Bay City Tribune

PALACIOS – After breaking one of the longest playoff absences in Texas football history, the Sharks took it a step further and won the bi-district championship with a 17-6 thumping of West Oso.

Palacios faces the undefeated Rio Hondo at 7 p.m. on Friday to settle the area playoffs. The battle is staged at Cabinass Stadium in Corpus Christi.

The Sharks clearly dominated West Oso in Victoria, despite the low offensive production. Palacios finished with 238 yards and held West Oso to 202.

The defense, despite a 59-yard pass that led to the Bears’ only touchdown, didn’t give up a single big play and was a raging force for Palacios. They had four sacks on the quarterback, five hits for loss and three interceptions.

Rio Hondo will be a tough team to corral as one of four Texas 3A teams still undefeated. The Bobcats are 11-0 after beating Lyford 47-12 in bi-district.

Dual threat quarterback Joseph Vela has 758 rushing yards and 855 passing with 20 all-purpose TDs. Running back Jacob Martinez has 126 carries for 1,144 yards and 17 touchdowns, but the rusher didn’t make an appearance in bi-district playoffs.

The Bobcats have a gnarly defense that has given up just 72 points all season – an average of just 6.5 points per game over 11 games. They’ve got four shutouts to boot.

If Martinez doesn’t show up Friday, the Sharks might just have an easier time of it, but it won’t be a walk in the park. Trevor David has 465 yards and seven touchdowns and Lorenzo Bocanegra has nearly 200 yards with five touchdowns.

Receivers Shane Eizember and Isaiah De La Cruz both have four rushing touchdowns. Eizember has 28 receptions for 312 yards and De La Cruz has 20 for 251.

Vela has targets all over the field with five others teaming up for a combined 359 yards and four scores.

The Sharks, although unheard of in Class 3A playoffs, are making a lot of noise this year.