HARLINGEN — Harlingen High senior Izaiah Bell hasn’t been called on often through the first three weeks. The Cardinals’ bell cow has only touched the ball 29 times during Harlingen High’s first three contests.

Despite a limited workload, Bell has been making the most of his opportunities, finding paydirt a Valley-leading 10 times.

The senior has accounted for 368 yards of total offense this season, demonstrating his playmaking ability on the ground and through the air. Bell has carried the ball 24 times for 262 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 10.9 yards per carry.

He’s demonstrated his speed and soft hands out of the backfield as well, reeling in five catches for 106 yards and two scores, including a 63-yard catch-and-run during the Cardinals’ dominating 56-0 victory over Mission Veterans.

Harlingen High running back Izaiah Bell (9) weaves through the Mission Veterans defense Friday during a non-district contest Sept. 9 at J. Lewis Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)

“I guess people underestimate me because I’m a bigger back,” said Bell, who measures in at 5-foot-9, 215 pounds. “I’m solid, though. I got that breakaway speed. If you give me that hole, I’m gone. That line, though, we play through the line. The quarterback has given me good throws and the receivers block great. All it takes is making one person miss.”

Bell’s scoring prowess has been second to none this year, finding the end zone on 34% of his touches. His 10 touchdowns have accounted for nearly half of the Cardinal’s 23 offensive scores this season.

His dominance has helped the Cardinals field one of the Valley’s most explosive offenses, averaging 56.3 points per game through three weeks.

Harlingen has outscored its opponents 169-28 en route to a 3-0 start to the season, picking up wins over then-No. 7 Harlingen South, Mercedes and then-No. 5 Mission Veterans.d

“I feel no one can stop us but ourselves,” Bell said. “If we play every single game like we’ve been playing, the scoreboard will show.

“This is what we’ve worked on all offseason, to click as one and make sure everybody is on the same page. That’s all it really takes. Make sure we’re all on the same page as the quarterback and we get the calls right. We just have to execute it no matter what play is called.”

Bell and the Cardinals look to continue their hot start Thursday, taking on Laredo United South (0-3, 0-0) at 7 p.m. at Gladiator Stadium in Roma.

PERFECT PANTHERS

The Weslaco High Panthers are off to a fast start to the season, picking up three straight wins to open the year.

A stingy defense has been key to the Panthers’ fast start, allowing just 23 points thus far, 20 of which came during a 24-20 victory over Harlingen South in Week 2.

Members of the Weslaco High Panthers pose during the RGVSports.com Mid-Valley Football Media Day on July 26 at PSJA Stadium in Pharr. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

Defensive backs Gavin Silva and Devin Silva have manned the secondary, combining for four interceptions and three forced fumbles. Defensive linemen Matthew Garza, Daryn Hanks and Jeremiah Vega anchor the trenches, tallying a combined nine sacks.

The Panthers are one of three Valley 6A teams to earn 3-0 marks through the first three weeks, joined by Harlingen High and San Benito.

OFF THE GROUND

The Mission High Eagles ended a two-game losing streak Friday, picking up their first win of the 2022 campaign with a victory over La Joya Juarez-Lincoln.

After scoring just 27 points during their first two games combined, the Eagles’ offense came to life against the Huskies, putting up 34 points.

Members of the Mission High Eagles pose during the RGVSports.com Upper-Valley Football Media Day on July 26 at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

Sophomore running back Thomas Aparicio came up big for the Eagles, carrying the ball 14 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Diego Salinas continued to build rapport with senior wideout Josiah Guzman, with the pair connecting five times for 112 yards and a score. Salinas and Guzman have combined for a team-high 261 yards and two touchdowns through the air this year.

Mission High (1-2, 0-0) continues its non-district slate against Brownsville Pace (0-3, 0-0) today at Tom Landry Stadium in Mission.

[email protected]