BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
Offense looks to be the driving force in The Monitor’s Game of the Week. On Thursday, Weslaco East enters PSJA Stadium to take on PSJA North for a contest that features two of District 31-6A’s highest scoring teams.
Through Week 8, the Wildcats and Raiders have combined to score an average of 73 points per week while gaining 803 offensive yards.
East is coming off a bye with a four-game winning streak. Their most recent victory came Oct. 9, a 28-7 win over Edinburg Economedes. The Wildcats haven’t suffered a loss since a 47-23 outcome against San Benito on Sept. 4.
The Wildcats (5-1, 3-0) are led on offense by the speedy twosome of Emilio Tamez and Ciro Rojas. Tamez, a senior running back, leads the team in rushing yards (750) and attempts (113). Tamez’s 12 touchdowns are bested only by Rojas (13), a multi-position athlete who has scored as a running back, receiver and kickoff returner.
Weslaco East averages 40 points per game, a district best, on 386 yards per game.
Defensively, the Wildcats allow 316 yards per game, third best in 31-6A. Against Econ, they limited the Jaguars to 143 yards and generated five turnovers.
PSJA North (4-4, 3-1) has rebounded from a four-game losing skid with a three-game winning streak. Since losing to Weslaco High 56-7 during a district-opening game Sept. 25, the Raiders have outscored opponents 95-59. PSJA North averages a district-best 417 yards of offense per game.
The Raiders’ winning ways coincide with the departure of former quarterback George Olivarez, who left the team on Sept. 28, after reportedly losing his starting spot to backup Darren Fuentes.
Since Olivarez left, coach Jorge Peña has relied on his team’s athletic depth to employ the spread offense. In three games, Brandon Villarreal has run for more than 450 yards in addition to five touchdowns, while Bo Adams ran for 119 yards and a score during North’s 31-15 victory over Economedes in Week 8.
The biggest concern for the Raiders has been their defense. The team allows a district-worst 386 yards per game. Since the beginning of district play, PSJA North’s defensive unit has slightly improved, allowing 342 yards per game.
When these teams met a season ago, Weslaco East won in convincing fashion 49-14. Though the Raiders took a 14-7 lead during the first quarter, then-senior running backs Lupe Moron and Darren Rivas ran for a combined 342 yards and five touchdowns.