Chavez fights off injury to lead Tigers past Patriots
MERCEDES — Mercedes Tigers quarterback Albert Chavez definitely left everything on the field Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
Chavez went down with an apparent ankle injury late in the fourth quarter and was helped off the field. However, before his injury, he accounted for 249 total yards and three touchdowns as he led the Tigers to a 45-21 District 32-4A win over Mission Veterans.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 1-1 in district play and 2-3 overall while the Patriots fall to 1-1 and 3-2 overall.
Chavez said he will be ready for next week’s rivalry game against Edcouch-Elsa.
“I was told that I had some clogged up blood in the ankle and that was the end of my night,” Chavez said. “But I can promise you I will play next week. There is nothing that will hold me out of that one. You will have to bury me six feet under for me not to play.”
Mission Veterans struck first as tailback Alex Sanchez ran it in from 3 yards out, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead with 2:53 left in the first quarter. Mission Veterans drove the ball 95 yards on their first series and ate up almost 10 minutes off the clock.
Mercedes tied it up at 7 as tailback Jaime Castaneda scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:09 left in the second quarter. The touchdown was set up by an interception return by Raymond Vela, giving the Tigers the ball at the Veterans 18-yard line. Castaneda had another touchdown run of one-yard on the night and ended up with 53 yards rushing on eight carries.
The Tigers took a 14-7 lead as Albert Chavez hit Jonathan Ayala on a 17-yard strike with 12 seconds left in the half.
The Patriots, however, tied the game at 14 as Raul Becerril took the ensuing kickoff 93-yards to the house as time expired.
Mercedes extended its lead to 28-14 as Chavez ran it in from 21 yards out with 7:52 left in the third quarter. Chavez led the Tigers on the ground as he ended up with 134 yards on 22 carries.
Chavez ran in his second touchdown of the night, scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run and giving the Tigers a commanding 35-14 lead with 2:24 left in the third quarter.
