.

"They remind me of us (last year) when we started 1-2. There were some growing pains, but we ended up district champs. At the end of the day, all we can do is focus on us playing our best football."

Each team has a viable ground weapon, with Los Fresnos' tandem of Silva and Danny Mendez combining for 2,093 yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Mustangs' backfield duo has put up similar numbers, with Patrick Granchelli and Gabe Phillips amassing 2,004 yards and 23 TDs during the regular season.

Defensively, the Falcons finished at the top of District 32-5A, giving up only 251.2 yards per game and 13.0 points per game. The Falcons' offense is putting up 45 per contest.

The most important number, though, is a turnover ratio for Los Fresnos that is plus-20.

Littleton said there isn't one or two facets of the Falcons he is zoning in on and that his ballclub has to be prepared for everything.

"The quarterback is what makes them go," he said. "Their defense scores points, creates turnovers, and they're just good in all phases of the game. (Los Fresnos) is a fine football team, and we have to be ready for everything they do."

The Mustangs' defense isn't too shabby, either, as it ranked second in District 30-5A, giving up 303.7 yards per game.

For Los Fresnos, this is first time since 2006 they've played host to a playoff game. The team is looking forward to a capacity crowd.

"This is a tremendous opportunity and a rare one," Ford said. "The game will sell out. These players have a unique bond for the community. We're not only playing for ourselves but for the town."

Louie Vera covers 32-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at lvera@brownsvilleherald.com.