32-5A/3A notes: Stars aplenty in these districts

We all know Weslaco’s big win over San Benito got them one step closer to a district title.

Mishak Rivas set a Rio Grande Valley single-game rushing record with 431 yards.

And it set up a show-down next week against Los Fresnos at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium with the 32-5A title hanging in the balance.

Here are a couple of other observations from the contest:

n San Benito allowed more rushing yards against the Panthers (568) then they had in their previous seven games combined (549).

n The 602-yard explosion put Weslaco at an over 500-yard average for the season (501) offensively.

n Weslaco’s game also helped Los Fresnos become the top-rated defense statistically in the district (245 yards per game). San Benito is second at 257.6.

n San Benito quarterback Abel Aguirre had 198 yards rushing to put him over 1,000 through eight games (1,065 yards).

n The ’Hounds’ Leroy Zamora caught five passes to up his district-leading reception total to 46.

A huge game this week is Lopez taking on Pace at Sams.

The Lobos (2-3 district, 3-5) got a much-needed win last week over Hanna Saturday night 38-13.

Pace, meanwhile, downed Rivera and has won two of its last three after starting out the year 0-5.

The winner of this game will likely take the city championship, but more importantly, will have the inside track at the fourth and final playoff spot.

Here are some of the other standouts from last week’s 32-5A games:

n Pace’s Rodrigo Tostado returned another fumble for a touchdown, this one for 99 yards against Rivera. Tostado now has three fumble returns for scores on the year (101, 63, 99 yards).

n Los Fresnos running back Danny Mendez topped 100 yards for the seventh straight game, racking up 140 yards and three TDs in the Falcons’ 42-7 win over Porter.

n Jorge Mata had 115 receiving yards and a TD on only four catches in the same game for the Falcons. He also tossed a 22-yard touchdown.

n Quarterback Noe Santibañez continued his solid play for Hanna by tossing for 220 yards and a TD against Lopez in a 38-13 win.

n Lopez’s Jorge Silva rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown in the Lobos’ loss.

n Derrick Gonzalez rushed for 138 yards for Rivera in their 17-14 loss to Pace on Thursday.

Over in District 32-3A, the big game is definitely Rio Hondo at Port Isabel.

The Bobcats are one of two Valley unbeatens (Harlingen South) and are playing solid football.

But the Tarpons are also hot right now. PI has reeled off six straight wins after opening the season 0-2.

Should be a dandy at Tarpon Stadium.

The La Feria Lions will also be in a big-time clash, hosting Hidalgo at Lion Stadium.

La Feria currently sits at 1-1 in district and 6-2 overall. Hidalgo has dropped its first two district games and is 0-2 and 5-3.

Quarterback Eleazar Esquivel is tops in 32-3A with 789 yards passing and six touchdowns in six games.

Randy Rodriguez has led the running attack for La Feria with his 969 yards and 14 scores.

Hidalgo, however, is in a must-win situation Friday and next week against Progreso.

Pirate quarterback Oscar Perez topped 1,000 yards rushing with his 138-yard game in a loss to Port Isabel last week. Perez now has 1,87 yards and 15 TDs rushing and 779 passing yards with three more scores.

A tip of the cap also goes to Progreso running back Juan Vega for topping the millenium mark (1,091 yards) for the season for the Red Ants.

Armando Garza covers Districts 32-5A and 32-3A for the Valley Morning Star. He can be reached at 956-430-6255 or at armandog@valleystar.com