SAN BENITO - Close games were the exception rather than the rule as the Valley's 6A teams opened district play in Week Five.  Los Fresnos hung around with top-ranked San Benito before falling in the Game of the Week 43-33.  The other 32-6A openers were lopsided as Harlingen won Bird Bowl XXV over Harlingen South 36-7.  Weslaco East won town bragging rights with a 35-7 decision over Weslaco.

McAllen Memorial snapped a two-game losing streak to win opening round play in 30-6A.  The Mustangs throttled Palmview 49-7.  Rowe got by Juarez-Lincoln 31-28.  31-6A action saw a comeback win for Edinburg over Economedes 28-17.  PSJA remained unbeaten at 4-0 after rallying past a feisty PSJA Southwest squad 44-14.

Mission Veterans and Raymondville are the first Valley teams to five victories this season.  The Patriots crushed Cigarroa 63-14, and share the 31-5A lead with Nixon and Rio Grande City at 3-0.  Nixon defeated Pioneer 36-14.  Sharyland stymied Martin 45-28.  In 32-5A, identical 35-7 victories gave Mercedes and Lopez district opening wins.  Mercedes topped Donna.  Lopez won over Porter.

Non-district action brought the closest finish of the night.  Monte Alto snuck by Benavides 27-26. Raymondville remained unbeaten with a 31-14 win over Kingsville.  Rio Hondo won at Grulla 33-21.  La Feria shutout Santa Rosa 47-0.  St. Joseph's overwhelmed Port Isabel 62-20.  Lyford also exceeded 60 in a 61-0 victory over La Villa.  The most lopsided game of the night was the 65-0 shelling of Rockport-Fulton over Hidalgo.  Finally, Santa Maria came up big in the fourth quarter to defeat Agua Dulce 47-33.

CHANNEL 5's Joel Villanueva has the First & Goal scores and highlights from week five.