Progress Times

The Mission city council unanimously voted to keep the salaries of the fire and police departments steady at a special meeting held September 15 to adopt a budget for the next fiscal year which begins October 1.

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According to King, Mission has for years failed to adjust its operations to meet a smaller student population, forcing it to dip into its fund balance to cover deficits that the district hasn’t always forecast properly.

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https://www.progresstimes.net/2026/09/21/mission-school-board-warned-of-impending-finance-crunch/

After two weeks away, the UTRGV Vaqueros returned home and won their ninth consecutive game inside Vackar Stadium after defeating the McNeese State Cowboys by a final score of 27 to 10. The Vaqueros' first conference win of the season is their first since their week one victory over UT Permian Basin. The Vaqueros are still undefeated at home just two years into their program's existence.

"Protect the Vack at all costs... we're a family on the field, but the whole 956 is our family. So being back home, you could see it was just a different type of juice that we will take on the road," defensive back TJ Neal said when asked about the Vaqueros' undefeated home record.

The Vaqueros started slow, suffering a litany of offensive penalties that slowed their usually potent first-half production. Starting QB Garret Rangel exited early with an injury, which added to the complications. With Rangel out, the Vaqueros turned to junior Aidan Jakobsohn to right the ship. Jakobsohn finished the evening with over 200 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, one through the air and two on the ground. The Vaqueros bulldozed their way to 300 yards against the Cowboys thanks to the exploits of their versatile signal caller and running backs TJ Dement (13 car, 146 yds) and Brennan Carroll ( 13 car, 93 yds), who have emerged as the Vaqueros' top backs in an already loaded backfield. Kicker Brysen Garden added two chip-shot field goals at the end of each half that extended and eventually solidified the Vaqueros' lead for good.

On defense, the Vaqueros once again held the opposing offense to under 20 points and 300 total yards of offense. Not only did they suffocate the visitors, but they robbed them of numerous opportunities to shift the momentum thanks to three crucial interceptions from junior linebacker Jaiden Haygood (13 TOT) and fifth-year seniors Marcus Heard and TJ Neal (6 TOT). Neal's soaring, back-of-the-endzone, third-quarter interception halted a McNeese scoring drive that completely changed the character of the game.

"Hats off to the defense with big turnovers at the right time," Head Coach Travis Bush said when acknowledging his opportunistic defense.

The Vaqueros will now head into the break having completed the first quarter of their season, emerging 2-2 (1-1 SLC). The bi-week is much anticipated. Several Vaqueros will return from injury, while others will finally get a chance to recuperate. The Vaqueros will hopefully enter the next part of their season healthier and sharper for what lies ahead, especially with South Eastern Louisiana, Lamar, Central Arkansas, and Stephen F. Austin remaining on the schedule. The Vaqueros will face the East Texas A&M Lions on the road October 3rd.

"We have to stay mentally engaged, just continue to do what we do. The plan is set; the only thing that can mess it up is people. So just sticking to the plan. Showing up each and every day, winning the day... hit our points of emphasis and get ready to go on another tough road game and rewrite what we just had at Nicholls...," Heard Jr. said when describing the Vaqueros' focus heading into the bye week and beyond.

Here are some photos from tonight's game. To view more, click here:

https://progresstimes.smugmug.com/Sports/UTRGV-Vaqueros/Sept-19-2026-Football-McNeese-vs-UTRGV-LG

Progress Times photos by Luciano Guerra.

Big 7 Football Players of the Week!

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The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies made history tonight at La Joya ISD Pack Stadium by winning their fourth game of the season by a score of 24-19 over the Brownsville Lopez Lobos. With the win the 2026 Huskies became the first in school history to open their season at 4-0.

Immediately after the game, we spoke to Huskies’ head coach Daniel Cortez and asked him what it is about this team that has made such a huge difference. “The kids, it starts with the kids,” Cortez said. “And the coaching staff. I’ve always said that we’re a staff that gets along. We’re not separate. There’s no offense, defense or special teams. We all mingle together, we all eat together, we all hang out together and I think that’s rubbed off on our kids. Our kids are willing to play any side of the ball, anything they need to do just to help us win.”

The Huskies opened the scoring tonight on a 1 yard touchdown run by senior running back/wide receiver Santiago Lopez with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter. The Lobos tied the game at 7-7 on their next possession however on a 10 yard touchdown run with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter.

The Lobos then took their first lead of the game with 6:54 remaining in the second quarter on another 10 yard run into the endzone but a missed PAT made the score 13-7 Lobos. Less than a minute of game time later, the Huskies regained their lead when senior running back Hector Lopez ran the ball 51 yards into the endzone and made the score 14-13 Huskies.

Both defenses stiffened at that point however as the Lobos’ offense went three-and-out twice and the Huskies’ offense did the same once, which led to a scoreless remainder of the second quarter.
With 7:18 remaining in the third quarter, Santiago Lopez scored his second touchdown of the game for the Huskies on another 1 yard run to make the score 21-13 in favor of the home team.

Juarez-Lincoln senior placekicker Dylan Lopez kicked a 34 yard field goal with 9:18 remaining in the fourth quarter to make the score 24-13 Huskies. The Lobos weren’t done yet however as they scored on a 37 yard pass play with only 1:52 remaining in the game, but a failed two point conversion attempt made the score 24-19 Huskies. On a desperation call, the Lobos attempted an onside kick in hopes of regaining possession of the ball, but the Huskies foiled their attempt by recovering the kick. A few plays later, the Huskies called for the victory formation as they ran out the clock and sealed their historic victory.

