Stepping Up: Backup QB, defense carry Cardinals past Raiders
PHARR — Harlingen High backup quarterback Alexester Serna Jr. spent all week long in limbo, with the status of starting quarterback Hassan Woolery in question due to injury.
Prior to kickoff Friday, the junior was told he’d see a majority of the snaps against top ranked PSJA North.
Serna did what was asked of him with his number called, leading a pair of scoring drives, while the defense forced five turnovers as the Cardinals stunned the Raiders 15-9 during a District 32-6A contest Friday at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.
“It’s déjà vu,” Gomez said. “The same thing happened back in like the 90s. His dad was on my staff and he had to come in and play because the 6-foot-3 quarterback broke his thumb. His name was Nate Morton. He came in and led us 2-3 rounds into the playoffs. It’s beautiful. It’s awesome to see that happen with dad and son.”
Serna entered the contest after just two plays by Woolery, struggling early on against a physical PSJA North defense.
The Cardinals defense helped their young quarterback out, however, scoring the game’s first points on a 50-yard scoop-and-score by Ethan Martinez to put Harlingen High up 6-0 in the second.
“We knew we had to step up as a defense and get the ball back as much as we can for our offense as we could,” Harlingen High linebacker Davian Renteria said. “Hopefully QB1 will be back next week.”
After Martinez’s touchdown, PSJA North found line on offense, driving 42-yards on just eight plays to take their first lead of the game on a three-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Drayden Espinoza.
The lead didn’t last long, however, with Serna making some plays on the ensuing drive, including a 31-yard pass to Jesus Luna, to set up his team inside the 10 late in the second.
The Cardinals capitalized on Serna’s big-play, turning it into a six-yard touchdown run by senior Nathaniel Gonzales to make it 12-9 at the break.
“In the pregame I was told I was going to be out here,” Serna said. “My thoughts were lets go do the impossible. People counted us out. … The gameplan was just really playing our version of football and going down an executing. I guess it worked.”
A trio of forced turnovers by the Cardinals defense kept them up by three going into the fourth, with a fumble recovery by Jay Garza setting Harlingen High up inside the 45 to start the final period.
Once again Serna and Gonzales did enough to get the Cardinals points, driving down into field goal range to set up a 25-yard field goal by Josiah Perez to make it 15-9 midway through the fourth.
Still, the Raiders remained in the game, putting together one final drive in search of the go-ahead score. The touchdown wouldn’t come, however, with Harlingen High’s defense forcing a turnover on downs inside the redzone to secure the win.
“Defense man, they really won this game for us,” Serna said. “My name was just called to step up, and I had to come in and play a full game, which I hadn’t done in a while. We needed to execute and do better on offense, but our defense did their thing with those turnovers and we were able to win the game.”
The Raiders fall to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in district with the loss. They’ll take on San Benito (4-3, 1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito.
Meanwhile, Harlingen High improves to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in district with the win. They’ll look to secure its playoff berth as they hosts Brownsville Veterans (5-2, 1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
