Eagles stymie QB Chavez, Tigers to take district opener

MISSION – It figures that a Mario Pena-coached team would figure out how to stop Mercedes quarterback Albert Chavez.

Chavez, who accounted for over 600 yards in the Tigers’ previous game, was held to only 158 passing and 75 rushing in Mission High’s 33-25 win Friday night in TheMonitor’s and Valley Morning Star's Game of the Week, a game that was both teams’ District 32-4A opener. Pena, who when he was at San Benito cultivated a reputation as one of the Valley’s best defensive coaches, crafted a plan that harassed Chavez more and more as the night went on, forcing him into losing three fumbles and throwing one interception.

Leading 33-25 with 1:26 remaining in the game, Eagles linebacker Rudy Lopez stripped Chavez on a 4th and 23 at midfield to seal the victory and give Pena his first district win at his alma mater. The challenge of facing Chavez was one Pena and the Eagles relished.

After Friday, it’s a challenge they can say they met.

"I did tell the defense about his 618 yards of total offense (against Los Fresnos) and I told them this is a great opportunity for us to display our defense and show them we’ve got one of the best defenses in the Valley," Pena said. "The second half, (the defense) showed what they are capable of."

During that second half, the Eagles held Chavez and the Tigers to just six points. Both teams began to suffer from cramps and fatigue, but it was the Eagles who managed to make the last big plays in a second half that was much different from the up-and-down first half that had 40 points scored.

"We tried to make some adjustments and we tried to play hard and focus on the things we thought we were going to be successful with, and they made their adjustments," Mercedes coach Michael Uribe said. "It was a chess match. Unfortunately, they got check mate."

More specifically, it was the Eagles’ Joaquin Rios who put the Eagles in position to win.

Also a defensive back, Rios scored two rushing touchdowns in the final quarter to help the Eagles rally from a 25-21 deficit. The first was a 26-yard score with 8:44 remaining to put Mission ahead 27-25. The second, with 6:06 left, was from 31 out to give the Eagles the 33-25 edge.

Those scores helped assure that the Eagles defense got a win to go with shutting down Chavez. And by listening to Rios, it’s obvious Pena’s message about Chavez got through.

"He had over 600 yards two weeks ago or something, and we knew we could stop him and things could go well," Rios said. "(Our confidence) is definitely up there. We’re going to try to build off of this and try to get better."

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