Rodriguez’s four touchdowns, strong defense carry Panthers past Mustangs

McALLEN — Weslaco High’s Malachi Rodriguez made himself at home in the end zone during Week 1. The junior running back crossed the goal line three times during the Panthers’ season opener against Weslaco East.

Rodriguez delivered an even better encore performance in Week 2, scoring four of the Panthers’ seven offensive touchdowns during a 55-7 thrashing of McAllen Memorial on Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“I’m blessed to have him alongside me,” Weslaco High quarterback Lupe Granados said. “He’s a dawg. He’ll run through anyone. He’ll do anything to protect me and I’ll do anything to have his back.”

Rodriguez found the end zone early in the game, running it in from 12 yards out to give Weslaco High a 14-0 lead after one quarter. The touchdown came after a 35-yard touchdown run by Granados to start the scoring for the Panthers.

In the second quarter, Rodriguez and the Weslaco offense blew the game open, with the junior running back finding the end zone from 1 and 9 yards, while Granados added a 78-yard touchdown run and a 5-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tristan Quintanilla to give the Panthers a 42-0 halftime lead.

“It’s about leadership,” Weslaco High head coach Roy Stroman said. “That’s the way it should be. They hold each other accountable. They play like a team. We can be unstoppable if we play like a team. Our biggest opponent is ourselves. Just happy about the way they played. I told them this is what’s expected from now on.”

While the offense exploded for six first-half touchdowns, the defense did more than pull its own weight, bottling up McAllen Memorial’s dynamic duo of Oscar Jasso and Braxton Speights.

With defensive back Seth Moya leading the way, the Panthers held the Mustangs to just 64 yards during the first two quarters while pitching a first-half shutout.

“Coming in, the defensive side at least, we knew we have what it takes to shutout anybody we face,” Stroman said. “This was just another obstacle in the way. Other than that, its just beautiful to have us all play as one unit.”

Rodriguez and Weslaco High picked up right where they left off in the third quarter, with Rodriguez finding the end zone on a 7-yard run for his fourth touchdown of the night. The score moved him to seven touchdowns through two games.

A 58-yard touchdown scamper by Speights put the Mustangs on the board late in the third, but that would be their only score, with Weslaco High’s defense putting the exclamation point on the win with a 90-yard pick-six by Moya to end the game 55-7.

“He’s a leader,” Stroman said. “He’s our defensive leader, him and Kike (Rodriguez). They compete. Those two guys compete for tackles and interceptions. I know Kike was happy for him, but I’m sure he’s wanting to play better next week. That’s what expected from Seth. That’s what expected from leaders. Those who can, must. That’s what he did tonight.”

The Mustangs (1-1) will look to bounce back in their non-district finale next Friday, hosting Los Fresnos (2-0) at 7 p.m. at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Meanwhile, Weslaco High (2-0) will look to stay perfect as it hosts the Mission Veterans Patriots (1-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.