SAN DIEGO - It's not technically a "rivalry game", but it sure feels like one. This week's Marquee Matchup pits Aransas Pass (6-2) and San Diego (8-0), the winner: District 16-2A-D1 Champions.

"It's going to be a battle Friday night," Vaqueros lineman Zachary Pizzini said. "We're both good teams, we have good running backs, they have good running backs. It's going to come down to who wants it more."

The Vaqueros will be looking to defend their district crown, while the Panthers are looking for the first district title in over a decade. Aransas Pass dropped down from Class 3A this past offseason, and told us in the preseason they felt they could be the district champs when it's all said and done.

"All week we've been calling it a 48-minute war from the very first play to the very last play," Tyler Evans, Panthers defensive lineman said. "That's all we've been practicing for."

These two teams squared off a year ago in San Diego. The Panthers won that game easily, 25-0. The Vaqueros haven't forgotten, they're using that, as well as last year's 2nd round playoff exit, as motivation on Friday night.

"It's crazy right now, this week we're going to hit it hard," San Diego linebacker Reno Perez said. "Harder than ever before."

"We want this and this is just the beginning for us," linebacker Lucas Lopez III added. "We want to go deep into the playoffs."

Friday night's winner will have a leg up on a playoff run, as they'll have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. And don't forget about that District Title.

"It's been a while since we've won a district championship," says Panthers linebacker Roger Ramos. "This is going to be a big game for us."

For the best High School Football coverage in the Coastal Bend, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to like the Friday Night Fever on Facebook.

Click here to follow @KRISsports on twitter.

 

Permalink| Comments