EDINBURG — The Cardiac Cats did it again.
For the second consecutive week, Edinburg High used a strong fourth quarter to pull off a 20-14 comeback victory, this time against the La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Huskies on Thursday night at Richard R. Flores Stadium.
“ That’s been our history here at Edinburg High School — whether we’re up or we’re down, we’re going to play four quarters,” Edinburg High head coach J.J. Leija said after the win. “We’ve been very fortunate, we’ve had some close games here the past three seasons, including this one, where we’ve come back in the last quarter and we’ve pulled them out. That’s one thing about these kids, what we emphasize with them is you can’t give up and we’re going to fight until the very end.”
The Bobcats scored 20 points in the second half led by running back Shandon Woodard and the Edinburg High offensive line. Woodard finished with 151 rushing yards on 23 carries, and his two touchdowns were the final scores of the game, elevating Edinburg High to its second win of the year.
While the running back seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, he admitted it was a long, but successful four quarters.
“I’m going to be honest, I’m feeling tired, but as long as I run through those holes and get done what I need to get done, we’re good. Our offensive line played beautiful tonight,” Woodard said.
Sophomore quarterback Rolando Abrego showed flashes as a passer and a runner Thursday night as he finished with 59 yards on the ground and one touchdown pass to senior receiver Adrian Garza for the Bobcats’ first points of the non-district contest.
While the Edinburg High offense struggled to put up points in the first half, the Bobcats defense was holding strong.
Senior linebacker Jaime Zamora came up with two interceptions in the first half to prevent the Juarez-Lincoln offense from scoring. The first was a one-handed effort that Zamora tipped to himself, while he had to leave his feet for the second, which he returned for 50 yards just before the second quarter came to a close.
“ It was all a team-effort. Coach Leija, Coach Valdez and Coach Garza put us in the best position to win. That’s Bobcats defense, that’s the way we play,” Zamora said. “It’s embedded in our heads, that’s the way we come out to play every time we hit the field.”
The Huskies’ attempt at a game-winning drive was stopped in its tracks by sacks from defensive tackle Emmanuel Duron, Adrian Perez and the Edinburg High d-line.
Juarez-Lincoln senior quarterback Josh Briones finished with 80 rushing yards, 167 passing yards and one touchdown which came on a wide receiver screen to Bryan Lopez. The loss sends the Huskies to 1-2 on the year as the head into a bye in Week 4.
The win improves Edinburg High’s record to 2-1 on the year as they now shift their focus to a Week 4 non-district game against Mercedes.