DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — PSJA High won a critical game Friday night at PSJA Stadium, stifling PSJA Southwest 27-0 to avoid going 0-2 in District 32-5A. In doing so, the Bears may have finally found an answer to their quarterback woes.

Senior Troy Flores started under center for the first time this season and stayed there until a close game turned into a blowout late. It was a difference from previous games when coach Steve Marroquin started Andrew Castaneda and played as many as four quarterbacks, including Flores, early during games.

Friday, however, Marroquin stuck with Flores and it paid off. Flores carried the ball 18 times for 86 yards and completed 8 of 12 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.

More importantly, Flores directed an offense that did not turn the ball over and did not commit untimely penalties. The exclamation point came with 2:08 left in the third quarter, when Flores scrambled, danced and burst his way through a broken play for a hard-earned 10-yard run.

The Bears averaged 222.2 yards entering Friday’s game. They piled up 306 against the Javelinas while scoring the most points in a game they have all season.

“Everyone came together,” Flores said. “We all did a good job together, and that was the difference. I just went out there and felt like I did whatever it took to win.”

Marroquin could not have been more pleased as his team moved to 3-2 overall, 1-1 in 32-5A.

“We looked at our team and I just felt like we needed a spark,” Marroquin said. “Every time Troy had stepped onto the field previously, he played well. He’s a senior, a two-year letterman and he’s a leader.

“He was like, ‘Coach, just let me go. Give me a chance.’”

While not the passer that Castaneda is, Flores is a better runner, and that made it tough for Southwest.

The Javelinas were forced to account for Flores as a running threat, while also keeping an eye on running back Andrew De La Cerda (103 yards, 2 TDs) and others.

PSJA High looked like the team it is capable of being. The Bears moved the ball, chewed up clock, and the defense capitalized on being fresh most of the night.

The Bears ran 61 plays to the Javelinas’ 41.

“The offensive line needs to play better,” said Southwest coach Jesus Reyes, whose team fell to 3-2, 1-1. “We came off the ball one step too slow tonight.”

Southwest, coming off its first-ever district win last week at Donna, got nothing going. Statistically, the Bears claim the top defense in the district, and they played like it against the league’s best offense.

The Javelinas were held to 97 total yards, 247 under their season average.

“That coaching staff over there used to be our coaches, so we know them and they know us,” PSJA High linebacker Christian Martinez said. “It’s a new rivalry and we were ready. We knew they’d keep going outside and hitting us inside. We were prepared.”

ACOSTA HELD DOWN

Southwest junior Jesus Acosta, the district’s top running back, was kept in check by the Bears’ defense.

Acosta managed 35 yards on seven carries before leaving with 8:43 left in the game after being shaken up on a play. Reyes said Acosta was hit in the back and had the wind knocked out of him, but he should be fine.

BREAKDOWNS

Mistakes cost Southwest all night.

From false starts to a slew of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the Javelinas were backpedaling most of the evening.

Southwest was whistled 10 times for 95 yards as it barely had more offensive total yards than penalty yards.

“Lack of composure,” Reyes said. “It looked like we didn’t know how to play under pressure. It got tight, it got emotional and we didn’t handle it very well.”

UP NEXT

PSJA High hosts Brownsville Pace at 7 p.m. next Thursday. Pace fell 26-7 to Donna High on Thursday and is 0-2 in district.

PSJA Southwest ventures to Brownsville to play Porter on Thursday. Porter fell to Edcouch-Elsa 38-7 on Friday to fall to 1-1 in 32-5A.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — PSJA North first-year coach Jorge Peña says simply having a refurbished George Olivarez under center gives his team a chance. The junior quarterback has grown by leaps and bounds this season, and the Raiders have surfed that wave.

Against an Edinburg North team without star running back Matt Whitesides, sitting out recovering from a sprained ankle suffered last week against Weslaco East, Olivarez showed again why he’s the Raiders’ man, compiling 185 total yards and two touchdowns in leading PSJA North to a 42-0 win Thursday at PSJA Stadium.

“Coach Peña has made it clear,” Olivarez said. “This is what’s expected of me. He knows the talent I have. He knows what we’re capable of. Games like this should be what’s given from me.”

PSJA North stands as one of only two teams undefeated in District 31-6A play at 2-0, 3-3 overall. Edinburg North fell to 3-3, 1-1.

Olivarez breezed by the Edinburg North front seven effortlessly all night. He burst inside, sped around outside, anything and everything in helping the Raiders jump out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.

If it wasn’t Olivarez, it was sophomore Rene Ramirez as the pair zipped and zagged as if Cougar defenders were orange traffic cones.

