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MISSION — Two teams considered contenders for the District 32-4A championship will find out tonight in The Monitor’s Game of the Week just how realistic those aspirations are.

When Mercedes visits Mission High, the Tigers and Eagles will both be coming off considerably different losses that ended their non-district season. Both teams lost, but one almost rallied from a 28-point halftime deficit to beat one of the top programs in the Valley, while another sputtered to a surprisingly lopsided loss.

Still, both teams have one thing in common. They head into tonight’s game knowing its importance, that a loss would immediately put them behind the winner in the district race.

Mercedes coach Michael Uribe, whose team in Week 2 fell 50-48 to Los Fresnos in the most memorable non-district game of the season, sounds confident about the Tigers’ chances. And that confidence goes beyond quarterback Albert Chavez, who is among the district’s leaders in passing and rushing.

“Our goals have not changed one bit. Our goals have always been to make the playoffs and win a district championship, and those goals have stayed the same.” Uribe said. “We have multiple goals and those are two of our biggest goals. Obviously, it starts one week at a time. That’s our only focus this week. Mission and nobody else.”

Mission and Mercedes will provide for each other an early test in what looks like it could be a very difficult District 32-4A race. Unlike other years, there is no clear front-runner for the title, nor are the four playoff teams obvious.

A win tonight would serve as a statement to the rest of the district, and also give the winner a valuable early edge in the race.

All of that, though, isn’t what Mission coach Mario Peña is preaching to his team. Like the Tigers, they have very high expectations for this season. And, except for their final non-district game, a 24-6 loss to PSJA Memorial, the Eagles looked capable of reaching those expectations.

The Mercedes game, though one of the week’s spotlight matchups, is just one game to Peña and the Eagles.

“Every game is a critical game. When you have Weslaco East playing well, you don’t count Edcouch-Elsa out and Mission Veterans is also playing well. Roma is 3-0,” Peña said. “We don’t take anybody lightly. As far as we’re concerned, the one were focusing on is and putting all of our energy toward is Mercedes.

“We’re going to worry about Mercedes and nobody else,” Peña added. “You take it one week at a time. Once you start thinking about someone else, that’s when you’re going to end up getting kicked.”

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.