La Joya is preparing for their first district matchup of the season on Thursday. After each having a week off, they and the Weslaco Panthers will shake off the rust and duke it out at 7:00 p.m. La Joya has given up an average of 31.8 points per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Last Friday, La Joya came up short against Hanna and fell 35-28. The Coyotes have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Mauricio Mendoza
| 09/26/25 vs Hanna | 127 |
| 09/18/25 vs Alice | 170 |
| 09/12/25 @ Pace | 254 |
| 09/05/25 vs Lopez | 269 |
| 08/29/25 vs Rivera | 105 |
Despite the defeat, La Joya got top-tier performance from Mauricio Mendoza, who rushed for 127 yards and two TDs. Mendoza is crushing it when it comes to rushing yards: he's rushed for at least 105 every time he's taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Weslaco posted their closest victory since November 1, 2024 last Friday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against San Benito, sneaking past 10-7. The Panthers haven't had any issues with the Greyhounds recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
La Joya better keep an eye on David Garcia. He was instrumental in Weslaco's win, rushing for 108 yards on only 12 carries, while also catching one touchdown.
Weslaco now has a winning record of 3-2. As for La Joya, their loss dropped their record down to an identical 3-2.
Thursday's game might be decided on the ground. La Joya has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 209.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Weslaco struggles in that department as they've been averaging 173.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
La Joya was dealt a bruising 42-14 defeat at the hands of Weslaco when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Can the Coyotes avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