“Their defensive backs played way back so we took advantage of it,” Olivarez said. “It was simple, just executing based on the way the defense lined up.”

Not having Whitesides, coming off a 203-yard game against Weslaco East, was a killer for Edinburg North’s offense. The Cougars managed just 142 total yards, including 2.2 yards per play.

“We just had too many mistakes,” Edinburg North coach Rene Saenz said. “We didn’t show up on either side ready to play. It’s a sign of a young ballclub.

“You’d think six games in we’d find a consistency, but it’s just not happening right now.”

While much of the Cougars’ poor offensive showing is because of what Whitesides means to the offense, it’s also a credit to a staunch defensive front for the Raiders led by defensive linemen Joziah Treviño, Matt Garza and Dylan Montemayor.

PSJA North held Edinburg North to 107 rushing yards on 49 carries, and with a listless run game the Cougars got just as little in the passing attack.

“They play like their coach played,” Peña said of his defensive line in regard to his defensive coordinator.
“Cruz Gaitan Jr. was a heck of a player, an MVP at 178 pounds, and he brings that energy and fire. The kids feed off that, and they’re starting to play like that.”

Whitesides is expected to be back for next week’s game against Edinburg High. But on this night, his absence was painfully obvious for Cougar supporters, while PSJA North continued its impressive rebound from a 1-9 2013 season.

“It’s surprising, sure, but I knew we had it,” Ramirez said. “We had the talent, we were just young. Now we’re growing up.”

THE TOTAL TORRES

PSJA North’s Joey Torres made his impact felt in a lot of ways on Thursday.

Torres, a senior running back/strong safety, had a 52-yard TD run to the outside late in the first quarter. In the fourth, he picked up a fumble off a bad snap and raced 70 yards for the game’s final score.

“He had a lot of issues at the beginning with attitude, and then all of a sudden he matured,” Peña said. “Now he’s the most humble, most grateful kid. He’s always had the talent, but he had to put his ego aside. Once he did that, these are the results.”

UNSPECIAL TEAMS

Either because of precarious situations offensively or simply bad punting, the Cougars allowed the Raiders strong field position most of the night.

In building a 28-0 lead by halftime, PSJA North had seven possessions. The worst starting point came on its second series on its own 20. Otherwise, the Raiders started from their 25, 48, 39, 38, and Edinburg North’s 29 and 42.

UP NEXT

PSJA North plays PSJA Memorial next Friday at PSJA Stadium. PSJA Memorial is at Weslaco East tonight after winning its district opener in a rout of Edinburg Economedes last week.

Edinburg North plays Edinburg High next Friday at Cats Stadium. The Bobcats lost to Weslaco High 46-0 on Thursday in their district opener.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Edcouch-Elsa sophomore quarterback Marco Aguinaga has only been sacked a handful of times through four games this season. That is mostly because of his athleticism, but it’s also because of an offensive line that keeps improving game by game.

“You can see they’re more mature as individuals,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said of his front five. “They have more confidence within them. It’s starting to show. They want to prove people wrong.”

Nobody knew what to expect of the group. Only senior Gabriel Armendariz is a returning starter. But the quick progress of juniors Jarred Cantu, Miguel Quintaña and Jayson Muñoz, along with the impressive play of sophomore Elijah Sanchez, has helped things come together sooner than expected.

Cantu can play all five positions on the line. Sanchez is tough, just like his older brother Lino, the senior starting running back. Quintaña is the most physical of the bunch, and Muñoz is the epitome of consistency.

And then there’s the anchor Armendariz, at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, who beats some of the linebackers and running backs running sprints during practice.

There is also plenty of depth in seniors Michael Orozco, Marco Garza and Jacob Rodriguez.

“Where you have to pinpoint this thing is (offensive line) coach Frank Martinez,” Marichalar said. “He does a great job, and he was a former defensive lineman here at Edcouch. He brings a defensive mentality.”

And things can get better. Not good news for the rest of District 32-5A.

“We can be more disciplined mentally and avoid silly mistakes like false starts and cadence stuff,” Marichalar said. “We can be more sound. We’re fine holding blocks, creating lanes for Lino and protecting Marco, and now it’s about being more complete. Let’s be disciplined.”

LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER

With starting running back Isaac Vela out another 2-3 weeks with a leg injury, Mercedes has had to rework its running game.

Jesus Rios assumes Vela’s role for the time being as the lead back. Receivers Daniel Martinez and Brandon Gutierrez also saw some carries during last week’s district opening win against Brownsville Pace. And the passing game has been dialed up, much to the pleasure of quarterback Rene Presas and receiver Joshua Garza.

