Eagles aim high in showdown with Gregory-Portland

MISSION — The Mission High Eagles’ 30-27 win over Alice last week was an important one for the school and the community. It was the Eagles’ first playoff win since 2002 and allowed their season to continue.

It by no means meant that Mission High (10-1) had reached all of its goals for the 2009 season. A bi-district championship was not what coach Mario Peña told his players to aim for. He wants them to aim for something much more, even beyond getting past Gregory-Portland in Friday’s area round game in Alice.

“I told them, we’ve got to shoot for the stars. People don’t understand that after district the bar should be set at the state championship,” Peña said. “Of course, certain people might be saying ‘Well, coach, you’re setting the bar.’ Exactly, you should shoot high.

"I will never say you should set the bar low because you’re short-changing the kids.”

To accomplish that kind of goal, the Eagles will have to get past a Gregory-Portland team that is bigger and more physical than any they have faced this season.

The Wildcats (9-2) have two 1,000-yard rushers in Joey Sanchez (1,141 yards) and Nikki Smith (1,138). In their 38-10 bi-district win over San Antonio McCollum, both Sanchez and Smith went over 100 yards as the offense gained 327 on the ground.

None of those stats, though, are hurting the Eagles’ confidence. Since the preseason, Mission has talked about doing more than just winning a district title or just one game in the playoffs.

Like their coach, or maybe following the lead of their coach, they’ve been looking for more than a bi-district championship.

 “(The confidence) is very important because it helps bring everybody up and helps us just go,” defensive end Ernie Villegas said.

Because of that attitude, Peña said it hasn’t been difficult to keep his team motivated after its win over Alice.

“This is nothing new to Mission football but it definitely has been absent from it for a good number of years,” Peña said. “They’re really excited and of course the further we go the more excitement in the community. Our kids love it but they know that our job is not over.

“We’re not content and definitely we’re looking for more. We’re looking to continue our quest.”

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.