BY MIKE GONZALEZ
The Brownsville Herald

November 27, 2006 — Jeremy Springer says the Los Fresnos Falcons aren’t done yet.

While most great Rio Grande Valley Class 5A football teams of the past remember the third round as a farewell party, Springer said there’s more to come when the Falcons (12-0) face Austin Westlake (9-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Division I regional round in Victoria.

Los Fresnos, along with Harlingen South and McAllen Memorial, looks to join Harlingen High (1989), Mission High (1990) and Edinburg High (1999) as the only 5A programs in the Valley to win three games in the postseason.

“They’re a big team (and) gonna be good,” Springer said. “We’re gonna come out and execute our of-fense and defense. I don’t want my season to end (this) week.”

The Falcons’ season isn’t over, thanks in part to the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder’s performance in Friday night’s 55-28 area round win over La Joya.

The Los Fresnos quarterback gave the Falcon faithful one last memorable show, throwing for 295 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes. He also added 73 yards on the ground and two rushing scores in what was likely the final game of the season at Leo Aguilar Stadium.

Exactly how remarkable has the left-hander been?

At this point, Springer has racked up 3,190 yards, 40 touchdowns and only six interceptions. In fact, the last time Springer was picked off was against Pace over a month ago. Since then, Springer has gone 62-for-99 for 1,329 yards and 21 touchdowns in five games played. An impressive feat considering Springer averages 20 pass attempts a game.

“If a Division-I school don’t come out here to sign him, they’re crazy,” Los Fresnos coach Scott Ford said.

Springer did have some support from teammates Danny Mendez and Siriboto Rareba on the ground. Mendez carried the ball eight times for 81 yards while Rareba rushed for 106 on 13 carries. It was an impressive offensive show, which racked up 540 total yards on 29 first downs.

And thanks to the beef up front led by Mario Benavides, Julian Escalon, Albert Gomez, Aaron Garza, Keith Stober and Eloy Atkinson, Springer ended the game with pretty much a clean jersey.

On defense, the Falcons did give up large chunks of yardage but did force two turnovers, sacked La Joya quarterback Javier Acevedo three times and came up with two goal-line-stands led by middle line-backer Justin Springer and defensive back Trinidad Gara, who picked off Acevedo in the second quarter.

To Ford’s dismay, it was a perfect way to end the 2006 home schedule should it be the finale.

“I’m glad we finished off in style,” Ford said. “It doesn’t get better than that for us.”

mgonzalez@brownsvilleherald.com