The Huskies will be opening their District 16-5A-2 schedule Thursday when they host the 2-2 Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks at LJISD Pack Stadium. When asked what he is looking forward to the most about starting district play Cortez said, “One of our goals, whether it was Pioneer or any team, we respect all our opponents, we still have to prepare and we have a long way to go. We’re not there yet. We’re not naïve to the fact that we’re still building this thing. Tougher challenges are coming. But I think that when kids believe in themselves and they believe in their coaches and they believe in their school, special things can happen.”

“One of our goals was to win a district game,” Cortez added. “It’s been since 2019 that this school has not won a district game. Whether it happens against Pioneer or not we’ve still got work. We’re going to watch film and we’re going to see plenty of mistakes and we’ve gotta fix them. But one of our goals is to get a district win.”

Here are some photos from tonight’s game. To view more, click here

https://progresstimes.smugmug.com/Sports/Juarez-Lincoln/September-18-2026-Football-LJJL-vs-LopezJV

Progress Times photos by Joe Vela.

Fans were treated to bonus football at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission tonight as the Sharyland Rattlers (2-2) staved off a late comeback by the La Joya Coyotes (2-2) to win 42-41 in overtime.

Rattlers' head coach Craig Krell spoke to the Progress Times after tonight’s game, stating in an interview tonight’s game was “a tale of two halves.”

“I thought we were as good as [we] could be [in the first half],” Krell said. “After the half, we gave up a couple of big plays defensively [and] drop some balls offensively...We’ve just got to be more consistent on both sides of the ball.”

Sharyland’s passing attack shined tonight. Rattlers' sophomore QB William Taylor threw six touchdown passes to four different receivers. Senior Oscar Cantu and junior Austelio Mendoza caught two, while junior Asdrubal Flores and senior Francisco Gomez caught one each.

Taylor spoke with the media after the game, and told reporters that he and the team have high expectations and a lot of work to do after the win, “We came out in the first half shooting,” Taylor said. “Came out in the second half slow and that’s on me … “We’re gonna recover [in the bye] and go look for a gold ball.”

The Progress Times spoke with Coyotes head coach Reuben Farias, who said in an interview he is “super proud” of his team for coming back from down 35-7 force overtime.

“They could have checked it in,” Farias said. “They had the heart of a warrior [and] played all the way to the end of the night. I cannot be ashamed [of them]. And that’s all we ask.”

Just about everything went the Rattlers’ way in the first quarter tonight. After the opening kickoff was taken to the La Joya 42, the Rattlers marched down the field in nine plays, ending in an 18 yard TD pass from Taylor to Cantu for the opening score. 7-0 Rattlers after the PAT.

The Coyotes then fumbled the ball at the 50 yard line in its first offensive drive. After this, Taylor found Cantu deep again, who secured a bobbling catch which was good for a 50 yard touchdown bomb. Sharyland ended the first quarter up 14-0.

La Joya, possessing the ball to end the quarter, continued to run the football down the field. Sophomore RB Farbian Arjona registered six carries in this drive alone, including two chunk plays for crucial first downs.

Senior QB Owen Benoit then ran it in himself from 18 yards out to put the Coyotes on the board to open the second quarter. After the extra point, it was a one-score game with the Rattlers in front 14-7.

Sharyland then commenced an all out air attack in the second quarter. In their next drive, Taylor threw a deep ball to Flores for a 37-yard TD pass to go up 21-7 after the extra point.

The Rattler defense then forced three-and-outs on La Joya’s next two drives. After a good return brought Sharyland to the Coyotes’ 34, Taylor threw a 36 yard pass on fourth down to Mendoza for his fourth TD pass of the game. 28-7 Rattlers.

After forcing a La Joya fumble on the ensuing kickoff, the Rattlers were knocking on the red zone door from the 23. Taylor then threw a 7 yard TD pass to senior WR Francisco Gomez right after the two minute warning. Sharyland ended the first half up 35-7.

The Coyotes began the second half eager to pull back into the game. After receiving the ball to open the half, they marched to the end zone in merely six plays beginning from their own 28. Benoit ran it in from the goal line to make it 35-14 Rattlers.

La Joya’s defense forced a punt which they returned to their own 35. A combination of Arjona runs and key passes at the sticks from Benoit brought the Coyotes down to Sharyland’s 10, where Arjona ran it in to make it a two-score game. The third quarter ended with the Rattlers up 35-21.

The Coyotes then came all the way back to tie it in the fourth quarter. The first drive for La Joya in the fourth took all of three plays for Benoit to run it into the end zone. After blocking a Rattlers field goal that would have iced the game, the Coyotes got it back at their own 20.

Later, La Joya forced a turnover on downs in Sharyland territory. Marching down the field, Benoit ran another keeper to tie the game at 35 all after the extra point. The Rattlers scored first in overtime after Taylor found Mendoza in the end zone.

Down 43-35, the Coyotes slowly chipped away at the yardage vis a vis Arjona. They ultimately scored on another QB keeper by Benoit. The two-point attempt for the win at the end of the game by La Joya was unsuccessful, sealing a 42-41 overtime win for Sharyland.

The Rattlers have a bye next week, while the Coyotes will close their non-district schedule on the road against Brownsville Veterans Memorial. That game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Veterans Stadium in Brownsville.

Here are some photos from tonight's game. To view more, click here:

https://progresstimes.smugmug.com/Sports/Sharyland/September-18-2026-Football-La-Joya-at-Sharyland-MM

Progress Times photos by Mario Magallon.