Edinburg Vela Completes Perfect Season with 55-21 Victory over Rio Grande City

EDINBURG, TX — The Edinburg Vela Sabercats closed out their regular season with a commanding 55-21 win against the Rio Grande City Rattlers on Thursday night. With this victory, Vela capped off an undefeated season with a 10-0 record and claimed the District 16-5A Division 1 title with a flawless 7-0 district record.

Game Highlights:

Vela opened the scoring early, quickly taking a 7-0 lead. Defensive lineman Noah Rocha (#19) contributed a sack, which helped stall an early Rio Grande City drive. Running back Ronnie Ramirez (#74) followed up with a 2-yard touchdown, putting Vela up 14-0. Cornerback Sergio Briones (#4) then intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Sabercats’ lead to 21-0.

Running back Jonathan Flores (#20) scored two more rushing touchdowns in quick succession: first on a 4-yard run and then on an 82-yard dash, extending Vela’s lead to 34-0. Rio Grande City responded with a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown, closing the gap to 34-7. Just before halftime, Vela’s quarterback Geoffrey Creighton Lefevre (#12) connected with wide receiver Juan Garza (#1) for a 26-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 41-7 at the half.

In the second half, Creighton Lefevre added two more touchdown passes, one to Garza and another to receiver Ryan Rodriguez (#85), pushing Vela’s lead to 55-7. At this point, Vela’s coaching staff opted to rest their starters for their playoff opener next week.

Rio Grande City later added a 58-yard touchdown pass and a 2-yard rushing touchdown, finalizing the score at 55-21. Vela’s defense maintained control throughout, keeping Rio Grande City to minimal offensive gains.

Season Outlook:

Passing Game: Senior quarterback Geoffrey Creighton Lefevre has been central to Vela's offense, leading with a 66.8% completion rate, 2,272 passing yards, and 22 touchdowns for the season. Lefevre finished the game with two touchdown passes to receivers Juan Garza and Ryan Rodriguez before being benched in the third quarter to keep fresh for playoffs. His season efficiency stands out with a 132.6 quarterback rating, showcasing consistent accuracy and command over the offense.

Rushing Game: Senior running back Jonathan Flores continued his impressive season, adding two more rushing touchdowns against Rio Grande City, including an 82-yard sprint. Flores has averaged 148.2 rushing yards per game and leads the team with 18 touchdowns. Sophomore Christopher Caballero has contributed in a backup role with 11.8 yards per game, providing depth in the backfield.

Receiving Corps: Senior wide receiver Juan Garza has been Lefevre’s go-to target, averaging 71.1 receiving yards per game with 10 touchdowns on the season. Junior Jay’r Guevara (54.0 yards per game) and sophomore George Fauls (44.4 yards per game) have also been consistent contributors, helping Vela maintain a balanced and high-powered offense. In this final game, Garza demonstrated his scoring ability with a 26-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Defensive Contributions: The Edinburg Vela Sabercats' defense has been a cornerstone of their undefeated season, complementing their high-powered offense with consistent tackling, backfield pressure, and opportunistic turnovers. They’ve accumulated 476 total tackles (50.5 per game), spearheaded by leading tacklers Orlando Cano and Derek Rodriguez. With 16.4 tackles for loss and 4 sacks led by Aidan Cantu and Robbie Rodriguez, Vela has effectively disrupted opponents’ plays. The defense has also recorded 6 interceptions—primarily by Sergio Briones and Luis Garcia—alongside a fumble recovery, blocked punt, and two blocked field goals, solidifying the Sabercats’ all-around dominance as they prepare for a strong playoff push. Junior linebacker Orlando Cano leads Vela’s defense with 4.8 tackles per game, while senior defensive back Derek Rodriguez follows closely with 4.5 tackles per game and leads the team in both caused fumbles and fumble recoveries.

Overall Production: Including the recent game against Rio Grande City, Vela’s offense has totaled nearly 4,000 yards this season, combining explosive passing with a punishing ground game. Their balanced attack and ability to capitalize on defensive turnovers allowed them to average over 43 points per game.

This victory wraps up a dominant season for Vela, showcasing strong offensive and defensive play across the board. Quarterback Geoffrey Creighton Lefevre and receivers like Juan Garza have been consistent threats through the air, while Jonathan Flores has anchored the running game. Defensively, players like Noah Rocha and Sergio Briones and the Crash Out Brothers, Derek and Robbie Rodriguez have created pressure and forced turnovers in key moments.