Todd's Take

The Bears drove 80 yards in 4 minutes, 40 seconds with Justin Villanueva scoring on a 3-yard TD run. Pace’s defense offered little resistance. This could be a long night for the Vikings.

One discouraging note for PSJA is that tailback Osvaldo Cantu limped off the field after a 6-yard run gave the Bears first-and-goal at the 3. He has missed time with an ankle injury.

Off to a bit of a late start here as I couldn’t find PSJA Stadium coming from the McAllen Convention Center instead of taking one of my usual routes here (either my residence or my office).

Once I arrived — after almost killing a dog in a cul de sac in Pharr — I found PSJA Stadium went from one of my favorite places to cover a game to the bottom of the list. Like many stadiums now, the “Press” box no longer contains the press. At least on the home side.

The stadium’s new scoreboard requires two desktop computers, whose monitors take up the entire press table in the home press box. Thus, the stadium can no longer have house the one reporter whose job is to make sure the people who can’t come to the game find out what happened on Friday night.

All right. Should be a good one. Actually, not really. This game should be a blowout. Check back for updates.

Facing a fourth-and-eight at its own 42 with 3:34 remaining, Nathan Salazar’s pass intended for Mike Reynoso was deflected and fell harmlessly to the turf. It looks like Mercedes will close this one out.

Remember to check back on rgvsports.com for all of the Week 10 final scores and game stories later tonight.

Vaya con dios.

After a Mercedes fumble, Mission quarterback Nathan Salazar found Ivan Garcia for a 22-yard TD pass in which Garcia used his size to take the ball away from the smaller defensive back. The point after attempt was blocked.

Mission has 7:45 remaining to try and salvage its season.

Alex Trevino redeemed himself nicely after losing a fumble to start the quarter.

Showing that he’s just too fast and shifty for the Mission High defense, Trevino took another short screen the distance, this time weaving his way 66 yards through the Mission defense for the score.

Before Trevino’s score, Mission had a chance to cut its deficit to 22-14, but had a touchdown called back by an illegal procedure penalty.

There’s 3:10 left in the third.

The Eagles are on the board thanks to an 18-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Salazar to The Duke, wide receiver John Wayne Cerda. A couple of quarterback draws by Salazar put Mission in position for its first score of the game.

We have 9:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Having problems with the computer tonight. The only score not updated (I think) was an Alex Trevino 62-yard TD reception, his third score of the game.

Trevino has 87 yards rushing (eight attempts) and two receptions for 68 yards.

Mission drove to the Mercedes 13 late in the second quarter, but a personal foul penalty and then an intentional grounding infraction took the Eagles out of the red zone and into the dead zone.

Hope Tom Lee has an inspiring talk he’s saved because he’s going to need it.

Alex Trevino scored his second touchdown of the game, this one a 2-yard walk into the end zone with 5:02 remaining before halftime.

Mission’s offense is MIA with just one first down and nine plays run. Mercedes has already run 30 plays from scrimmage. This one has the look of a blowout.

This one was supposed to be posted in the first quarter:

Alex Trevino might be pretty good after all.

Trevino was the key figure in Mercedes’ 10-play, 74-yard drive that put the first points on the scoreboard. Trevino rushed five times for 62 yards on the march, including the final 12 for the touchdown. On his scoring run Trevino seemed bottled up around right end, but outraced the stuck-in-mud Mission defense to the corner.

Mercedes then faked the point after attempt with holder/quarterback Albert Chavez hitting Israel Vela in the end zone for the 8-0 lead with 1:46 remaining in the first.

Mercedes missed a field goal, Mission ball.

Mercedes is on the Mission High 19 with a first-and-10 to start the second. Mission better find a way to slow Mercedes down or those playoff hopes will quickly vanish.

On a side note, a Mission loss tonight likely marks the Eagles’ final Class 4A game for at least two years as they’re expected to make the jump to 5A next season. That could be tough adjustment for Mission if its struggling in 32-4A.