WESLACO — An hour-long lightning delay led to sluggish play during the first half of Thursday’s non-district game between Edinburg High and Weslaco East, neither team able to muster anything on offense, combining for less than 150 yards and three points.
Both offenses flipped a switch during the second, exploding for a combined 35 points and trading the lead five times.
The Bobcats got the last laugh during a back-and-forth second half, with sophomore quarterback Jae Santa Maria breaking free for a 45-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:20 left, and the Bobcats downed the Weslaco East Wildcats 21-17 on Thursday at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.
“It was just a two-minute drill,” Edinburg High running back Jacob Gonzales said. “We work at it every day in practice. Today we finally put it to use and we came out on top. He (Jae) is amazing. I love him as our quarterback. He’s only a sophomore starting at quarterback. You can’t ask for anything else.”
Gonzales came up big for the Bobcats during the final two quarter, accounting for two of the Bobcats’ second-half touchdowns. The senior finished with 18 carries for 110 yards and two scores, finding the endzone from 5 and 4 yards.
Santa Maria added 19 carries for 97 yards and a score, while completing 4-of-5 passes for 33 yards.
“Our freshman year we had a similar rain delay,” Gonzales said. “We came out and played tough then but ended up with a loss. Tonight, it feels amazing. This atmosphere in the rain despite the delay, it was just amazing. I have to give credit to my offensive line. They were amazing tonight.”
Points were at a premium during the first half, with the lone score coming on a 28-yard field goal by Weslaco East kicker Pedro Espinoza on the Wildcats’ opening drive.
The field goal attempt was set up by do-it-all athlete Jay Vasquez, taking the opening kickoff 37 yards to put the Wildcats’ offense inside the Bobcats’ 40.
Vasquez was the Wildcats’ top weapon, carrying the ball 11 times for 113 yards, including a drive which featured the senior carrying the ball four times for 61 yards to set up the Wildcats’ first score of the night.
Weslaco answered each of the Bobcats’ touchdowns with scores of their own during the second half, including a 32-yard touchdown run by quarterback Alex Martinez with 3:26 left to give the Wildcats the lead.
The lead was short lived, however, with the Bobcats regaining the advantage two minutes later on Santa Maria’s run. Edinburg High’s defense sealed the victory on the ensuing drive, stopping the Wildcats on fourth down for the win.
“We just went into halftime, planned different things and changed some things up,” Gonzales said. “We were able to execute it perfectly like we planned and it led to a win tonight.”
The Wildcats (1-3, 0-0) turn their attention to district play, kicking things off against Harlingen South (1-2, 0-0) on Sept. 23 at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco. The Bobcats (2-2, 0-0) continue their non-district slate against San Benito (3-0, 0-0) on Sept. 23 at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito.
