Going Dancing: Mustangs earns playoff berth with win over Warriors
McALLEN — Fresh off a blowout loss to Edinburg Vela a week ago, McAllen Memorial entered Friday’s contest against McAllen Rowe looking to deliver a bounce back performance.
The Mustangs did just that, erupting for 28 second-half points to take down their city rival 42-28 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.
McAllen Memorial’s victory secured the city championship for the Mustangs, while also punching their ticket to the Class 5A DI postseason. They improved to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in district with the win, locking up the No. 2 seed in District 16-5A DI.
“We wanted revenge,” McAllen Memorial athlete Jaydin Soliz said. “We were embarrassed how we lost last week and just wanted revenge. It feels great being city champs, but we want to expand more and go deep into the playoffs.”
Soliz was a catalyst behind the Mustangs thrashing of the Warriors, stepping up at quarterback in a wildcat offense after an injury to starter Kane Coy a week ago.
The junior athlete shook off a shaky start behind center and exploded for 292 total yards and four total touchdowns to lead a second-half surge by the Mustangs.
Soliz finished 4-of-5 for 129 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding 163 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
“The big thing I told him (Soliz) this week was I didn’t need him to be perfect,” McAllen Memorial head coach Moses Patterson said. “I just needed him to be great. Whether it was one play or one series, whatever it may be, we just asked him to come out and be great.”
Fellow junior Michael Alaniz delivered another standout performance for the Mustangs during the win, hauling in three catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning a punt 78 yards for a touchdown to end the third quarter and put McAllen Memorial up by 14 heading into the fourth.
Defensively, Nick Luna led the Mustangs with a team-high eight tackles, while Erick Guajardo and Dalton Keller each came away with a sack.
McAllen Rowe jumped out to a 21-14 halftime lead thanks to a three-touchdown first-half by quarterback Adrian Botello.
The senior signal caller connected with Samuel Liguez and Draven Niaves for touchdown passes during the first two periods, also adding a four-yard touchdown run.
Botello added a four-yard touchdown run in the fourth to cut in the Warriors’ deficit, but it proved too little too late, as the Mustangs held on for the win.
The Mustangs (7-2, 5-1) will look to close out the regular season with a win at 7 p.m. Thursday, taking on the La Joya Palmview Lobos at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.
The Warriors (3-6, 3-3) will look to earn a playoff spot against intracity rival McAllen High (3-6, 3-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.