But the run game is indeed a work in progress. The Tigers managed just 61 yards off 22 carries last week, good for 2.8 yards per carry after averaging 4.6 in the first three games.

“Jesus is going to give us the 3-4 yards we need, but he doesn’t have that shiftiness,” Tigers coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “A 3-4 yard run with Isaac turns into much more because he’s so elusive.”

Rios was keyed on last week, held to nine yards on seven carries. Presas was the team’s leading rusher with 35 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Ideally, however, that is something Adame would like to see tweaked by Friday’s game at Donna North.

“We just need to find the mismatches,” Adame said. “We call certain plays for Isaac, and we just need to find Jesus’ grooves.”

A STRONGER RUN

Through the first four games of the season, PSJA Southwest junior Jesus Acosta is the top rusher in 32-5A. That’s saying a lot considering the quality stable of backs roaming the league.

Acosta has 605 yards and a district-best 12 touchdowns in helping Southwest to a 3-1 record, already the most single-season wins in Javelinas history.

“He’s been consistent,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “He wants the ball and he runs hard. He’s having a great year.”

Acosta attributes his success to simply being sick of losing.

“Last year we had no leadership,” he said. “This year we have leaders. We have guys who will do anything to win. It’s a new time for us. We’re doing things this program has never seen before, and we’ve gotta keep at it.”

So far, so good.

“He’s the man,” Reyes said. “He knows that. He’s our go-to guy and he’s going to get his number called.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Eyes = open.

PSJA Southwest sent a loud wake-up call to the rest of District 32-5A on Friday night, taking down Donna High 21-14 at Bennie La Prade Stadium.

Not only did the third-year Javelinas earn their first district win, ever, they beat the Redskins at their own game in doing so with tough running and timely defensive plays.

And it was Jesus Acosta’s 5-yard TD run with 5:01 left that was the big one, his second of the second half after the Redskins had taken a 14-7 lead with 7:54 left in the third quarter.

“We did it against Grulla and won,” Acosta said of his team’s rally. “Against La Joya Palmview, we lost but we came back. Tonight, we were saying we’re not going to let this one go that easy.

“That’s the difference this year.”

Tied at halftime at 7, the Redskins, who had not played since Sept. 5 versus Weslaco High, forced a punt, marched down the field and scored on junior quarterback Edward Dougherty’s 1-yard run, his second score of the game.

But Donna (1-2, 0-1 32-5A) did not get much from there. Southwest overwhelmed in the second half, methodically milking clock and gaining yards via its Wing-T offense and keeping the Redskins at bay defensively.

“It’s all about momentum,” Donna coach Ramiro Leal said. “They started executing, that helped them gain momentum and then they started doing the things they’re capable of doing. We never got the momentum to consistently keep on going.”

Southwest held Donna to 106 total yards in the second half after the Redskins had 172 in the first. The Javelinas’ defense did a better job in containment the final two quarters, protecting the edges more aggressively, and Donna never moved the ball like it did early on.

“Our kids didn’t slow down,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “They kept pounding the rock and Donna had a harder time getting around us.”

After amassing a meager 11 yards on six carries in the first half, Acosta, the district’s top running back, was a monster in the second, tallying 100 on 20. He finished with all of Southwest’s three touchdowns, and was determined to keep his team in position to win.

“Our seniors stood up and took control of that locker room at halftime,” Reyes said. “We’re not the program of the last couple years. They said it’s time to establish our tradition. Our seniors willed us to a win that second half.”

Dougherty finished with 137 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, but threw two interceptions, the last from Southwest’s 41-yard line with 8 seconds left as the Redskins attempted one last miracle to tie.

“We’re not where we were a couple weeks ago,” Leal said. “We regressed. This is not the team I saw against Brownsville Veterans and Weslaco. We had too many miscues and just weren’t hitting.”

But Southwest, particularly when it mattered, did, and the result is a 3-1 record, but, more importantly, 1-0 in district.

“This is what matters,” Acosta said. “All those wins we got before were basically scrimmages. Now we know how tough we are. We just gotta step it up even more.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Edcouch-Elsa’s 1-2 start to the season, including a four-point loss to Los Fresnos and an overtime win over Edinburg North, was meant for nights like Thursday.

An inexperienced roster is now experienced in close games, and it showed against PSJA High in a 21-7 win in each team’s District 32-5A opener at PSJA Stadium.

“Playing against (Class) 6A teams in non-district can only help you,” said running back Lino Sanchez, whose 1-yard plummet with 8:05 left decided the game. “It paid off, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

Sanchez’s winning score came as the conclusion of a lengthy and methodical drive against a Bears defense that had allowed just 14 points on 204 yards per game coming in.

