PHARR – The Tigers are off to a good start in 2017. Valley View kicked off the season with a 21-20 win over Donna.

“It brings all of us so much hype after this win,” said Valley View junior quarterback Simon Fernandez. “We’re pretty much focused to keep on going with it. The past years we really have had a good season.”

Donna led 14-0 Friday before the Tigers clawed back. Senior Alfredo Ruiz hauled in a receiving touchdown and also picked off a pass in the fourth quarter that led to Valley View’s game-winning score.

“We consider him one of our big playmakers,” said Valley View coach Elifonso Esquivel. We use him on offense and on defense as needed. We got a couple guys like that. He's a big playmaker. That got the game turned around on that interception."

The Tigers want to use the Donna win as a spring board for the rest of the season. Valley View only won five games from 2013 to 2016. A victory against Hidalgo Friday would match their win-total from last year.

“It would mean something very different,” said Valley View senior wide receiver and defensive back Alfredo Ruiz. “Very unexpected for everyone out of here. Us as a football team we all want it and we all know we can do it. It's just a matter of everyone being on the same at the same time."

The Tigers take on the Pirates at Hidalgo’s Bill Pate Stadium.