GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
When a first-half injury created a need at linebacker for PSJA Memorial against PSJA North, running back Jonathan Trevino approached coach Gus Cavazos at halftime.
“Coach, if you need me, I’m ready,” Trevino told him.
Despite ranking as the district’s second-leading rusher, Trevino played more snaps on defense than on offense last week against Weslaco High.
“He’s not about numbers, and he never has been,” PSJA Memorial coach Gus Cavazos said. “He just wants to win football games.”
Down eight starters last week, playing winning football has become a challenge for the Wolverines. The team is coming off back-to-back losses to Edinburg High and Weslaco and has to wait until next week for its only bye of the year.
Regardless, Memorial remains in the thick of the playoff chase, sitting in fifth in District 31-6A at 4-5 overall, 2-3 in district. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Memorial will square off against fourth-place Edinburg North (4-4, 2-2), another team that has shown substantial cracks in recent weeks. The winner will have the inside track to one of four playoff spots. The loser will be eliminated from contention.
“It’s basically a playoff game for us,” Cavazos said. “If we win this game, obviously we’re looking real good. If we lose it, then we’re packing our bags.”
Despite the stakes, Cavazos said there has been a loose, relaxed atmosphere in practice this week. He’s also feeling optimistic about his team’s health and is hopeful a few key contributors could return.
Edinburg North coach Rene Saenz is also feeling good about the Cougars’ injury situation coming off of last week’s bye. He said running back Matt Whitesides is as healthy as he’s been since Week 1 or 2, and that the rest of the team has had a chance to recover from a few bumps and bruises.
“We were a little bit banged up, and I think emotionally, too, going seven or eight straight weeks,” Saenz said. “It was a long haul. We needed that little break.”
The time has also given Edinburg North a chance to re-evaluate its quarterback situation. The Cougars started senior Martin Rodriguez the first six games, then switched to sophomore Cristian Espinoza. Now, with the season on the line, Saenz is going back to Rodriguez.
“When Martin saw that (Espinoza was starting), he didn’t lose faith,” Saenz said. “In fact, he got a little more fired up. We saw a change in him in practice. He’s kind of earned the spot to get the green light.”
Even entering Week 10, Saenz said he’s “still trying to figure out what works.” Edinburg North returned only two starters from last year’s team, and having so much youth and inexperience has been “a great challenge” for Saenz. The Cougars have shown improvement, but not always consistently from week to week. The same team that handed Weslaco East its only loss to preserve an undefeated record at home has suffered blowout losses to PSJA North and Weslaco High in the past three weeks.
Like Cavazos, Saenz is trying to keep Edinburg North’s practice light and relaxed.
“They ask me questions every day like, ‘Hey, who do you think we’ll play in the first round?’” Saenz said. “For them, I don’t know if ignorance is bliss, but they seem to be approaching it just like every other game and naturally assuming, ‘Hey, we’re going to be in the playoffs.’”