Raymondville (5-2) vs Rio Hondo (5-2)

[Ray_BearKat]

FAST KATS
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Raymondville D uses quickness to attain No. 1 ranking
October 21, 2008 - 11:10PM
ARMANDO GARZA
RGVSports.com
RAYMONDVILLE - Bigger isn't always better.

Small and fast isn't half-bad. Especially for the Raymondville Bearkats' defense.

Speed and aggression are the names of the game for the Kats, who'll try and slow down Rio Hondo Friday in the VMS Game of the Week.

The top-ranked unit in 32-3A, the Bearkats have allowed just 235 yards per game on pure grit, heart and desire.
And yes, speed.

"We're not very big at all," Raymondville head coach Alex Leal said. "But our defense has a great, great attitude. They love to play football and they've been consistent all year."

Under veteran Valley coordinator Benny Gonzalez, a former head man at San Benito and Los Fresnos, the Bearkats' D has held the top spot in the district for the past month.

"I give coach Gonzalez and his defensive coaches a lot of credit," Leal said.

While Raymondville's high-octane offense is well-known throughout, week in and week out the D has been solid for head coach Leal's squad.

"The offense gets a lot of credit," 5-foot-8 defender Gilbert Hernandez said. "But it doesn't matter to us. We go out and get the job done and do what we have to do. We got their back 100 percent."

George Ledesma, another Bearkat who's been all over the place, echoed those sentiments.

"We're there to get the ball back and they're there to score," he said. "When you combine that, we make a good team."

Going up against three Class 4A teams in non-district and through the start of district, the Kats' D has always been smaller than the opposition.

Not that it's mattered. Their 4-2 record (3-1 in district) shows it.

"Every team we've faced this year had a big offensive line," Leal said. "And our kids have managed to play good football."

A perfect example of "good football" was in last week's 21-20 squeaker over Zapata.

With the Hawks driving down the field late, DB Ray Gray intercepted a pass inside the 20 to seal the deal for the Kats.

Despite allowing 298 yard rushing, Raymondville got the stop they needed when it mattered the most.

"We bring each other up," Ledesma said. "If we make a mistake, we make it up the next play. We tell each other to go harder and keep on going. We like to hit and get hit."

Fumble recoveries for touchdowns have also been common.

Ledesma and John Michael Rodriguez have each scored on D.

However, they'll be tested against Rio Hondo, which comes off a pounding of Hidalgo, where they tallied 452 total yards.

"Rio Hondo has a lot of talent, and we're not taking away from them. We give them credit," Hernandez said. "But we're gonna go play with all we got.

"We respect their passing game, and their running game," Ledesma added. "They're gonna give us a real good game."

Armando Garza covers sub-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at armandog@valleystar.com.

[Johnny 5]

RH will roll 40 - 17

;)

[Ray_BearKat]

Originally posted by Johnny 5
RH will roll 40 - 17

;)

sure is nice to dream...:rolleyes:

[Cats Fan]

oh ozzy.....when will you learn?

RH by 14!

[Ray_BearKat]

Originally posted by Cats Fan
oh ozzy.....when will you learn?

RH by 14!

friday i guess:nerd:

[SintonFan_inAustin]

Originally posted by Johnny 5
RH will roll 40 - 17

;) will see :), I think RH wins but it won't be easy as Raymondville will put points on the baord also . RH 37 Raymondville 27

[Ray_BearKat]

RGV Top 6 Statistical Leaders according to one of our discussion board members (teamfalcon)...this includes all Valley schools 1A-5A.

Offense:
_____________Rush___Pass____Total____Avg.
1. Weslaco.........2346.......713.......3059......437
2. Raymondville....1399......1577.....2976.....425
3. RGC................2220........687......2907....41 5
4. McHi...............1139........1742.....2881....41 1
5.Porter.............1023.........696......2799... ..399
6. Los Fresnos.....1354........1430.....2784.....397

Defense:
_______________Rush_______Pass____Total____Avg.
1. Raymondville.......962...........684...........164 6......235
2. McHi.................885............891.........17 76.......253
3. Los Fresnos........834.........895..........1779...... .254
4. Progresso.........880...........937..........1817. .....259
5. Mission Vets.......1156........773........1929........275
6. McAllen Memorial...1184......745.......1929......275

[SintonFan_inAustin]

Originally posted by Ray_BearKat
RGV Top 6 Statistical Leaders according to one of our discussion board members (teamfalcon)...this includes all Valley schools 1A-5A.

Offense:
_____________Rush___Pass____Total____Avg.
1. Weslaco.........2346.......713.......3059......437
2. Raymondville....1399......1577.....2976.....425
3. RGC................2220........687......2907....41 5
4. McHi...............1139........1742.....2881....41 1
5.Porter.............1023.........696......2799... ..399
6. Los Fresnos.....1354........1430.....2784.....397

Defense:
_______________Rush_______Pass____Total____Avg.
1. Raymondville.......962...........684...........164 6......235
2. McHi.................885............891.........17 76.......253
3. Los Fresnos........834.........895..........1779...... .254
4. Progresso.........880...........937..........1817. .....259
5. Mission Vets.......1156........773........1929........275
6. McAllen Memorial...1184......745.......1929......275 Those stats were close to the stats put up against Tuloso Mid-Way offensively and defensively but still lost? I notice couple of turnovers and penalites on the stats, was there something else TM did to win that game.

