Favila: Big Red gets redemption, well-deserved respect

After 12 years of third-round frustration, a 5A Valley football team is headed to the fourth round of the state playoffs.

In fact, the Valley nearly had two teams in the fourth round as McAllen Memorial gave San Antonio Reagan all it could handle, unfortunately coming up short 35-28.

But Saturday belonged to the Harlingen Cardinals, who punched their ticket to the fourth round of the playoffs in grand fashion.

The Cards looked great on offense and absolutely outstanding on defense as they trounced San Antonio Warren 53-28 in their 5A, Division I regional contest.

Big Red’s Big D made Warren starting quarterback Rex Dausin — who already committed to play college ball at Sam Houston State — look like a chump.

Not only did the Cardinals’ defense intercept Dausin six times, the unit had him in its crosshairs all afternoon long. Sam Houston might want to consider returning his letter of intent and offering scholarships to some of the Cardinals players instead.

But as impressive as the Cards’ win was, it should be noted that what they accomplished Saturday afternoon in Corpus Christi was not a miracle. It was merely the result of hard work and determination. The result of aiming high and refusing to listen to the disbeliveers.

Ever since the Cardinals lost by one point to San Antonio Stevens in the third round of the playoffs last year, Harlingen was on a mission to get redemption and prove that they were worthy of a trip to the state quarterfinals.

They proved that emphatically on Saturday.

However, don’t for a minute think that the Cards are satisfied with a fourth-round finish.

The Cards now take San Antonio Madison in the regional finals next Friday in Kingsville for a chance to make it to the state semifinals. The final four.

Impossible?

Before Saturday that might have been the case. But now the Cardinals have proven that anything is possible.

Even a state title.

Dave Favila can be reached at davidf@valleystar.com or at 956-430-6214