Central Catholic, Highlands and Memorial among seven area winners

Teams included: Burbank, Edison, Harlandale, Holy Cross, Jefferson, McCollum, Memorial, Southside, Southwest.

In future years, Harlandale fans may refer to this as the Brandon Ramon era.

The Indians’ senior quarterback completed five touchdown passes in leading Harlandale to a 48-6 win over Burbank Friday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium. The Indians are off to a 3-0 start for the second-consecutive season, both with Ramon at the helm.

Last year was the first time Harlandale had opened 3-0 since 2001.

Joshua Mendoza made his first two receptions in an Indians uniform Friday, and each went for a long touchdown. Ramon (12 of 18, 266 yards) and Mendoza connected on a 61-yard score that gave Harlandale a 6-0 lead with 6:14 left in the first quarter. The senior scored on another 61-yard pass play with 9:44 remaining in the half.

James Mendoza (3 catches, 67 yards) also had two touchdown receptions. He reached the end zone on a 15-yard reception with 15 seconds to play in the first quarter and a nine-yarder with 1:37 left in the half.

Senior back Nicholas Martinez (12 carries, 97 yards) scored on a 19-yard pass from Ramon in the second quarter. Harlandale led 34-0 at halftime.

Burbank senior Jeremy Sanchez gave the Bulldogs (1-2) their first score on a five-yard fumble return. Offensively, Sanchez ran 17 times for 117 yards but Harlandale’s defense limited the Bulldogs quarterback to 13 passing yards.

Burbank committed four turnovers and gained 164 total yards. Harlandale finished with 460.

Junior John Aguirre (10 carries, 60 yards) ran for the Indians’ last two touchdowns.

Highlands 21, McCollum 7

The Owls (2-1) broke a scoreless tie with back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter. Highlands went on to hand McCollum (2-1) its first loss Friday at the SAISD Complex.

Highlands senior quarterback Jordan DeLuna (16 of 35, 172 yards) threw to speedy Elijay Garces for a 47-yard score with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter. It was the first touchdown McCollum had allowed under first-year coach Juan Hinojosa.

In 2 ½ minutes, Highlands was ahead 13-0. DeLuna passed six yards to Darrian Todd for the touchdown.

McCollum scored on a 79-yard pass play from Ralph Vidal to Mike Ramirez. Both are juniors. The Cowboys trailed 13-7 after three quarters.

Shortly after Highlands notched a safety, the scoreboard went out for five minutes. It didn’t prove to be a momentum-changer for the Cowboys.

Garces (2 receptions, 68 yards) caught his second touchdown pass with 3:05 left in the game. The senior scored from 21 yards out on DeLuna’s third scoring pass.

Despite the loss, McCollum won the total yardage battle, 252-187. The Cowboys limited Highlands to 15 rushing yards.

Central Catholic 28, Southside 0

The Buttons (1-2) earned their first victory of the season and their first shutout since Oct. 26, 2012.

Halfback option pass from Joseph Nava to Will Barr (69 yards, 3 receptions) accounted for Central Catholic’s first touchdown. Barr also caught a 30-yard scoring pass from Nava 29 seconds before halftime at Bob Benson Stadium.

Nava (182 yards, 22 carries) exploded 54 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter, giving Central Catholic a 21-0 edge. The junior completed eight of 13 passes for 137 yards.

Dillon Clemence caught a 20-yard pass from Nava to complete the scoring with 10:33 remaining in the game. Senior Ray Cortez had three catches for 39 yards.

Central Catholic finished with 354 yards in total offense, while limiting Southside to 224.

Cardinals sophomore quarterback Johnny Trevino passed for 120 yards. Timmy Rodriguez ran 14 times for 76 yards. Jake Ramos made four catches for 42 yards.

The Cardinals threw four interceptions for the third-consecutive game.

Memorial 27, Lytle 14

The Minutemen (2-1) scored the last 24 points Friday to drop Lytle from the ranks of the unbeaten. Although their big three offensive players (Alfred Ramos, Raul Rangel and Manases Cano) all made an impact, Memorial’s defense made the biggest splash – holding Lytle scoreless after halftime on its home field.

