MISSION — The Mission Veterans Patriots slashed through the Mission High defense for more than 200 yards on the ground en route to a 32-20 victory over the Eagles on Thursday night at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.
The victory snaps a four-game losing streak by the Patriots to their crosstown rival, marking the first time since 2017 they’ve picked up the win.
“I’m happy is really the easiest word to say,” Mission Veterans head coach David Gilpin said. “Our bunch needed it. Our coaches needed it. We’ve talked about this game since December. The first time we got together getting ready for the offseason after Thanksgiving, we said we had to win the Mission game. We never put this much emphasis on it. It’s a big and important game for us. But with the losing streak going in it was something we felt we needed to do. We emphasized it that way. We told our kids and coaches we could not lose this game. That’s the mentality we came with.”
Pablo Lopez and Jose Garcia spearheaded the Patriots’ rushing attack, combining for 257 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Lopez finished with 144 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries, adding two receptions for 17 yards and a score. Garcia chipped in 113 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.
“Obviously the running game was something special and we felt that coming in,” Gilpin said. “We feel like we have some guys on the offensive line who can open up some holes for us. We know we got two really talented running backs, three actually but one is injured. Then we also have Vince (Abrego), who is a dual threat guy.”
Both teams entered the contest with new faces behind center, with junior Vincent Abrego taking over for the Patriots and sophomore Diego Salinas starting for the Eagles.
Abrego finished the night 10-of-22 through the air for 96 yards, tossing a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for 27 yards on two carries.
“You’re going to see the passing game take off. Vince is going to be a great quarterback,” Gilpin said. “Tonight he was very solid in his first start. The last time he started quarterback was in eighth grade. Feeling the speed of the bullets coming at him in an atmosphere like this, you got to hand this young man a pat on the back and tell him great job because he led this team tonight.”
Salinas did his best to power the Eagles to victory, going 13-of-26 for 205 yards and three touchdowns, including 41-yard touchdown throw to Carlos Valdez with 7:13 left to cut the lead to six. Valdez finished with four receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Josiah Guzman led all receiver with four catches for 83 yards and one touchdown.
Following Salinas’ third touchdown throw of the evening, the Patriots responded with a eight-play, 86-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Garcia to ice the game.
Defensively, Cody Von Wald and Luis De Hoyos anchored the defense, finding themselves around or near the ball on nearly every play. De Hoyos added an interception to set up a 26-yard touchdown run by Abrego in the second.
“My takeaway is our defense is going to be really good led by Luis (De Hoyos) and Cody (Von Wald) in the middle,” Gilpin said. “We have Issac Ayala in the back. We’ve replaced a great defensive line, but we have a line we feel can be really effective. I think you’re going to see this team do nothing but rise this year. We’re going to run through this gauntlet of a non-district schedule then we got to play in our tough district. By the time this team gets into the playoffs, this is going to be a battle tested football team. Somebody is going to have their hands full with us somewhere down in the playoffs.”
Mission Veterans (1-0, 0-0) returns to action Friday, Sept. 2, taking on McAllen Memorial at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. Mission High (0-1, 0-0) looks to bounce back in Week 2, facing off against McAllen High on Sept. 2 at a site to be determined.
