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Rio Grande City’s loss of running back Justin Ortega hurt a little less two weeks ago.
Despite losing Ortega for the rest of the season and dealing with a slew of injuries, the Rattlers managed a 30-29 win over Weslaco High in Week 2.
“It felt real good to get that win,” said Jesus Lozano, whose team takes on McAllen High at 7 tonight in the first District 30-5A game of 2009 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
It was a much-needed win for the Rattlers (1-2). The team with playoff aspirations struggled mightily in its first two games and then had to deal with the bad news of injuries. Rio Grande City had more than five starters out of the Weslaco game, including a key cog in fullback Freddy Lopez, who has not played since the season opener.
The Rattlers, though, had some players step up in the Weslaco game. Wide receiver Arnold Chapa caught three passes for 59 yards, including the game-winning touchdown.
The most pleasant surprise may have been half back Orly Oviedo. The sophomore emerged as a threat for the Rattlers, rushing for 165 yards on 61 carries.
“They got their star running back hurt,” McAllen High coach Tony Harris said. “He was probably one of the best running backs if not the best running backs in the Valley.
“… They got another back to replace him, and he looks good. I don’t know where they get them from. I don’t know if (Oviedo) is as good but he is just as fast.”
Lozano wouldn’t call Oviedo the featured back, especially with Lopez returning and another backfield threat in Jaime Gonzalez. But the coach said Oviedo will get his fair share of carries.
“We are going to keep going with but it depends on what the other team gives us,” Lozano said.
That other team this week is McAllen High (2-1), which has won two straight since a Week 0 loss to Harlingen High. Against PSJA High two weeks ago, the Bulldogs used the ground game to earn the win.
“Whenever you can go through a tough schedule like we did and come out with a winning record, that is a positive,” Harris said about the Bulldogs’ non-district schedule against Harlingen, PSJA High and Edinburg High.
Peter Rasmussen covers District 30-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.
