GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
Last season, Edinburg North’s formula for success was very simple: run the ball and play defense.
Coach Rene Saenz wouldn’t mind seeing more of the same, but last week the Cougars proved they win via the passing game if necessary.
In Friday’s 24-21 win against Brownsville Rivera, Edinburg North ran for just 42 yards while quarterback Martin Rodriguez threw for 259. This from a team that gained 897 yards passing against 3,250 rushing in 2013.
“We don’t want to throw the ball that much,” Saenz said. “We want to carry the ball a little bit more than we actually have to throw it. But we know if we have to, Martin has got a decent enough arm and a knowledge of the game. And his vision is pretty decent, also, that he can carry us through.”
Rivera loaded up the box against North, something Saenz expects a lot of teams to try to do this season. The defensive alignment created one-on-one matchups for receiver Michael Cantu, who exploded for 234 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
“He’s a fast kid,” Saenz said. “He’s little, but he’s an athlete. When you get him in space, especially if he’s matched up one-on-one, I like his chances.”
Cantu, a senior, ranked second on the Cougars with 302 receiving yards last year. He posted a team-best 21 receptions and scored five touchdowns.
With Matt Ramirez — Edinburg North’s leading receiver in 2013 — gone to graduation, Saenz expected Cantu to be even more involved this season. Saenz initially planned to use Cantu in the slot, but North has been moving him around to create the best possible matchups.
“We’ve got to get him in space and let him make a move after he catches the ball,” Saenz said.
UP AND DOWN
In a Week 1 win against Edcouch Elsa, McAllen Rowe quarterback Hector Bosquez looked like one of the Valley’s best. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball 15 times for 196 yards and a pair of scores.
In a Week 2 loss against Mercedes, Bosquez looked lost. He completed two of four passes for 3 yards and an interception. He ran the ball four times for 3 yards before coach Paul Reyes benched him after two series.
“I had never seen a lack of focus in him,” Reyes said. “I had never seen that, ever. So when I saw it early those first couple of series, I said, ‘This wasn’t going to be it. This wasn’t his time.’”
Bosquez may not have looked ready on Friday, but Reyes has no intention of changing starters. Bosquez will take the first snap against PSJA Memorial on Friday.
“I don’t carry things over,” Reyes said. “He’s still our starter, and we go from there.”
Reyes added that Bosquez has looked good in practice and returned with a new focus, perhaps because “he understands now that his position is not guaranteed.”
His replacement last week, quarterback John Perez, completed 16 of 28 passes for 208 yards.
“He stepped up and did some things,” Reyes said. “I was happy to see that he came in, he competed well, and he did a good job for us.”
TOUGH TEST
La Joya High has statistically the best defense in District 30-6A through two games, but that unit is about to be tested like no other in the Valley.
The Coyotes face Edinburg Vela, Weslaco East, McAllen Memorial and McAllen High the next four weeks. All four schools are ranked in the latest RGVSports.com poll.
“We’re in the meat grinder right now,” La Joya coach George Espinoza said. “The next four weeks are going to be pretty tough for us.”
La Joya is off to a 1-1 start, falling to Roma in Week 1 before bouncing back to defeat Donna North. The defense, led by linebacker Yonny Villarreal, defensive lineman Tony Cerda and safety Jorge Munoz, has allowed just 215 yards per game.
“Those three guys are kind of the nucleus of the defense,” Espinoza said.
Offensively, the Coyotes have found balance. Quarterback Julio Garcia has gotten better at making reads, and Overlin Montes has become an all-around weapon.
Montes leads the team with 110 rushing yards and ranks second with 79 yards receiving.
“He’s our overall athlete,” Espinoza said. “We utilize him just about everywhere.”