The Pirates (2-1) led 14-10 at the half. Cano (97 yards, 3 receptions) gave Memorial momentum, scoring on a 55-yard pass play from Ramos with 1:19 until halftime.

Steven Hernandez scored on a 16-yard pass from Ramos (7 of 15, 172 yards) late in the third quarter. Memorial put the game away with an 89-yard touchdown run from Rangel (136 yards, 14 carries) and a 42-yard field goal from Gabriel Robles. Robles made a 32-yard field goal with 6:15 left in the first quarter for Memorial’s first three points.

Lytle scored 94 points in its first two games, but mustered just 225 total yards against the Minutemen. Memorial gained 362.

Southwest 31, Lee 7

The Dragons (2-1) rushed for 255 yards and four touchdowns for a dominating win over previously undefeated Lee (2-1).

Reilly Riggs (76 yards, 12 carries) and Jon Cruz ran for touchdowns of 35 and 15 yards in the first quarter. A 24-yard field goal from Misael Higa increased the lead to 17-0 at halftime.

Bryan Donnell (153 yards, 11 attempts) gave the Dragons a 24-point lead early in the third quarter. Riggs completed the scoring for Southwest with a seven-yard run with 29 seconds left in the quarter.

The Volunteers averted the shutout with a 34-yard pass from Freedom Salas to Anthony Green, little more than a minute into the fourth quarter. Lee was limited to 136 total yards.

Edison 29, Pearsall 0

The Golden Bears (1-2) blanked Pearsall (0-3) for the second-consecutive year.

The Mavericks actually outgained Edison 223-173 in total yards. The Golden Bears took the lead with 15 second-quarter points, starting with a safety. David Sanchez (41 yards, 2 catches) caught two touchdown passes of three and 38 yards from Jonathon Hernandez

Francisco Gomez broke a 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and hauled in an 18-yard scoring pass from Hernandez (5 of 7, 86 yards) in the fourth.

Golden Bears senior Andres Aguilar ran for 68 yards.

Kennedy 43, Jefferson 13

The week away from competition certainly was beneficial for the Rockets (2-0). Coming off a bye week, Kennedy defeated Jefferson (0-3) for the second-straight year.

While the 2012 meeting was a nail-biter, there wasn’t much tension Friday at the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex. Kennedy scored the first 37 points to win the non-district matchup.

Three Rockets threw at least three passes, but that didn’t affect Kennedy’s ability to move the ball consistently. Senior back Matthew Avalos ran for 147 yards on 19 attempts, opening the scoring with a 60-yard run 20 seconds in the game.

A safety and a 43-yard interception return from Matthew Guzman built a 16-0 lead with 10:29 until halftime. Guzman (87 yards, 3 receptions) also caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Rangel (53 passing yards) shortly before the half.

Kennedy quarterback Eric Lira ran one-yard for a touchdown in the third quarter. Isaiah Garcia caught a 25-yard scoring pass from Blade Alvarado (71 passing yards) with 8:47 remaining in the game.

Jefferson scored its first points on the ensuing kickoff. Phillip Hudspeth returned it 85 yards to cut Kennedy’s lead to 37-7. On the Mustangs’ next possession, Jesse Flores (114 yards, 11 carries) tallied a 50-yard scoring run.

Avalos counted his second touchdown on a two-yard carry with 5:13 to play.

Weston Redding passed for 81 yards for Jefferson.

Navarro 40, Holy Cross 20

Holy Cross scored early, but host Navarro scored often Friday.

The Knights (1-2), who lost for the second-straight week, tied it 7-7 with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter on an eight-yard run from Greg Scott. The Panthers (3-0) scored the next 20 points.

Scott (122 rushing yards, 46 receiving yards) ran 34 yards for Holy Cross’ second touchdown with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Knights were within 27-14, but Navarro scored twice more before Greg Kelly (85 yards, 6 receptions) completed their scoring with a six-yard catch from Cisco Flores (16 of 23, 192 yards).

Holy Cross finished with 340 total yards and committed no turnovers. Navarro gained 416 and overcame two lost fumbles.