EDINBURG — After an explosive start to the season, UTRGV’s offense found itself in a bit of a rut when Southland Conference play began.

Last week proved to be its biggest struggle yet, totaling a season-low 183 yards and 21 points during a loss to Lamar.

The Vaqueros bounced back in a big way Saturday, erupting for 558 total yards and seven offensive scores as UTRGV routed defending Southland Conference champion UIW 56-28 during its first-ever homecoming game at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.

LOS FRESNOS — Late in the second quarter, the Brownsville Veterans Chargers found themselves threatening to score and cut Los Fresnos’ lead to one possession before halftime.
A pass over Falcons safety Ryan Prepjechal set up the Chargers inside the red zone for their biggest scoring chance of the night.

The junior defensive back quickly bounced back from allowing the catch, however, intercepting a Jake Saenz pass in the end zone to keep the Chargers off the board.

PHARR, Texas — The Weslaco High Panthers overpowered PSJA Early College High School Bears 44-0 on Friday night at PSJA Stadium, delivering a statement win in District 31-6A play and spoiling the Bears’ homecoming celebration.

Weslaco (6-2, 3-0) took control early, capitalizing on short fields and quick strikes to build a commanding first-half lead. The Panthers scored on each of their first possessions, turning turnovers and special-teams breaks into points while their defense swarmed PSJA’s backfield throughout the night.

La Joya powered past Edinburg North 48–34 on Thursday night at Richard R. Flores Stadium, using a balanced ground attack and a steady defensive effort to climb back to .500 on the season. The Coyotes improved to 4–4 overall and 1–2 in district play, while the Cougars dropped to 1–7 and 0–3.

La Joya struck first on its opening possession, capping a sustained drive with a short touchdown pitch from quarterback Owen Benoit to Alex Garza, followed by a Jared Ozuna extra point for a 7–0 lead. Edinburg North responded with a scoring pass from Jorge Trevino to Kiandre Estrada, tying the game at seven. A 38-yard field goal by Ozuna pushed the Coyotes back in front 10–7, and La Joya never trailed again.

McALLEN — In Week 9 of the 2024 season, Edinburg Vela cruised to a dominant 56-0 blowout win over McAllen Memorial as the SaberCats went on to capture the District 16-5A DI championship.

McAllen Memorial has had revenge on its mind ever since.

In this year’s meeting, the Mustangs avenged last year’s loss and grinded out a hard-fought 31-28 victory over the SaberCats with first-place in 16-5A DI on the line Thursday night at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.

MISSION — On a night filled with homecoming festivities, the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks kept their composure when it mattered most, holding off the determined Roma Gladiators for a hard-fought win Friday night at Richard Thompson Stadium.

Head coach Eddie Galindo said the victory was especially meaningful, not only because it came on homecoming, but because he shared it with his son, quarterback Malakai Galindo, leading the offense.

“It’s a blessing — and it’s a challenge,” Coach Galindo said. “Out here, I’m coach. At home, I’m dad. I’m the two most important people in his life, and I don’t compromise one for the other. It’s special. I’ve been blessed to share this with him, and really, all these boys are like my kids.”

DINBURG — Edinburg Vela’s defense has been one of South Texas’ most dominant units throughout the 2025 season.

The SaberCats were at it again with a first-place battle against the McAllen Rowe Warriors in Week 8 as Vela pitched its second-straight shutout for a 16-0 victory Friday at Richard Flores Stadium.

The SaberCats improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in 16-5A DI play. The Warriors dropped to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in district competition.

“We came out here and we gave it all we had,” Vela senior defensive back Devin Caballero said. “We were playing aggressive. We had an amazing game plan for this one. Our coaches set us up perfectly and we were able to come out with a W.”

SHARYLAND — The Sharyland Rattlers flipped a 13-point second-half deficit into a thrilling 32–31 victory over the Alice Coyotes on Thursday night at Richard Thompson Stadium, earning their first district win in dramatic fashion.

Sharyland opened the scoring with a safety when Luis Mireles and Giovanni Pizzi collapsed the pocket to bring down the Alice quarterback in the end zone. The Coyotes answered quickly, turning a pair of early interceptions into points behind a short touchdown run from Sebastian Flores and a scoring pass from Gilbert Trevino to Maddex Carrillo for a 14–2 lead. A field goal later extended it to 17–2 midway through the second quarter.

EDINBURG — Lew Hill was named head coach of the UTRGV Vaqueros men’s basketball team on March 31, 2016.

It didn’t take long for the kid from Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon, New York to rebuild the program into one on the rise, filled with promise and potential. Under his direction in 2018-19, UTRGV finished with its first winning-season in 11 years and recorded its first-ever DI postseason win.

On Feb. 7, 2021, Hill tragically passed away after a private health battle, just one day after coaching the Vaqueros in what would be his final game.

Throughout his time in the Rio Grande Valley and long before that, Hill poured peace and love into everything he did and everywhere he went, from the way he lived to the way he coached.

His legacy lives on at UTRGV, and now, it’s forever etched in stone near the same sidelines he used to roam.

McALLEN — For 364 days out of the year, the McAllen Memorial and McAllen High football teams dislike each other.

