Trevino leads Cardinals to best performance of the season

Harlandale quarterback Brandon Ramon may not have played his best game of the season Thursday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium, but his leadership skills shone – as always – and he had a hand in all of the Indians touchdowns.

That was what first-place Harlandale (7-1, 4-1) needed to finally subdue a determined Southside (0-8, 0-5) team that played, unquestionably, its best game of the season. Ramon scored on a two-yard plunge with 6:14 remaining and the Indians’ defense held off the Cardinals for a 21-14 victory in the District 29-4A game.

“Every inch counts,” Ramon said, referring to his second effort in short-yardage situations, “and that one inch counted today.”

With the win, Harlandale inched a half-game ahead of Floresville (5-2, 3-1), Medina Valley (5-2, 3-1) and Uvalde (4-3, 3-1) for sole possession of first place.

Eighth-place Southside, in its second game under interim coach Eddie Moreno, pulled within seven points on a long drive that culminated with 3:58 remaining.

Cardinals sophomore quarterback Johnny Trevino (10 of 18, 164 yards) set up the touchdown with a 27-yard pass to tight end Justin Escobar and a nine-yarder to Ruben Zavala on a fourth-and-4. An 18-yard run by Trevino moved Southside to the 5-yard line.

Two carries from senior back Omar Guadarrama cut Harlandale’s lead to 21-14.

The Indians took over on their own 22. Ramon (19 of 29, 212 yards) passed nine yards to junior Ian Martinez to give Harlandale a third-and-short situation. On the next play, Southside senior defensive lineman Jeffrey Sanchez penetrated into the backfield to tackle Ramon short of the first down. On fourth-and-1 from the Harlandale 31, however, the senior quarterback picked up the necessary yardage.

Two long runs by senior back Nick Martinez (76 yards, 20 carries) enabled the Indians to run out the clock.

Veteran Harlandale coach Isaac Martinez said the decision to try for the first down was a reflection of the faith he has in his team.

“When you’ve got units you have confidence in, offensively and defensively,” Martinez said, “I had confidence my offense would make it. But if they didn’t, you have to have confidence your defense will shut them down.

“When you have that, you can take chances with your team. Today, it paid off.”

Harlandale outgained Southside 276-256 in total yards. Southside ran for 92 yards. The Indians finished with 32.

Ramon put Harlandale in the lead with a pair of touchdown passes in the defensive struggle.

The senior broke a scoreless tie by threading a 22-yard pass to Ian Martinez (93 yards, 6 receptions) with 4:59 left in the first half. Martinez made an over-the-shoulder catch about five yards deep in the end zone for the touchdown.

The Indians improved their lead to 14-0 with 7:14 to play in the third quarter. Nick Martinez set the stage with a pair of runs that netted 17 yards. Then Ramon found Eddie Pedroza (56 yards, 5 receptions) for a six-yard score. They had hooked up for a 35-yard gain which pushed Harlandale across midfield earlier in the drive.

Southside answered on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Trevino threw 27 yards to Zavala (106 yards, 7 receptions) to slash Harlandale’s lead to 14-7.