PSJA North running back Isaac Gonzalez’s 120-yard rushing day against La Joya High during Week 5 catapulted the senior past the 4,000-rushing yard mark for his career.
A four-year letterman, Gonzalez has largely been the engine that has made the PSJA North offense go during his time playing varsity football.
He ran for 935 yards as a freshman, 1,418 as a sophomore and 1,266 as a junior in just eight games. So far this season, he’s averaging 106.3 rushing yards and five total touchdowns.
With a new starter at quarterback making his debut due to injury in Week 5, the Raiders leaned upon their rugged runner to lead the way. The result was a 63-0 beatdown of La Joya High to send the Raiders to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in District 31-6A.
Gonzalez and the Raiders will look to stay hot when they take on Edinburg North at 7:30 p.m. Friday at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.
RETURN TO PLAY
Mission High suffered a 34-14 defeat at the hands of Edinburg High during Week 5, but a bright spot for the Eagles was the play of running back Damian Cortez.
The senior Cortez entered the year as the Eagles’ No. 1 running back but has battled injuries early on, which has forced him to miss time in multiple games.
Cortez delivered his best performance of the year against the Bobcats last Thursday, and more importantly, was able to play the entire game. He finished with 120 yards on just 17 carries, bringing his season total to 179 rushing yards on 29 carries for an average of 6.2 yards per touch.
Cortez will be vital to the Eagles’ playoff chances down the stretch of District 31-6A competition.
The Eagles are set to face PSJA High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo.
PANTHERS QBS SHARE SPOTLIGHT
The Weslaco High Panthers began the season with just three returning starters on its roster, but that hasn’t stopped them from a 3-0 start to the year.
A two-quarterback system has worked wonders for the Panthers’ offense led by senior Justin Rodriguez and junior Ethan Gallegos.
Rodriguez is 14-for-24 with 243 passing yards and one touchdown pass, while Gallegos is 20-for-27 with 174 passing yards. On the ground, Rodriguez leads the team with 194 yards compared to 65 rushing yards on 12 attempts for Gallegos. Both have scored three rushing touchdowns this season.
“They’ve made each other better competing for a starting position,” Weslaco High head coach Roy Stroman said. “We don’t know who is going to start, it depends on who comes in with a hot hand at practice. They haven’t really separated themselves from each other. We do have a runner, we do have a thrower, but they both can run the ball and throw the ball.”
Weslaco’s two signal callers are set to lead the Panthers into a battle against District 32-6A playoff hopeful Brownsville Rivera (2-3, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.