[Ray_BearKat]

Originally posted by SintonFan_inAustin
Those stats were close to the stats put up against Tuloso Mid-Way offensively and defensively but still lost? I notice couple of turnovers and penalites on the stats, was there something else TM did to win that game.

i'm not too sure I was not at the game...what i read was that we put up over 500 yards of offense but were making mistakes, a few in the red zone. I know we were driving at the end of the game but didn't get it done.

it was their first outing so they could of been nervous...they definitely got on the ball the following week against Kingsville and aside from the Hidalgo game have been playing excellent football.

[Ray_BearKat]

A FINE LINE
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Rio Hondo offensive line a huge part of team's success
October 22, 2008 - 11:34PM
ARMANDO GARZA | RGVSports.com
RIO HONDO - It all starts up front for the Rio Hondo Bobcat offense.
The bruising runs by Trevor David ... the lightning-quick bursts from Joseph Vela and Jacob Martinez.
The common denominator in Rio Hondo's success on offense? The Bobcats' offensive line.
With three third-year starters paving the way, the 'Cats have begun to run the football as well as ever the past few weeks.
They'll try to do the same Friday night when they host Raymondville in the VMS Game of the Week.
Comprising the line are left tackle Bryan Zapata, guard Chris Salinas, center Manny Montemayor, right guard Steven Mariscal and right tackle Joshua Perez. Zapata, Perez and Montemayor each started as a sophomore.
"We've been working together for the past two seasons and we know each other very well," Perez said. "We just trust in each other and we believe that the other man is gonna get the job done."
Rio Hondo head coach Rocky James said the vets have been key in the development of the unit as a whole.
"Those three guys have taught the other two what it takes to be an o-lineman. It's tough," James said. "Those three love it and they've taught Chris and Steven to love it also."
James had high praise for the group, which has helped them rush for 1,979 yards as a team, second in 32-3A. In addition, quarterback Joseph Vela (893 yards) and Trevor David (692) are 2-3 in the league in rushing yards.
"All season, the o-line has been dominating the other team," James said. "Being able to run the football is key to any team and we've been able to run behind these five guys."
As expected, the unit deflects the accolades and are focused on their jobs.
"We just open up the holes for the running backs," Zapata said. "Trevor is the bulldozer and Jacob and Joseph are the fast guys."
When James took over in the offseason, one of the coaches he brought in was former Harlingen South o-line coach Dan Cortez, who oversees the group.
"He's come in and done a great job with them," James said of Cortez.
Now the guys in the trenches will go up against 32-3A's top-ranked defense in Raymondville. The Bearkats allow only 235 yards per game and are third in rushing yards allowed (137 per clip).
Rio Hondo had 472 total yards last week against Hidalgo and has been on a roll since a district-opening loss to Zapata three weeks ago.
Perez said the loss certainly put things into perspective for the defending 32-3A champions.
"We've picked up our intensity. Not winning district was (possible) and we just picked up the slack," Perez said. "That loss was a big wake-up call for us."

Armando Garza covers sub-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at armandog@valleystar.com

[Ray_BearKat]

BLACK and BLUE
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Rio Hondo, Raymondville clash for top billing rights
October 23, 2008 - 11:18PM
Armando Garza/RGVSports.com


RIO HONDO - This is the matchup people wanted to see when realignment was released.
Raymondville, the defending 31-3A champs against Rio Hondo, the 32-3A kings.
Well, they've got it and with a whole lot on the line, too.
Both teams come into tonight's VMS Game of the Week 5-2 overall and 3-1 in 32-3A part of a four-way tie at the top.
And the winner of tonight's tilt at Bobcat Stadium will be in the driver's seat toward another title.
"This is going to be a great game," Rio Hondo coach Rocky James said. "Our kids love playing Raymondville. They're a good football team, so it should be a good game."
Both teams are very familiar with each other, as coaches on both sides have worked together and one time or another. Also, Rio Hondo has won the last four meetings, including twice in 2006.
Veteran Raymondville coach Alex Leal said his Bearkats know what they're up against.
"We have a big, big challenge ahead of us," said Leal, who has 210 career victories in 29 seasons as a Valley coach. "Rio Hondo is a very formidable opponent. They're playing real well. We respect the heck out of them and their coaching staff."
Rio Hondo comes off a 48-13 pasting of Hidalgo last week.
In that game, Rio Hondo got the complete effort from offense, defense and its special teams.
Trevor David extended his 100-yard rushing game streak to five with a season-best 146 yards, while quarterback Joseph Vela had 225 total yards.
After a 21-14 loss to Zapata to open district, the Bobcats have won three straight and are rolling.
"The intensity has picked up," James said. "These kids know what it takes to win games and what it takes to lose them, too."
But the Bearkats have zero reasons to doubt themselves.
They boast the No. 2 offense in the Valley at 425 yards per game, and have 32-3A's top defensive unit, allowing 235 yards per clip.
And they've got plenty of ammo on that offense.
Quarterback Raul Salinas (1,286 yards, 12 TDs) is back in the lineup and has two great targets to toss to in Dustin Alejo and Skylore Janes.
Alejo, regarded as one of the fastest players in South Texas, is the Valley's co-leader in scoring with 108 points (18 total TDs). He has caught 31 passes for 609 yards and while he was bothered by an ankle injury the past couple of games, he will be in action tonight.
Janes, meanwhile, has elevated his game while Alejo was on the shelf, including last week's eight reception, 229-yard outing against Zapata.
Defensively, the Kats are strong and feature a solid front seven.
"We had a good week of work," Leal said. "And we're healthy for the first time in about four weeks."
With fellow 3-1 teams Lyford and Hidalgo dueling tonight as well, the playoff picture will clear up after tonight.