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SPORTSDAY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2013

The coin toss for the 2007 Battle of the Arroyo in Harlingen.

Gabe Hernandez | gabrielh@themonitor.com

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL | The Great Rivalry

Despite lopsided series record, Harlingen-San Benito intense rivalry

By David Hinojosa The Monitor

The Battle
The Series
Part 4 of a five-part series taking a look at some of the Valleys top football rivalries.

Online

When a stranger takes a Let us know drive along U.S. Business what rivalries Highway 77 between Harlingen and San Benito, you think its difficult to tell where one are the best town ends and the other rivalries begins. on our But to the locals, the RGVSports distinction is very clear especially on one Friday Facebook night each fall. page. Its Harlingen High vs. San Benito. Its Big Red vs. Purple Thunder. Its the Battle of the Arroyo.

Ask anyone who knows anything about what is arguably the most storied rivalry in Valley high school football history, and the word intense is used in the description. I dont know if theres a way to describe it, said Bobby Lucio, a 1978 graduate of Harlingen High,

who has been an assistant coach with the Cardinals for 27 seasons. It gets intense. I dont know if its because its neighboring towns, and its an Our town is better than your town thing. Or its because some people move from San Benito to Harlingen and vise-versa. Its more like a family feud. If anything, its like the Hatfields and McCoys more than the Yankees-Red Sox. On paper, one might find it difficult to believe the game is a rivalry at all. Harlingen has dominated the series with a 57-20-5

record. They have met twice in the postseason with the Cardinals taking both contests. History may favor the Cardinals, but the rivalry is still strong decades after they first met in 1930. That doesnt take away from San Benitos intensity for us, Lucio said. Lucio, like many who live in the area, are sometimes caught in between. Lucios parents are from San Benito, and he still has plenty of family from there. Lucio
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57-20-5
Coming Saturday: Donna-Weslaco rivalry

All-Time head-to-head Harlingen leads

Swearingers swagger
DBs confidence a boost to Houston secondary
By Kristie Rieken The Associated Press

FOOTBALL | NFL

HOUSTON Texans rookie safety D.J. Swearinger doesnt know exactly what makes him so confident. Hes had a swagger since he was little. His fearlessness was helped by an encouraging mother and her karate teacher who shared what he called a warriors creed with a young Swearinger. That creed, which is tattooed on the back of his right triceps, begins with the words: I am never defeated. Its a mantra that has helped the South Carolina standout throughout his football career, and has served him well as hes wowed the Texans in the early days of training camp. You cant think twice about anything, Swearinger said. If you think twice about making a tackle or an interception, it messes with your mind a little bit. Youve got to go through everything with confidence.

Texans draft pick D.J. Swearinger runs across the field during training camp Thursday in Houston.
The second-round pick is already behaving like a seasoned veteran. Thats something the Texans could need if Ed Reed isnt healthy by the season opener and Swearinger has to start in his place. Coach Gary Kubiak isnt surprised by his development and said his maturity is one of the reasons

Pat Sullivan | The Associated Press

they drafted him. We knew thats what we were getting from our interviews with him and being around him, but I dont think we had any idea he was this mature in what he does as a football player, Kubiak said. We expected it, but with Reed being out, its been even more. Hes going to be a big part of this team. Swearinger has long looked up to Reed and can barely believe that he has the chance to be teammates with the ninetime Pro Bowler. Though Reed isnt yet practicing, the rookie is constantly peppering him with questions and trying to soak up his knowledge. Swearinger joined the Texans after starting for four seasons at South Carolina where he developed a reputation as one of the hardest hitting defensive backs in the Southeastern Conference. He had 79 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last season for the nations second-ranked defense.
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Dallas Cowboys guard Ronald Leary (65), guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, center and guard Nate Livings warm up during training camp last month in Oxnard, Calif.

Gus Ruelas | The Associated Press

Cowboys scrambling as injuries decimate OL

By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press

OXNARD, Calif. The Dallas Cowboys are suddenly so thin on the offensive line, they grabbed a player who lives 10 minutes from training camp in California. G o o d thing they at least had James Nelson in rookie camp in May, even if they decided not to sign him then. Funny what a little personnel emergency can do for someone who went to high school in nearby Ventura after finishing his college career at Texas-El Paso.

They called and asked, Hey, are you in Oxnard, said Nelson. I said, Yeah. Nelson will be in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday night, and should play in the preseason-opening Hall of Fame game against Miami three days after he signed. He says coaches told him to expect to play in the fourth quarter. It would probably be even earlier if Nelson played guard. The Cowboys dont have many healthy ones after starter Nate Livings underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for the second time in six months on Friday.

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