Defense shines in Rattlers' win over upset-minded Cougars

MISSION — It wasn’t the offensive game some might have expected. Instead, Sharyland’s defense redeemed itself from a shaky Week 0 performance to help lead the eighth-ranked Rattlers to a 24-10 victory over Edinburg North on Friday at Rattler Stadium in Mission.

There was some cause for concern for the Rattlers (2-0) after allowing more than 400 yards against Brownsville Hanna last week and facing an Edinburg North team that raked in more than 500 yards against Rio Grande City. Before the game, Rattlers coach Fred Sanchez, whose team can put up big offensive numbers itself, said the key would be defense.

“Last week, Edinburg North made a lot of big plays,” Sanchez said. “Of course, you have to be prepared. You have to scheme them different, but the kids have to step up. Every week there is a different chemistry. We prepared and had a hard week of practice and our defense played very, very well.”

The Cougars (1-1) were held to 242 yards of total offense Friday and for the most part the big plays were kept to a minimum. About the only real let down the Rattlers had on defense was near the end of the first half.

Quarterback Matthew Munoz (183 yards rushing) scored on a 40 yard run with 3:28 left in the second quarter.

On their next possession, the Cougars benefited from a passer’s interference call that put them in field goal position, allowing Allan Guajardo to kick a 33-yard field goal to bring North to within 17-10 as time expired in the first half and with the ball to start the final two quarters.

“Their defense was excellent, they took us out of our offense,” Cougars coach Roy Garza said about the Rattlers’ defense.

The Cougars only had 3 yards passing and only 89 total yards during the second half and most of that came on a 48 yard Munoz run.

“Last week we were just shaky because it was our first game,” Rattlers defensive back Marcus Perez said. “But we got it together. All week in practice, we worked a lot harder.”

Offensively, running back Scottie Meyer (100 yards rushing) scored on TD runs of 33 and 3 yards and QB Bobby Moran (219 yards passing, 115 yards rushing) found Chris Zuniga (six receptions for 145 yards) for a 52 yard touchdown on a fake punt with 4:44 left in the game.

Peter Rasmussen covers District 30-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.