RE-PETE

Hidalgo holds a commanding 29-6 lead after three.

Hidalgo scores on another Perez TD run. His third TD of the game was a 26-yard run with7:28 left in the third quarter.

QB Oscar Perez scores on his second 35-yard with 9:32 left in the third quarter. Perez has 117 yards rushing and 101 yards passing.

Mercedes 83 yards of total offense… Tigers QB Albert Chavez 50 yards passing and 31 yards rushing … Tigers TB Alex Trevino 4 yards rushing and 6 receiving yards … Tigers RB Isreal Vela 20 yards receiving.

Hidalgo 147 total yards of offense … Pirates QB Oscar Perez 79 yards rushing, including a 35-yard TD run … Perez also has a 55-yard TD pass to Ricky Dominguez and remains the only TD reception for Hidalgo.

Hidalgo leads 16-6 at halftime, holding Mercedes to only 73 yards of total offense.

The Pirates struck first in the opening quarter with a 27-yard FG by Luis Peraza and then took a 10-0 lead on a 35-yard run by QB Oscar Perez. Perez connected with Rick Dominguez for a 55-yard TD pass that gave the Pirates a 16-0 lead.

Merecedes were able to move the move the ball 57 yards in the final two minutes of the half and scored on a Albert Chavez 6-yard run to cut the lead to 16-6.

Pirates takes advantage of generous field position to take a 10-0 lead after one.

You can’t knock these guys for trying. The few kids that do go out every year for Cougars football believe that their team will be the first to make the playoffs.

Eventually it will happen. I am not sure this will be this year, but stranger things have happened.

Even though the Cougars struggle to find players, it seems the days when Santa Maria was unsure it would even field a team in any given year are gone.

But with a thin roster and freshmen playing key roles, the Cougars will forever be underdogs.

The team is composed of mostly sophomores and juniors this season, so maybe a possible playoff berth in upcoming years is in the works. I wouldn’t bet on it.

PI had the opportunity to knock on its rivals but took the high road. The Tarpons read a comment last week in The Monitor’s Rio Hondo two-a-days story that suggested the true winnner between the two teams last year didn’t win.

The game between the teams determined the district championship. When asked about the RH comment, RB Nolan Nunez and QB David Alaniz looked at each other and smiled. They said they were aware of the commenet but shyed away from stricking back. Instead, they both said the game between the two teams this season will be a good one.

Before their interview, Tarpons coach Monty Stumbaugh warned his players against giving bullentin board material to their opponents. They did a good job.

Stumbaugh said he just worries about this season and moves on from the past. That is easy for him to say because his team won.

Who is saying what doesn’t really matter (although, I do enjoy the subtle jabs). The PI-RH rivalry is the best Class 3A has to offer at the present time. The game between the two teams should decide the district championship.

The Red Ants were somewhat better in 2006 with a 3-7 record and will be even better in 2007 even though their record will not show it.

Progreso should have a better passing game to go along with a modest runnning game. But the Red Ants compete in a tough District 32-3A. Expect them to go winless in district.

I was thinking how big of a story it would be if Progreso was to make the playoffs. That would be one of the biggest stories of the season. I just don’t see it happening.

Under Pirates coach Jorge Pena, the quarterback is the shinning star. Pena likes to take his best athlete and have him run the spread-option offense. This season senior Oscar Perez has been tapped as the QB.

Last season, Perez had to share time under center but this year will be allowed to dipsplay his talent. Pena expects Perez to develop into the player that 2005 District 32-3A MVP Jose Nava was.

If Perez is anything like Nava, he will guide the Pirates to the postseason just like his predecessor.