Armando Munoz got off to a fast start.
And Harlandale never let off the gas.
Munoz returned the opening kickoff for a score, sparking Harlandale to a 49-7 win over Jefferson in a District 14-5A-II game Friday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium.
Munoz scored two touchdowns, including the 91-yard kickoff return. He added a touchdown reception in the second quarter, lifting his team to its fourth district win in a row after starting the season 0-2 against a tough non-district slate.
“This whole week our coach was talking about we got to return one (kick), this is our week,” said Munoz, a junior wide receiver. “And before we went out there, he said, ‘Take it to the house,’ and then that’s what I did.
“I saw my teammates giving me great blocks,” Munoz added. “I did a great read and then just to the races after that.”
Besides Munoz, Harlandale (4-2, 4-0) got a balanced effort from several of its offensive weapons, including from running back Gio Silva and quarterback Gabe Salazar, both seniors. Silva rushed for 100 yards and accounted for two scores while Salazar passed for 127 yards and three scores.
Salazar distributed the ball effectively, tossing touchdown passes to three different receivers – Munoz, Silva and Jacob Schindler.
Harlandale coach Justin Lozano said the offense has several players it can go to.
“The offensive line, our quarterback and our running backs,” Lozano said. “We’re so multiple throughout our offense, it’s able to get guys like him (Munoz) the ball.”
Despite standing at 5-feet-4, Silva is making a big impact with his speed and agility on the field.
“Well, being small, it really helps out hiding behind my linemen,” Silva said. “They (defense) don’t see me, and I able to cut out wherever I want. Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I can’t do what I’m doing honestly, that’s just something a lot of people look at. But size doesn’t matter when it comes down to it, you just got to do what you got to do.”
Lozano said Silva is a player who provides energy for the team.
“Honestly, his energy is the biggest part of him,” Lozano said. “When he comes out for football, he genuinely loves the game. Nobody on the team has the energy and the enthusiasm about football and Harlandale football like that kid.”
Harlandale’s Gabe Salazar moves the ball down the field during the the third quarter of a District 14-5A Division II game against Jefferson on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Harlandale Memorial Stadium in San Antonio. (Charlie Blalock/For the Express-News)
Jefferson (2-2, 1-2) tied the game at 7 on a 36-yard scoring run from Marnez Davis at the 6:15 mark of the first quarter.
Munoz helped Harlandale regain the lead on the second play of the second quarter, hauling in a 24-yard scoring toss from Salazar. Harlandale tacked on two more scores before halftime. The first on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Salazar to Schindler and the second on a 1-yard Silva run with 29 seconds remaining in the first half.
Salazar threw his final scoring toss to Silva on an 18-yard screen pass in the third quarter, putting Harlandale up 35-7.
With the game pretty much in hand in the fourth quarter, Harlandale’s reserves got a chance for some playing time. Backup quarterback Victor Lopez threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Julian Sanchez, and sophomore running back Leo Reyes, who came up from the junior varsity, scored on an 18-yard run.
Harlandale racked up 238 yards rushing and ended the game with 379 total yards.
Defensively, Harlandale held Jefferson to 50 yards of offense, as the Mustangs managed only four first downs and were forced to punt seven times.
With the win, Harlandale continues its best start in district play in 21 years when it went 6-0 in league play in 2005 to win the District 30-4A title. The Indians have dominated their district competition so far, winning their first four games by an average of 32 points.
After Harlandale finished 4-6 last year in a tough district that included Alamo Heights, Boerne and Kerrville Tivy, Harlandale has high prospects for a title in its new district.
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