Rivera wins to stay in playoff hunt

The Rivera Raiders got what they wanted — a win and, most importantly, still a shot at the playoffs.

Nate Nevarez and Josue Govea combined for 221 yards and four touchdowns as Rivera beat Weslaco High 28-20 on Thursday night at Sams Stadium.

"We’re taking it to the last game of the season," Raiders coach Jim Helms said. "The way Nate and Josue have gone this season is usually the way our offense has gone. These kids are going to come out next week (against San Benito) and play hard."

The Raiders will need some help from Pace, as a Vikings win over San Benito on Saturday will keep Rivera alive.

"We know it’s going to be tough," Helms said. "These kids are going to give it all they got, and we’ve won two in a row and hopefully we can make it three."

The Panthers committed two costly turnovers that turned into points, the first when John Rojas lost a ball that was recovered by Rivera on the Weslaco High 25 with 2:14 left in the first half.

Five plays later, Nevarez ran in his second touchdown of the game from 3 yards out to put Rivera up 21-20 just before halftime.

Weslaco High came back during the third quarter with a six-play, 51-yard drive that ended when coach Tony Villarreal rolled the dice on fourth-and-7. Ralph Garcia went up the middle to punch it into the end zone. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the extra point sailed wide left and they still trailed 21-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Villarreal’s group looked poised to regain the lead with the ball on the Raiders’ 26-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter, but Weslaco High committed its second fumble. This time it was caused by Richard Reyes’ vicious hit on Ryan Flores , and Rivera recovered once again.

Nevarez and the Rivera offense made the Panthers pay, marching 78 yards on 11 plays as the senior ran for his third touchdown. He juked his way from 23 yards out to reach the end zone, putting Rivera on top for good at 28-20.

The Panthers gained 284 yards on the ground in the loss and were led by Rojas’ 135 yards. That included a 19-yard TD scamper with 5:25 remaining in the second quarter, which gave the Panthers a brief 14-7 lead.

"These kids are playing their hearts out," Villarreal said. "Those two turnovers gave them seven points each. The last one we were looking to win the game, but the ball came out. Even though we haven’t been that successful this season, there is no quit in this team."

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