Mission High adds to Edcouch-Elsa's rough '09 season

MISSION — Mission High’s stout defense helped provide another stunning blow to Edcouch-Elsa in a season filled with them.

After the 32-0 Eagles win on Saturday at Tom Landry Stadium, Edcouch-Elsa is in a battle for District 32-4A’s fourth and final playoff spot with the likes of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, Roma and Mission Veterans.

If the playoffs were to start next week, E-E would be preparing for an early offseason after six consecutive district championships.

“Our kids have done their best and that’s all we can ask of them,” Yellowjackets coach Joe Solis said. “Mission has a good ball club. We came out here, and all we could ask our kids was to try their best. The breaks haven’t gone for us and we just haven’t been able to move the ball very well.”

The ’Jackets, who were also shutout last week against Mercedes, ran into a quick Eagles defense, which had little trouble figuring out E-E.

“We are challenging our defense every week,” said Eagles coach Mario Peña, whose team improves to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in district. “When you stop a team and keep them to field goals, they can’t beat you.”

Eagles stopped the ’Jackets (2-5, 1-3) all night. E-E mustered only 128 total yards of offense and was tackled 12 times for a loss.

“(Mission) has a lot of quickness,” Solis said. “We had trouble going inside and outside of them.”

As lopsided as the score was, Mission could have won by more. The Eagles started five times inside the red zone but came up with only two field goals.

It is a concern that Peña said needs to be addressed.

“We know that,” Peña said about the possibility of more points. “We left too many points on the field. We just have to stay hungry and stay focused and correct those things.”

Despite sputtering inside the 20, the Eagles managed 332 yards of offense, all but 8 yards came from passing. Quarterback Gilbert Gonzalez completed 22-of-35 attempts for 264 yards, including TD passed of 84 and 41 yards to Luis Zamora, who had nine receptions for 175 yards.

On the Eagles first play from scrimmage, Joaquin Rios took a handoff from Gonzalez and then connected with Mike Reynoso (four catches, 98 yards) for a 60-yard TD completion. Running back Derrick Lerma also scored on a 1-yard run.

Peter Rasmussen covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.