Dog Fighting Friday – Progress Times

The Lobos and the Huskies face each other

Tonight at La Joya ISD Stadium, the (2-2, 5-2) Palmview Lobos face the (0-4, 1-6) Juarez-Lincoln Huskies in a District 16-5A game with some big implications. The rivalry between the partner schools is sure to be intense as both teams look to leave the field with a win. For the Lobos, a win would help them get closer to the playoffs, which has been their goal since the start of the season. A win would be huge for the Huskies. After failing to win 30 straight games, the Huskies finally picked up their first non-district win this season and are now looking for their first district win.

The Lobos are 2-2 in their last four games. They are coming off a narrow 28-27 win over the 1-3 McAllen Bulldogs, a team that has made the playoffs in four of the last six seasons and has made several deep playoff runs. This impressive win helped the Lobos advance to fifth place in District 16-5A. With only four teams in the district making the playoffs, a win tonight could be the difference between playing in the postseason or not.

Progress Times spoke with Lobos head coach Margarito Requenez about their main goal: “Our number one goal is to put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs.” Requenez said: “If we win, we'll be in playoff contention, in which we have to win one of the last two games to see whether we are there or not.”

The Huskies will look to build on the momentum of their first win in 30 games. They fought hard in this tough district. In their last game, they suffered a tough 45-7 loss to the 0-4 Memorial Mustangs, the top team in the district. The week before they lost 44-3 to the Vela Sabercats 4-0 and before that they lost 54-14 to the Rowe Warriors 3-1. It's been a tough time for the Huskies, but winning tonight would mean a lot. If they win, it would be their first district win since the 2019-20 season.

Progress Times spoke with Huskies head coach Danny Cortez about this match: “Coach Requenez runs a great program. These kids are coached well and are prepared for the game.”

For the Lobos to win, they have to stick to the script. The Lobos are known for their run-first offense that relies on a lot of runners. This season they also opened up the passing game with quarterback and receiver duo Josue and Joe Esparza. These brothers have allowed the Lobos offense to do more than just run away. Joseph Martinez, another quarterback, is also an important part of their offense as a passer and rusher while Esparza is off the field. Kyle Bazan, the Lobos' leading rusher, was the standout among their many capable running backs.

The Lobos' defense has improved greatly from last year. Last season they gave up over 31 points per game. This season they are only allowing 20 points per game. The Huskies don’t pose a threatening offense, but Requenez reminded us, “It’s a rivalry game. It’s a big game and the Huskies always find a way to play well against us, so it’s going to be a battle.”

Additionally, Requenez added, “Coach Cortez did a great job there with the kids, and even though their record doesn't show it, they played well. “We have to stay focused as a team and make sure we do what we do must. It’s a big week for us and it’s a very important game.”

Stopping the run will be crucial for the Huskies. In their last game against the Bulldogs, 250 of the 300 yards they gained came from the running game. Controlling the offensive line will be crucial for the Huskies to gain an advantage. One way for the Huskies to win is to keep up with the Lobos. Their fast-paced game is the heart of the team. You're more likely to see a bee sting than the Huskies pass the ball tonight. On the floor for the Huskies is a mix of their two biggest offensive weapons: quarterback John Menchaca and running back Ramiro Olivarez.

Cortez spoke about the challenge ahead, saying: “I know it's going to be a tough game and I know they have a great team, but we're going to focus on what we can control and what we can decide.” the cards fall as they will. We will do it the right way, with discipline and good sportsmanship, and we will fight hard in this game.”

Kickoff for tonight's game is at 7:30 p.m. at La Joya ISD Stadium and it should be a good game. Progress Times wishes both teams and the rest of the Big 7 teams the best of luck as their seasons come to an end.