Patriots send once proud 'Jackets to another somber loss

ELSA — It was a somber moment as the players walked off the field Friday night.

What seemed to be the unthinkable for Edcouch-Elsa’s proud football program occurred.

The Yellowjackets, facing a must-win situation to close out the season, saw their chances of a playoff berth collapse as Mission Veterans Memorial defeated E-E 12-0 in a key District 32-4A game.

 “We’ve had good years, and you’re going to have years like that,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Joe Solis said. “The kids gave us all they had and they didn’t quit until the end and that’s all I ask for.”

The Yellowjackets (2-6, 1-4) put up 153 yards of total offense. What also hurt the ’Jackets were the 12 penalties for 80 yards. The Patriots (5-3, 3-2), on the other hand put, also tallied 153 yards, but added the two important scores.

 “We were 0-7 against them in the seven years we’ve been playing them,” Mission Veterans coach David Gilpin said. “To come in here to the Black Hole, we knew it was going to be a challenge because coach Solis has done a great job with these kids and community who bleed football.”

Gilpin also said that he talked to the team earlier this year about this being a year of firsts. He wanted this year to be the first year to win district, to beat Edcouch-Elsa and to win a playoff game.

“We wanted to be the first district champions, not going to happen,” Gilpin said. “We wanted to be the first to beat Edcouch, it happened. So now all we need to do is get a playoff win.”