SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Warren’s gameplan coming into Friday’s contest against Harlingen High was evident from the start – stop Izaiah Bell.
What the Warriors’ didn’t account for were junior quarterback Randy Morales and senior halfback Kian Torres.
With the defense focused on stopping Bell, Morales and Torres stepped up to the plate, combining for 307 total yards and three touchdowns to power Harlingen High past San Antonio Warren 39-21 during a Region IV-6A DII area round matchup at Dub Farris Stadium in San Antonio.
The victory secures a spot in the third round for Harlingen High (12-0, 5-0) for the first time since 2015. They’ll take on the winner of today’s contest between Dripping Springs and San Antonio Brandeis in the Region IV-6A DII semifinals at a date, time and location to be determined.
“Having those guys is a great thing,” Bell said. “We don’t let a defense choose like they can focus on one person and stop the whole offense. For those guys to be able to produce like they did today, it is a lot better for our offense going along.”
Back-to-back scores by San Antonio Warren during the second and third erased the Cardinals three-score leading heading into the final period, with the Cardinals leading by only six.
Once again it was Morales and Torres coming up big for the Cardinals, with the junior signal caller finding a wide-open Torres for the 20-yard score with 11:01 remaining.
The score put the Cardinals up 33-21, never looking back with Harlingen High’s defense not allowing another score en route to the win.
“Me and the coaches talked over it before the play,” Torres said. “We knew they were in a Cover 0. We knew a little fake would open it up down the field. Sure, enough there it was for the touchdown.”
The Cardinals set the “pick your poison” tone from the start, with Torres opening the scoring on a 77-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the game. Up next was Morales, who made it 14-0 on a 24-yard run with 7:44 left.
Morales and Torres scores opened the door for Bell, who got in on the scoring with a 67-yard touchdown run to cap a 27-point first-half outburst by the Cardinals.
Morales finished 6-of-7 for 100 yards and a touchdown, adding 13 carries for 96 yards and a score. Torres carried the ball five times for 91 yards and a score, adding a 20-yard touchdown catch.
Bell led all rushers with 18 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns, including a 22-yard burst into the end zone with 4:03 left to put the final nail in the coffin.
“That is the thing about this group,” Harlingen High head coach Manny Gomez said. “There are a million ways to skin a cat and we have those capabilities. We had some kids today who stepped up and said they wanted the ball. It says a lot when a kid says that. … Izaiah (Bell), he’s a weapon and competes but it’s a team. Its not a one-man show. We’re blessed and we’re going to ride these bad boys as long as we can.”
