BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
The PSJA North Raiders were no strangers to the end zone during the regular season, averaging close to 400 yards of offense and scoring 30 points per game. But as North readies for Friday’s bi-district game against San Benito at Bobby Morrow Stadium, coach Jorge Peña is focused on the smaller but not less trivial elements.
“The way I look at it, I just want to get one first down at a time and get some stops on defense,” Peña said. “We have to get turnovers and not lose the kicking game. We need to win the kicking game. Anywhere to find an edge here and there.”
Finding an edge against the Greyhounds (8-2, 6-1 District 32-6A) will be tough. San Benito racks up 390 yards of offense per game behind quarterback J.R. Gaitain, and has a defense that limits opponents to 290 yards per game.
Through the air and on the ground, Gaitain has combined for 2,207 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Greyhounds run the spread offense, and though they possess the ability to throw, Peña sees an old-fashioned offensive scheme.
“They run the spread to run the ball,” Peña said. “They’ll throw it to keep you honest, and they throw some high-percentage passes. But they want to control the ball on the ground. Their offensive line is as big and as talented as we’ve seen all season. We’ve got to recognize their formations, be disciplined and block and tackle. Whoever best executes will win the game.”
PSJA North finished the regular season with a 5-5 overall record and went 4-2 in district play.
JUDGEMENT CALL
For the first time in four years, Edinburg North is staying home during the postseason. A 35-28 loss to Edinburg Economedes in Week 11 eliminated the Cougars from the final playoff spot in 31-6A.
“There were a lot of little things that could have gone our way but just didn’t,” coach Rene Saenz said. “There was one play in particular that hurt us. Our safety, John Mendoza, has 11 interceptions on the season. He looks to make a play on the ball, but he just misses it, and instead it becomes a tipped pass to a receiver who scores.”
The Cougars (3-7, 2-4) had the ball during the game’s final minutes and were marching down field in an attempt to save their season. Quarterback Cristian Espinoza found receiver Ubaldo Pequeño open in the end zone for a game-tying score, but officials ruled Pequeño never had possession of the ball.
“You hate to see it come down to a judgment call like that,” Saenz said. “To play your whole season and have everything hinge on the perspective of one person, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Sanez says if the touchdown had stood, he would have gone for a game-winning two point conversion instead of an extra point to force overtime.
“I had so much confidence in the kids and their ability to score,” Saenz said. “I thought we were going to get it.”
BIRDS AND CATS
Edinburg Economedes is in the playoffs for the third time in five years under coach Gabe Peña. The Jaguars play Harlingen High in Harlingen tonight at 7:30. Econ (5-5, 3-3) boasted the best statistical defense in 31-6A, allowing just 258 yards per game.
Harlingen High, along with San Benito and Los Fresnos, went 6-1 in District 32-6A and won a share of the district championship.