Cardinals rout Warriors 53-28 to reach fourth round of the playoffs

CORPUS CHRISTI — Take that, San Antonio!

Harlingen’s defense intercepted San Antonio Warren quarterback Rex Dausin six times, including four pick sixes as the Big Red D paced a 53-28 win in their Class 5A, Division I regional semifinal on Saturday at Buccaneer Stadium.

The win is the first third-round victory by a Valley 5A ball club since Edinburg did it in 1999. This Harlingen win is the only the fourth time a Valley 5A club wins three playoff games. Harlingen (1989) and Mission (1990) have also accomplished the feat.

Port Isabel was the last Valley team to reach the fourth round of the playoffs in 2003. Edcouch-Elsa also won three playoffs games in 1997 and PI did it 1994 as well. PI’s two runs ended in the state semis. E-E’s ended in the fourth round.

Surrounded by media, Harlingen head coach Manny Gomez got teary-eyed talking about the win and what it meant to his team, the community, the Valley and himself.

"I hope we serve as an example that it is possible to win at this level," said Gomez, who played linebacker on that ‘89 team that defeated Austin LBJ here at Buc Stadium as well.

"It’s possible to win…all you have to do is believe. I hope this serves as a stepping stone and get things started."

Harlingen (13-0) now plays San Antonio Madison on Friday at Texas A&M-Kingsville at 7:30 p.m.

It took Harlingen seven seconds to take the lead when Daniel Ybarra picked off his sixth pass of the season and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.

On the Warriors’ next possession, Dausin threw up an air ball and Randy Bermea, starting at safety in this game too, came down with it and returned it 36 yards to give Harlingen a quick 14-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

In all, Dausin threw a season-high six picks. He’d thrown six all season. Last week Dausin threw six touchdown passes in the Warriors (11-2) win against SA Churchill.

"You’d probably think I was lying if I told you that’s just how I envisioned it playing out," Gomez said of the first two defensive scores. "But I had a feeling that’s how it was going to happen. We saturated their zones and we told our kids to make plays. And they executed tonight."

Leading 27-15 with about 5:00 left in the third quarter, Bermea picked off his second pass and returned it 62 yards for the TD and the 33-14 lead with 4:54 left in the third.

"With a guy like Bermea back there, I knew he had my back so I could be more aggressive," said Ybarra, who ended up with three snags and eight for the season. "Gomez knew what their QB was going to do and he just out us in the right place."

Ybarra added a pick six in the fourth when he returned one 28 yards with 3:57 left in the game for the 46-21 lead.
Not to take anything away from Ybarra’s big night, Bermea came through for the Cardinals again and not on offense.

The all-state caliber receiver caught five passes for 23 yards only. But he had the two pick sixes to help the defense. In last week’s narrow win against Del Rio, Bermea blocked two field goals, one PAT and returned it for a two-point conversion.

"Last week wasn’t so great but we knew we were capable of playing like this," Bermea said. "They probably saw us last week but we brought our A-game this week. Coach (Gomez) just put me in a position to be successful and we were all successful tonight."

Warren added a touchdown late in the game on a four-yard run by Dausin and then attempted an onsides kick. But Charlie Powers, who played amazingly on offense with six catches for 80 yards including a big 36-yarder in the fourth, scooped it up and ran it 47 yards for the final tally for good measure.

"I’m just blessed to be a part of this program and work with these kids," Gomez said. "These kids just believed in each other and played hard and made things happen."

Late in the fourth and leading 33-21, Harlingen drove the ball to the Warren one-yard line. After the Cards set up for an 18-yard field goal, Gomez called a timeout and decided to go for the score facing fourth-and-one. Harlingen quarterback Kevin Ledesma punched it on from one yard to give Harlingen the 39-21 lead with 4:14 left in the game.

Earlier in the third quarter, Harlingen faced a fourth-and-10 from their own 37. Harlingen faked a punt and Omar Hunter ran the ball 27 yards for a first down. Harlingen kicked a 32-yard field goal on that drive to take a 27-14 lead with 5:38 left in the third. Hunter recorded the sixth interception of the night picking off Dausin on the final play of the game.

"It just feels really great right now," Ledesma said. "It was a total team effort. We spread the wealth around today."

After throwing two pick sixes on his first two pass attempts, Dausin answered back on their third possession when he hit Aron Taylor for an 82-yard TD strike for the 14-7 lead with 9:26 left in the opening quarter.

Harlingen’s first offensive possession ended with a fumble by Brian Blake but Warren couldn’t capitalize.

On their next drive, the Cardinals went half the field and took a 21-7 lead on a four-yard run by Blake.

Harlingen took a 24-7 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Grant Gorman into the wind. Warren then made it 24-14 on a two-yard run by Dausin. The Warriors put together a good drive to end the first half but Harlingen’s defense forced the Warriors to turn the ball over on downs.

Harlingen only gained 264 yards of total offense and five of its touchdowns scored came on defense or special teams.

Harlingen tied a Valley record for wins in one season with 13.