Preview: Hidalgo Pirates vs. Alice Coyotes
Hidalgo is 0-3 against Alice since November of 2020 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Hidalgo Pirates will be playing in front of their home fans against the Alice Coyotes at 7:30 p.m. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Hidalgo has struggled recently with 11 defeats in a row, while Alice will arrive with four straight wins.
Last Friday, Hidalgo was the victim of a rough 35-14 loss at the hands of La Feria.
Despite their loss, Hidalgo saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Derrick Garza, who threw for 138 yards and a touchdown, was perhaps the best of all.
Meanwhile, Alice strolled past Calallen with points to spare on Friday, taking the game 21-7.
Alice found their leader in underclassman Lucian Cruz, who rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 7.1 yards per carry.
Hidalgo's loss was their sixth straight on the road (dating back to last season), which dropped their overall record down to 0-7. Those losses could be blamed on the team's offensive performance across that stretch, as they only averaged 11.33 points per game. Alice has been no stranger to the win column this season, as they've started out with wins in five of their first six matches, giving them a 5-1 record.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's contest: Hidalgo has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 165.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Alice struggles in that department as they've been even better at 175 per game. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Hidalgo was taken down by Alice 48-7 when the teams last played back in October of 2022. Will Hidalgo have more luck at home instead of on the road?
