PSJA Southwest has yet to win a district game in two years. Donna High last played a football game 21 days ago.
As the new district rivals meet for each team’s 32-5A opener Friday at Bennie LaPrade Stadium, it could make for a wide range of emotions: anxiety, concern, anticipation, fear, hunger.
“We have a monkey on our back,” said Southwest coach Jesus Reyes, whose third-year program is 0-14 all-time in district play. “We have to get that first (district) win before anything. We have to get that under our belt.”
And what will that take?
“It takes a team effort, error-free four quarters of football,” Reyes said. “We have to pull for each other, especially against a team like Donna.”
The Javelinas (2-1) are one of the pleasant surprises in a Valley football season that has mostly lacked them.
Reyes credits that to a core group of players that has been in his system since they were seventh graders.
“It’s an attitude,” Reyes said. “The kids are more mature than ever. The kids are picking up things better than ever. We no longer have to rep things over and over. They’re understanding it and we’re moving on.”
Southwest’s offense is impressive, averaging 37 points on 388 yards. Led by fullback Jesus Acosta (62 carries, 494 yards, nine touchdowns) and a blossoming passing game that was pretty much nonexistent the previous two years, the Javelinas have opened a lot of eyes.
“They’re scoring a lot of points,” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said. “Their offense is the strength. They execute well and they know that system. Coach Reyes has done a tremendous job with it.”
As if that wasn’t enough of a task for the 1-1 Redskins, Leal has had to keep up a team that last played Sept. 5, a 14-13 loss at Weslaco High.
Donna’s game at Brownsville Hanna the following week was canceled because of inclement weather, leaving Leal concerned about how his team responds after the long layoff.
“It gets monotonous,” Leal said. “Game speed and practice speed are black and white. These kids are eager to play. They’ve hit each other for three weeks and it’s hard to keep kids motivated. Fortunately, they’ve responded well. These kids have stayed committed.”
Running back Paul Guerra has not seen actual holes created by the offensive line against an unfamiliar defense. Quarterback Edward Dougherty is not going against different overages and learning how to read things.
Defensively, the Redskins had spent a week planning for Hanna’s spread passing game and then had to wipe all that out and begin preparation for Southwest’s Wing-T.
“I have faith in our kids,” Leal said. “I just don’t think they’ve been in the best position, playing against a team that’s played three games opposed to two. But it’s the way it works, and I’m just hoping we can be OK.”
Eventually, that’s what will happen. The Redskins will be fine, will get back into the rhythm of playing varsity competition sooner than later, and be in prime position to contend for a postseason berth, if not a district title.
Still, extending Southwest’s winless streak in district play one more week would go a long way to getting back on track.
“It’s important to us, and we want to get it,” Reyes said. “We’ve worked hard for it. We want to get that first district win, it doesn’t matter who it comes against.
“It just so happens that Donna’s first up.”