By DUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ
BROWNSVILLE, Texas |...Never in the history of Rio Grande Valley football has there ever been a comeback like this one. High school football here this time of the year is about 66-0, 72-7 defeats to bigger, faster upstate schools.
Look it up.
Last night, that humiliating, road-tired script was rewritten, and written to include last second drama of the sort that only unfolds in Hollywood. Friday Night Lights? This was a true, blue supernova explosion in 20 seconds, one that left a packed Sams Stadium crowd gasping for air.
The scrappy Brownsville Veterans Memorial High kids raised their late-blooming record to 12-2, whipping favored - and undefeated - Corpus Christi Miller, 35-28, in a comeback for the ages.
Down 21-0 at one point, the BVM Chargers mustered the best of guts to claw back, draw even and then scoot ahead in the final seconds. Again, we ask: Can you say Chargermania!!!
It's onto the state semifinals against a tough Smithson Valley (Comal County) squad (13-1), but, then, the Chargers have walloped two ranked, undefeated teams in the last two weeks. Is there life after a stunning fourth quarter victory. Perhaps there is for the older fans who remember every defeat this city's - and the Valley's - schools took at the hands of northern squads.
Is Desi Najera up off the floor yet?
He was the last Great Hope back in the old Brownsville High days, the scrambling QB's lasting impression being a loss to the faster, tougher Seguin Matadors at hallowed Sams Stadium back in the late 1960s - a game that still lives in infamy around here.
This time, this night, things would be and end differently.
Credit Chargers QB Storm Montoya with four touchdowns. Give a whoop and a holler to scatback Gilbert Trillo for his dazzling 20-yard run with seconds remaining for the win. You could not have written a better ending sitting at a Starbucks with a cup of steaming-hot Black coffee and a sexy dame at your side.
The Chargers, as sportswriters like to write, took it to Corpus Christi.
Hail, Chargers!!
This from the coaches, as reported by the Caller-Times:
Miller head coach Justen Evans on the loss: "We have to finish the fourth quarter. We’re up by 21 in the fourth quarter and we throw an interception. Fumble the ball. We gave them short fields and turned over the ball. That was the difference. We have to convert on those extra possessions. Shutting them out in the first half, we should have had more than 14 points. That is on me. I’ve got to be better. This one stings. Now we have to learn how to win in the fourth round."
From Veterans Memorial coach JC Ramirez on the comeback win: "Quarterback Storm Montoya was phenomenal. He has always been a great player but he grew up tonight. He’s not just a great player, he showed he is a great leader."
Yes, Maria, dreams do come true.
The entire, oft-whipped Rio Grande Valley is watching the never-say-die kids from Brownsville.
Shock & awe, Baby...
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Nice writeup, sir.
ReplyDeletetwo halves; two games. Vets won the one that mattered!
ReplyDeleteLosing 14-0 at halftime and then Miller ran the second half kickoff back for a TD. I thought it was over.
ReplyDeleteBrownsville Vets did valley proud.
ReplyDeleteWow. Could they get to play #1 Aledo? I would've said no, but not now. great win!!!
ReplyDeleteValley needed this win. Gotta get over the hump!
ReplyDelete