It’s fitting that the Valley Morning Star’s final Game of the Week of the 2017 football season would be the annual Battle of the Arroyo.
Unfortunately, this year’s matchup between Harlingen and San Benito does not have the same pop as last season’s since no matter what happens on Friday, the Cardinals have already been eliminated from the playoffs and the Hounds have already clinched a share of the District 32-6A championship.
Still, as it always has been, pride will be very much on the line in this year’s Battle. The Hounds are looking to complete a perfect 10-0 undefeated regular season and win the league crown outright. Meanwhile, the Cardinals would love nothing more than than to walk into Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito, spoil the Hounds’ perfect mark and walk away with a second straight victory over their intercity rivals.
The Cardinals come into this week’s contest riding a three-game losing streak, including last Friday’s 36-6 loss to Brownsville Herald, which hadn’t beaten the Cards since 1993. The Hounds, meanwhile, won their ninth in a row this past Friday with an impressive 64-14 victory over Weslaco High.
GOING FOR THE OUTRIGHT TITLE
This past Friday, the Rio Hondo Bobcats clinched a share of the District 16-4A Division II championship after a 55-41 win over Orange Grove. The Cats will now look to keep the league crown all to themselves as they hit the road to take on the Progreso Red Ants on Friday.
FOR ALL THE MARBLES
The District 16-3A Division I title is up for grabs this Friday when the Lyford Bulldogs host the San Diego Vaqueros. Both teams enter the contest at 4-0 in league play so the winner will walk away as the outright conference champion. The Bulldogs have won their last five in a row including a 50-0 shutout victory over Santa Gertrudis Academy this Thursday.
LOOKING FOR A SHARE
A share of the District 16-4A Division I title is on the line Friday when the Grulla Gators host the La Feria Lions. Both squads enter the contest at 2-1 in league play, one game back of Kingsville King, which already concluded its season at 3-1. Therefore the winner of Friday’s game will share the conference crown with the Brahmas. The Lions had last week off while the Gators are coming off a 24-9 win over Hidalgo.
Week 11 Games
Mission at McAllen
Edinburg at PSJA North
PSJA at Edinburg North
Lopez vs. Pace
LJ Palmview vs. La Joya
McAllen Rowe vs. McAllen Memorial
PSJA Memorial vs. PSJA Southwest
Economedes vs. Edinburg Vela
Harlingen at San Benito
Rivera at Harlingen South
Los Fresnos at Weslaco
Weslaco East at Hanna
Mission Veterans at Valley View
RGC at Sharyland
Sharyland Pioneer at Roma
Porter at Edcouch-Elsa
Donna North at Mercedes
La Feria at Grulla
Hidalgo at Zapata
West Oso at Port Isabel
Rio Hondo at Progreso
Raymondville at Orange Grove
San Diego at Lyford
Santa Rosa at Bishop
Skidmore-Tynan at Monte Alto
La Villa at Three Rivers
Freer at Santa Maria
St. Joseph at SA Antonian
Donna at Bro. Veterans
