Another One: Panthers captures second district title in three years, dominate Jaguars
EDINBURG — Weslaco High senior Chris Luna helped the Panthers capture their first district title since 2015 two years ago, coming down with an overtime interception that set up the game-winning touchdown.
Two years later, Luna helped the Panthers bring another gold ball back to Weslaco. This time, however, the third-year letterman did it from behind center, accounting for 131 total yards and three touchdowns to lead the Panthers past Edinburg Economedes 37-13 on Thursday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
The victory improved the Panthers to 8-2 overall and 5-0 in district, securing the District 31-6A No. 1 seed heading into the Class 6A Division I playoffs while also handing the Jaguars their first loss of the season.
“We’re feeling amazing, man,” Weslaco High quarterback Chris Luna said. “We’re feeling blessed. Hard work pays off. Everything that we have right now, this team, we deserve it. Since before the summer, we’ve been working our tails off and understanding that nothing this year was going to be given. It was going to be earned. All summer we worked. You reap what you sow, and now we’re out here winning.”
Luna scored the night’s first touchdown, weaving his way into the end zone from 14 yards out to give Weslaco High an early 6-0 lead.
The first-year quarterback added to the Panthers’ advantage in the third quarter, connecting with senior wideout Joseph Leal for a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 22-0.
Luna wasn’t done yet, adding a 9-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion to Leal to send the Panthers into the final quarter up 30-0.
“He’s a Swiss Army knife, man,” Weslaco High head coach Roy Stroman said. “He can play anything. He can play DB. He can play receiver. He wanted it. He’s been playing with a chip on his shoulder. He’s always been told he’s too small, but he proved tonight he’s the MVP of our district without a doubt.”
Luna’s big night was matched by a physical ground game and an equally dominant defense that limited Economedes’ explosive offense to just over 300 yards and forced four turnovers.
Sophomore Malachi Rodriguez led the rushing attack with 112 yards and two touchdowns, including a 6-yard score early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Defensive backs Seth Moya and Jacob Villa each added an interception, while defensive lineman Pedro Villarreal forced a fumble for the Panthers.
“When you force a running team like that to pass the football, that’s when we knew,” Stroman said. “We knew if we could get them to pass, that’s not what that offense is intended to do. When they threw the ball, we got turnovers. That gave us short fields, and that’s when our offense came in and put it in the end zone.”
A pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns brought the Jaguars within three scores late, but it proved too little, too late, as the Panthers secured a 37-13 victory and their second district title in three years.
Weslaco High (8-2, 5-0) now turns its attention to a Class 6A Division I bi-district matchup against San Benito. The meeting will mark the fourth in the past two years between the two teams, with Weslaco High winning each time, including a 10-7 non-district victory earlier this season.
Meanwhile, Economedes prepares for a Class 6A Division I bi-district clash against Los Fresnos to open the postseason.
Game details for both matchups are still to be determined.
