BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — The Edinburg High football team is testing the theory that defense wins championships.
The Bobcats have the second-best defense in District 31-6A, allowing 250.3 yards per game, but their offense is the second-worst with 260.9 yards per game. To this point, it has worked for the Bobcats, who are 5-3 overall and tied for second in the district at 4-1.
“We are all united,” senior defensive lineman Tony Hernandez said. “We are getting better every game.”
With a 28-21 win over Edinburg North last week, Edinburg High clinched a playoff spot, its first since 2011. The Bobcats travel to PSJA Southwest tonight at 7. In the final game of the regular season next week, they host PSJA North at 7 p.m. These last two games will decide what seed Edinburg High will be for the playoffs. A pair of wins leaves them in second place.
The Bobcats’ five wins this season ties the total amount of wins they had the previous three seasons combined.
Building success on the field this year was a process that began when coach J.J. Leija, an Edinburg High alum, was hired in December.
“That all started back in the offseason, when we got here,” Leija said. “We went straight to work on our strength and our movement. These kids did a lot of stuff on their own. They are very dedicated to want to make themselves better.”
The success started to grow. It began to show on a bigger stage during their first scrimmage of the year against Roma.
“(It) really set the tone for the season,” Leija said. “We thought we could be a pretty physical defense. Our offense could move the ball.”
After struggling through non-district play, things finally clicked for the Bobcats entering their first district game against Edinburg Economedes. Edinburg High won 17-14 in what was then considered a significant upset over a team ranked in the RGVSports.com Top 10 poll.
“That was the turning point,” Leija said. “It gave these guys a lot of confidence. We have seemed to put it together since then.”
What clicked for the Bobcats was the defense, specifically the linebackers.
The defense uses multiple formations depending upon the offense. One of the formations primarily used is the 4-2, with four defensive lineman and two linebackers. The 4-2 has allowed two talented linebackers to flourish; senior Edgar Guerrero and sophomore James Champion.
Guerrero leads the team with 87 tackles.
“When we run the 4-2, it allows me and the other linebacker to read our keys easier,” Guerrero said.
He was also voted by his peers as team captain, along with Hernandez.
“I’ve got a great set of team leaders,” Leija said. “They carry this team. When we got here, we told them ‘This team is only going to get as far as you want them to go.’ They want the playoffs, and we are there.”
Champion, meanwhile, is one of the promising young talents.
Champion is second on the team with 70 tackles and has five sacks. He has recovered two fumbles and caused one. Champion describes himself as “one of the smaller linebackers you will see in the Valley.” He credits his defensive line with opening up holes for him to attack using his speed and agility.
“James has done a real good job,” Leija said. “We put those guys in the right place, and they are the ones that execute.”
They will need to execute tonight against the third-best offense in 31-6A, PSJA Southwest. Southwest brings in the top back in the district, Justin Corona, who has 1,007 yards and 15 touchdowns on 203 carries.
“They are a big running team,” Guerrero said. “We are just trying to stop the run. They have good backs in (Corona) and (Andrew Becerra). If we can stop them, hopefully we will get our offense the ball back.”