BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
PHARR — PSJA High senior running back Christian Rivera isn’t afraid to say it.
“I say yes, best quarterback in the Valley,” Rivera said of PSJA High junior Trey Guajardo. “Playing alongside one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the state in 6A is such a blessing. It’s an awesome feeling to be playing with the best quarterback in the Valley.”
Guajardo continued his dominant junior campaign with 315 yards and 4 touchdowns on Friday night, leading PSJA High to a 30-17 win over PSJA Memorial at PSJA Stadium. With the win Friday, combined with a Week 5 win over PSJA Southwest and a Week 6 win over PSJA North, the Bears sweep the season series against their sister schools.
“This win was very important,” PSJA High coach Lupe Rodriguez said. “First of all, this is a tri-city championship for us. It’s been a while since these guys accomplished that. Tonight was important, because we stay undefeated, and it allows us to compete for a district championship next week against Vela here at home. “
Coming into the week, Guajardo had 2,145 passing yards on the season. No one else in the Rio Grande Valley was even over 2,000.
The next closest quarterback was at 1,793, and that’s in Class 5A. In 6A, the next closest quarterback is in Guajardo’s district. Nathan Garcia, a senior from Edinburg Vela, had 1,608 yards coming into the week.
Garcia may be second fiddle in passing yards, but with both Vela and PSJA High sitting at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in District 31-6A, the two undefeated teams will meet next week.
“We are excited,” Rivera said. “It’s going to be probably the game of the year. This is for the district championship and hopefully we can take it all the way.”
Senior kicker Jonathan Figueroa had a 25-yard field goal that was sandwiched between two long touchdown passes for PSJA High. Senior Nathan Sanchez hauled in a 32-yard pass from Guajardo to open the scoring for the Bears.
On the first drive of the second quarter, the Bears got the ball on the 40-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Trey Guajardo launched a pass that traveled more than 35 yards in the air before being hauled in by his cousin, sophomore wide receiver Marco Guajardo. As Marco Guajardo made the catch, there wasn’t a defender in sight, and he turned and ran to the end zone to put the Bears up 17-3.
Sanchez and Trey Guajardo linked up on another touchdown pass, this one in the third quarter for 21 yards to put the Bears up 23-3.
That score effectively sealed the win for the Bears.
“We are starting to peak at the right time offensively,” Rodriguez said. “We are starting to move the ball. Kids are starting to understand the system. It was good to see the offense firing on all cylinders tonight.”
Sophomore middle linebacker Jacob Sanchez had a big night with two sacks and an interception to help limit Memorial’s offense.
“Those type of plays are very important for us,” Jacob Sanchez said. “Those plays get the ball back in the hands of the offense, so they can go to work.”
Memorial dominated the time of possession, especially in the second half, but the Bears defense did what it has done all year, bending but not breaking. PSJA High would allow chunks of yardage, but would hold Memorial to a field goal or a turnover on downs.
“Those guys put in a lot of hard work,” Trey Guajardo said of his defense. “They are ball hawks. That is the defense I see every week in practice. I’m glad I don’t have to face them on Fridays.”
Nathan Sanchez’s two touchdowns and 105 receiving yards were both game highs. Coming into the week, Sanchez led the Valley with 932 receiving yards.
“We have both improved from last season,” Trey Guajardo said. “He’s put in a lot of hard work and it is paying off this year. He is my go-to guy right now. I trust him, and he trusts me. Together, we can do some pretty crazy stuff.”
With the win and the tri-city championship in hand, next Friday can’t come soon enough for the Bears.
“We are ready,” Trey Guajardo said. “We know what type of team they are. They are a great ball club. We are in this situation for a reason and we feel like we are meant for this moment and we can’t wait.”