HARLINGEN — It was unfamiliar territory to say the least.

Harlingen led 14-7 at halftime against San Benito last week. But it was as close a half as any the Cardinals had played all season.

In its district opener against Edinburg North, Harlingen led 21-10 at the half after rallying from a first-quarter deficit.

In what turned out to be the district title game against PSJA North last month, the Cards led 20-7 at the half.

Other than those games, Harlingen's held very comfortable leads heading into intermission.

HARLINGEN — Mack Sanchez zigged and Mack Sanchez zagged.

He broke a tackle here and a he broke a tackle there.

Then he sprinted.

The run will officially go down as a 52-yard touchdown run. But really, Sanchez covered about 105 yards of field running what seemed like circles around San Benito defenders.

Typical Mack The Knife.

HARLINGEN — Mack Sanchez zigged and Mack Sanchez zagged.

He broke a tackle here and a he broke a tackle there.

Then he sprinted.

The run will officially go down as a 52-yard touchdown run. But really, Sanchez covered about 105 yards of field running what seemed like circles around San Benito defenders.

Typical Mack The Knife.

HARLINGEN — There’s a first time for everything.

For the first time in the storied history of the Battle of the Arroyo, Harlingen and San Benito will meet in the postseason.

The Cards host the Greyhounds tonight at Boggus Stadium in a Class 5A, Division I bi-district clash.

Harlingen defeated the Greyhounds, 35-6, for the 56th time in the 80 years of The Battle.

The Cards lead the all-time series 56-19-5.

But tonight’s Battle 80.5 has a lot more riding on it than the previous 80.

HARLINGEN — The Valley's football postseason couldn't have kicked off with a better matchup.

In a rematch of the 80th Battle of the Arroyo, the Harlingen Cardinals will host the San Benito Greyhounds on Friday at Boggus Stadium in a Class 5A, Division I bi-district playoff game. Harlingen, which secured a playoff berth a couple of weeks ago, wrapped up a perfect regular season with a 66-7 win against Harlingen South on Friday.

HARLINGEN — The Valley's football postseason couldn't have kicked off with a better matchup.

In a rematch of the 80th Battle of the Arroyo, the Harlingen Cardinals will host the San Benito Greyhounds on Friday at Boggus Stadium in a Class 5A, Division I bi-district playoff game. Harlingen, which secured a playoff berth a couple of weeks ago, wrapped up a perfect regular season with a 66-7 win against Harlingen South on Friday.

HARLINGEN — It looked like a family reunion after Bird Bowl XVII on the field at Boggus Stadium.

Parents and friends made their way to the field following Harlingen's 66-7 drubbing of Harlingen South on Friday.

Freddy Mercury's voice resonated over the PA system as Queen's We are the champions blared for all to hear.
Cliché? Yes.

But so were the Cards. After all, all they did was win.

Ten times this season to be exact.

SAN BENITO — The San Benito Greyhounds are back in the Class 5A state playoffs after a one-year absence thanks to Friday’s 48-21 District 32-5A victory over Brownsville Rivera at Bobby Morrow Stadium.

The Greyhounds (6-4, 5-2 district) advance to next week’s bi-district playoffs and play Harlingen High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Harlingen’s Boggus Stadium.

"This is very exciting and very emotional for everybody," San Benito coach Spencer Gantt said. "It’s not often that a first-year head coach gets to go to the playoffs, and I’m real happy for our players."

HARLINGEN — Friday's going to be pretty special for Randy Cretors.

Cretors coached the Harlingen Cardinals from 2000-2006 before taking over his current post with the school district. Actually, Cretors started coaching at Harlingen in 1993 when the school district split into two high schools. Now in his third year as Harlingen CISD Athletic Director, Cretors still gets "the juices flowing" every Friday night just before a game.

The juices will be flowing tonight as Harlingen takes on Harlingen South in Bird Bowl XVII at Boggus Stadium.

HARLINGEN — With a playoff spot on the line, the Edinburg Bobcats took care of business Friday night against the Harlingen South Hawks at Boggus Stadium, tallying a decisive 50-7 win.

The victory gained them entry into the “second season,” and head coach Joey Caceres could not be happier.

Or wetter, after some of his players doused him with the water keg as time expired.