Saldaña's four TDs, defense carry surging Golden Eagles

It’s hard to find something more impressive than a four-touchdown performance, but the Hanna Golden Eagles received it from their defense.

The Eagles suffocated the Rivera Raiders, allowing 147 yards of offense with six first downs, and Enrique Saldaña scored four times and gained 192 yards as Hanna blanked Rivera 31-0 on Thursday at Sams Stadium.

"When you play the best team in the district you have to play your best game," Raiders coach Jim Helms said. "We didn’t do that, and what happens is 31-0. I’ve got to tip my hat to Tom (Chavez) over there at Hanna. They have something really good going over there."

Rivera (1-6, 1-3) mustered only 44 yards of offense during the first half and reached Hanna territory once, gaining just two first downs.

"They had a lot of weapons we had to stop," Chavez said. "Our defense was able to get through and stop them, even slow down Nate (Nevarez). It was a heck of a job by them, and anytime you get a shutout it’s special because it’s not easy to do."

Led by Chris Ortiz and Sammy Lucio, Hanna (6-1, 4-0) earned its second shutout of the season. The last was against Harlingen South in a 32-0 win over the Hawks on Sept. 12.

Saldaña scored his second touchdown of the game with 49 seconds left before halftime. He put Hanna up 17-0 with a 1-yard touchdown dive to cap a drive that went 59 yards on eight plays.

After the break, the teams exchanged three-and-outs before Hanna put together a nine-play, 69-yard drive. It ended on a 7-yard run by Saldaña with 3:22 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles’ defense was as ferocious as it was during the first half and made Rivera punt for the fifth time. Hanna scored again on its ensuing possession on a quick 5-play, 55 yard drive as Saldaña ran for his season-high fourth touchdown with 11:33 left in the fourth quarter.

Hanna had 23 first downs with 402 yards of offense, 326 coming on a ground attack led by Saldaña, the outright leading rusher in District 32-5A.

Rivera’s Nate Nevarez had 72 yards rushing and Josue Govea added 52 yards.

"Our offensive line did a heck of a job giving us the push up front," Chavez said. "We were able to move the chains a lot and keep their offense off the field."

Louie Vera covers District 32-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at lvera@brownsvilleherald.com.