On that 365th day, when the Mustangs and Bulldogs meet on the gridiron, it’s deeper than that.

“This rivalry runs deep,” Memorial quarterback Kane Coy said. “For this game, you hate each other so much.”

The crosstown rival Mustangs and Bulldogs battled for 48 minutes Friday night, or what seemed like a 12-round fight, as McAllen Memorial ended the 16-5A DI bout with its hand raised after earning a 35-21 victory.

“It’s a rivalry game — it means the world,” Memorial senior running back Jayden Soliz said.

McALLEN — The Nikki Rowe Warriors kept their momentum rolling Friday night, scoring touchdowns in all four quarters and overpowering the Rio Grande City Rattlers 49–21 at DQ Fan Field inside McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Senior quarterback Eli Garza threw three touchdown passes and accounted for 117 yards through the air, guiding a Warriors offense that showcased both balance and depth. Rowe’s rushing attack piled up more than 150 yards, with Jose Jimenez, Alexander Lopez Negrete, Ivan Ramas, and Anthony Hernandez each contributing key carries throughout the night.

PHARR — Defense, special teams gambles, and one late kick decided it. Edinburg survived PSJA High’s fourth-quarter surge to win 17–14 on Thursday at PSJA Stadium in the District 31-6A opener.

Edinburg built a 14–0 cushion behind a steady first half from quarterback Aiden Sanchez, who guided a 10-yard rushing score and later floated a touchdown to the back of the end zone before halftime. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we came out and showed out,” Sanchez said. “That loss earlier this year changed everyone as a person and as men. Every game since then has been different.”

UTRGV picked up its first-ever conference win Saturday night, defeating Houston Christian twenty-seven to seven at Vackar Stadium in Edinburg. Quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger led the way, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns, showing flashes of his high-school form from Sharyland Pioneer.

“The O-line did a great job. They were giving us holes left and right to run through,” Marburger said after the game.

The Vaqueros’ defense dominated the second half, holding HCU scoreless and coming away with four sacks — including big plays from Ian Box, Abdon Mata, and Logic Hudgens.

Head coach Travis Bush praised the team’s growth, saying, “With the youth of our program, every week we’re getting better. I’m just so proud of the way they battled tonight.”

UTRGV heads into its bye week 5-1 overall and 1-1 in conference, before facing No. 25 Lamar in two weeks.

EDINBURG — UTRGV quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger was known as a dual threat during his high school days at Sharyland Pioneer. The former Diamondback rushed for 2,381 yards and 44 touchdowns during his four-year career.

In college, however, Marburger hadn’t showcased his wheels much, totaling just 40 rushing yards and no scores during his time at UTSA.

Marburger turned back the clock to his high school days Saturday, rushing for a team-high 105 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Vaqueros past Houston Christian University 27-7 at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.

PHARR — On a night filled with fireworks and homecoming festivities, PSJA North leaned on its workhorse once again. Senior running back Ethan Guerra delivered one of the finest performances of his career, rushing for 317 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Raiders past Harlingen South 48–35 on Friday at PSJA Stadium.

The win kept the Raiders undefeated at 5–0 overall and 3–0 in district play, extending their home dominance in front of a packed crowd.

Early in the second half, the Hawks threatened to flip the momentum. Trailing by two touchdowns, South capitalized on a long punt return and a personal foul to set up a short field, with Caden Edwards punching in his third touchdown of the night to trim the deficit to 28–21 midway through the third quarter.

MISSION — Finding the end zone on defense or special teams is never an easy task. Doing both in the same night is even harder.

The Los Fresnos Falcons made it look routine Friday, scoring on offense, defense and special teams during a 63-20 blowout of the Sharyland High Rattlers at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.

“That is the second time we’ve done that this season,” Los Fresnos head coach David Cantu said. “It’s an amazing thing to get off to a start like that. We have a new special teams coordinator, Los Fresnos grad Charlie Rivas. I’m just happy he put that together. That was huge. We were able to score on special teams, offense and defense. When that happens, you’re just happy for the kids.”

MISSION — Brownsville Veterans running back Calvin Trevillion doesn’t get many touches on game nights. This season, the senior has eclipsed double-digit carries just twice.

That hasn’t stopped him from putting up numbers, ranking No. 11 in the Valley in rushing with 676 yards heading into Week 6.

Trevillion continued to showcase his big-play ability against Sharyland Pioneer on Thursday, erupting for 214 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries during a 46-21 victory over the Diamondbacks at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.

McALLEN — The McAllen High Bulldogs have grown used to pulling out wins despite slow offensive starts this season.

Friday night seemed headed the same way, with the Bulldogs cutting the deficit to three points with just over two minutes remaining after a touchdown pass from senior quarterback McCoy Wolthoff to wideout Finn Henderson.

A quick three-and-out by the Vela offense gave the Bulldogs one last chance at a comeback.

The rally never came, however, as Edinburg Vela defensive back Devin Caballero jarred the ball loose from Henderson’s grip on the final drive, forcing a turnover that sealed the Sabercats’ 10-7 win Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.