HARLINGEN — Less than one minute was all No. 3 Harlingen High needed to assert its dominance Friday.
Three plays into the game, Harlingen defensive back Albert Vasquez came up with an interception, setting up the Cardinals’ offense inside the 5.
Two plays later, Harlingen running back Izaiah Bell rumbled into the end zone for the score to give the Cardinals the lead with 11 minutes left in the first. Harlingen High was only getting started, ripping off 35 first-quarter points en route to a 56-0 domination of No. 5 Mission Veterans at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect this, but it is what it is,” Harlingen High head coach Manny Gomez said. “Our kids came out and performed. They executed and did what they needed to do. I’m super proud of the effort and the coaching staff for the work they’ve put in. It’s just become a well-oiled machine.”
The Cardinals made it two straight weeks scoring more than 50 points, bringing their total points scored this season to 169 through three games.
Bell continued his early season dominance, finding the end zone three times during the opening quarter, including a 63-yard catch and run for the score, marking the third consecutive week he’s scored at least two touchdowns.
“You can’t do it all without the preparation,” Bell said. “Our coaches instill us with that greatness. Our offense and defense fight every week against each other. It’s good on good. Then our line, anybody would love to run behind our line. That’s a lot of meat. They take care of me, and I take care of them. When I score, they know it’s for them. They’re the ones making all this happen.”
Bell was one of two Harlingen backs to have big days behind their offensive line, with Kian Torres displaying his speed on touchdown runs of 57 and 37 yards. The duo combined for 186 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Torres led all rushers with 142 yards on 10 carries. Bell finished with 46 yards on six carries, adding one catch for 63 yards.
“Hard work will never go unnoticed in this lifetime, and they put in the work,” Gomez said. “They came out here and ran hard behind that offensive line. That line created some major holes for them. They never get the credit but they’re doing a tremendous job. My hat’s off to their coaches for a job well done.”
Defensively, the Cardinals stifled the Patriots’ offense, holding them to just 89 yards of total offense on 48 plays. Harlingen High’s defense provided the spark for the 35-point first-quarter outburst, forcing three turnovers during the opening period.
Vasquez came away with two of those turnovers, opening the game with an interception and capping the Cardinals’ dominant first quarter with his second interception, a 43-yard pick-six to make it 35-0 after one.
“If we keep cracking the hammer like we did today, we’re going to go far,” Vasquez said. “Our defense has a lot of seniors coming back, so we’re a lot more physical. When you have an older and physical team, you’re going to dominate.”
The Cardinals (3-0, 0-0) return to action Thursday, taking on Laredo United South in a non-district matchup at Gladiator Stadium in Roma. The Patriots (2-1, 0-0) continue their gauntlet against San Benito (3-0, 0-0).
