RIO HONDO - As the football regular season nears a close, the number of unbeaten teams continues to dwindle.  Raymondville lost for the first time this season in the CHANNEL 5 Game of the Week to Rio Hondo 45-24.  Mission Veterans also came close to stumbling.  The top-ranked team in sub-6A managed a two-point win at Rio Grande City 26-24.  The Patriots still hold the 31-5A district lead after Nixon thumped Sharyland 49-14.  The Mustangs and Rattlers trail Mission Veterans by one game in the standings with two to play.

In other week nine games:

PSJA - 30, PSJA Memorial - 17
Edinburg - 30, Edinburg North - 14
Mission - 24, Palmview - 22
Rowe - 48, McAllen - 27
La Joya - 24, Juarez-Lincoln - 10
Los Fresnos - 27, Harlingen - 20
Weslaco - 28, Harlingen South - 25
Weslaco East - 42, Rivera - 7
Mercedes - 34, Lopez - 7
Brownsville Veterans - 70, Porter - 0
Donna - 21, Donna North - 10
Pioneer - 22, Valley View - 7
La Feria - 46, Hidalgo - 0
Port Isabel - 54, Progreso - 30
Lyford - 67, Santa Rosa - 26
Odem - 59, Monte Alto - 7
La Villa - 59, Freer - 40
Santa Maria - 20, Ben Bolt - 14
St. Joseph's - 45, Central Catholic - 21

CHANNEL 5's Joel Villanueva leads the First & Goal Friday coverage with scores and highlights.