By Ramiro Paez

Special to 956sports.com

SAN ANTONIO – Maybe it’ll take some time for Weslaco East’s Aaron Munguia to reflect on the season the Wildcats had this year, but on Friday afternoon, the senior running back found little, if nothing, to feel good about.

For the second consecutive year, Cedar Park, the state’s fifth-ranked team, eliminated Weslaco East from the postseason after its 49-0 victory during its Class 4A Division I regional semifinal at the Alamodome.

“We tried our best,” an obviously disappointed Munguia said. “There’s no reason for us to come out like this. It shouldn’t have ended like this. Third round isn’t an accomplishment. We need to get past the third round. That’s an accomplishment. Getting here, that ain’t nothing.”

Munguia is right to expect more than becoming complacent of reaching what seems to be the Valley’s roadblock year in and year out. After all, winning a state title is why every team plays.

On Saturday, however, those title aspirations just weren’t realistic.

The Timberwolves, who carried a No. 1 ranking entering last season’s semifinal meeting, dominated all the way through their second straight shutout victory. Cedar Park scored on its first four possessions, leading 28-0 at halftime, and completely shut down the Wildcats’ daunted running game.

No. 1 or not, Weslaco East coach Armando Cuellar knew the Timberwolves were just that superior.

“They were a very, very good football team,” Cuellar said. “To beat a team like this, you can’t make mistakes and you got to fight to the end.”

The Wildcats turned over the ball five times, thwarting several of their second-half scoring opportunities, but four of those turnovers came after Cedar Park held a comfortable 35-0 lead early in the third quarter.

Weslaco East struggled to slow down Timberwolves quarterback Brian Hogan, who rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Hogan, who sat most of the second half, also tossed a touchdown – a 15-yarder to Alex Curl that made it 21-0 with 9:02 remaining in the first half.

The Timberwolves finished with 442 yards.

While Cedar Park (11-2) scored at will, Weslaco East fought for every yard it could muster.

It wasn’t much after the Timberwolves’ defense held the Wildcats to 177 yards, including 29 in the first half. Munguia finished with 119 yards on 30 carries, but his big-play ability was non-existent most of the game.

“I don’t know what I can say about this game,” Munguia said. “It’s no good, it’s a sick feeling. I was considered one of the best backs in the state, but I didn’t feel like it in this game. They shut me down. I give it to the Timberwolves’ defense.”

It’s a feeling Munguia might not want to accept at the moment, but maybe over time he’ll realize his team may not have accomplished what it did without him. On top of rushing for more than 1,000 yards, he helped the Wildcats to an 11-win season, an outright District 32-4A title and a second consecutive third-round appearance.

Easier said than done.

“We gave it all heart,” Weslaco East quarterback John Arevalo said. “Anyone who makes it to the third round is a good football team, and we just wanted to come over and show that we won’t stop fighting. We got that fight and heart. Every one of us.”

Like he said, every one of them.

“Anything positive out of this,” Munguia questioned himself. “Never to give up. No matter how big or fast or strong they are, never give up.”

Something the Wildcats clearly haven’t done through the years, shaping into a true Valley contender.

“The effort and never-give-up attitude displayed here tonight is something I’m real proud of,” Cuellar said. “This type of effort is what’s going to help us get over the hump one of these days.”

Tags: cedar park, weslaco east