“Our offensive line has been working hard and we exploded moving the ball down the field,” said Sanchez, who finished with 82 yards on 17 carries. “Supposedly, their ‘D’ was No. 1, so it felt real good putting up 21 points and moving the ball like that.”

There were many heroes for the Yellowjackets, who improved to 2-2 with their second straight win.

There was Chon Hernandez’s big 33-yard TD reception with 1:31 left that sealed the deal. There was sophomore quarterback Marco Aguinaga making veteran plays when needed, rushing for a TD and throwing for another. There was a dominant defensive front of Ray Dinnall-Guerra, Alex Garza, Gabriel Rodriguez and Julio Contreras that kept the Bears’ strong running game at bay, holding PSJA to 4.3 yards per carry and forcing and recovering a key fumble.

But aside from Sanchez’s go-ahead score, no play was perhaps bigger than Christian Valdez’s interception of Andrew Castaneda in PSJA territory that set up Hernandez’s score with less than three minutes left.

“I saw (Castaneda) rollout to my side and I knew to stay in my zone,” Valdez said. “Saw the ball, went for it. I did what I had to do. All night we executed defensively. That was just another time.”

It was no surprise to E-E coach Joe Marichalar.

“I told (Valdez), ‘Hey, son, are you ready for stud status?’ He’s a playmaker,” Marichalar said. “Playing the corner position is his baby, and he will make plays when the ball’s coming to him.”

E-E struck early on Aguinaga’s 52-yard run in the first quarter before PSJA High answered on Castaneda’s 43-yard pass to Andrew De La Cerda with 1:16 left in the first half.

But the Bears (2-2) never could get the ball moving in the second half like they did in the first, a combination of Castaneda making just his seventh varsity start and Edcouch-Elsa’s aggressive defense.

PSJA High manufactured 41 total yards in the final two quarters.

“Consistency. Continuity. Knowing what we’re supposed to do,” PSJA High coach Steve Marroquin said of what happened. “The game got to us. The last six minutes … we were right there with them. But it slipped from us.

“We’ve just got to go back to work. We have to learn from this, and I know we will.”

In all, the Bears managed 202 total yards to the Yellowjackets’ 277. The ‘Jackets forced three turnovers and gave it away once.

“Our non-district schedule built character,” Marichalar said. “We have a young group, but they’ve been in close games. They know when to have that sense of urgency.

“They know they can win those close ones.”

SANCHEZ, OTHERS EJECTED

PSJA High senior linebacker Christian Sanchez, an All-Valley pick in 2013, was ejected late in the first half for unsportsmanlike conduct, ridding the Bears’ of their top defensive player and red-zone scorer for the rest of the game.

“I don’t even want to speculate on that,” Marroquin said. “Next man up. Our kids did a great job stepping up. Christian is our leader and he’s great, but we were in position to win with or without him.”

Sanchez was one of four players from both teams ejected during the hotly-contested game.

NEW WEAPON

For a change of pace offensively, Marichalar inserted Valdez, a cornerback and receiver, into the backfield for the second half.

Valdez had 25 yards and eight carries, aside from his interception and one reception for seven yards.

“Tay has the ability to break it,” Marichalar said. “Lino (Sanchez) is more ground-and-pound. We wanted a change of pace.”

Valdez also had a key breakup of what could have been a touchdown reception by Eric Castillo early in the first half.

UP NEXT

Edcouch-Elsa hosts Brownsville Porter, which won its district opener 31-21 against Donna North on Thursday.

PSJA High plays PSJA Southwest, which kicks off its district season against Donna High tonight, next week at Bennie LaPrade Stadium in Donna.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

During last week’s bye, Edcouch-Elsa did something it has rarely had to do during the program’s illustrious tenure.

It went back to the basics.

The Yellowjackets are 1-2 entering their District 32-5A opener Thursday at PSJA High, but, because of inexperience, too many plays have been left on the field. Too many gaffes, too many head-shakers.

Things are coming together, sure, particularly after a big Week 3 overtime win over Edinburg North, but now that the games matter, nothing can be left to chance.

“Back to fundamentals is the main thing,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “Re-teaching. Defensively, we had to go over things with the linebackers, who are steadily progressing. Our secondary, everything is starting to gel. Offensively, it was about getting the guys to feel comfortable and confident about carrying out a play.”

Interestingly enough, “back to square one” was the theme for the Bears (2-1) during their bye week as well.

“We went back to fundamentals and doing a better job of taking care of little things — penalties, lack of focus, taking care of the ball,” PSJA High coach Steve Marroquin said. “Things like that. Defensively, we wanted to make sure we keep aligning correctly.”

The Yellowjackets are one of the top offensive teams amongst 32-5A and one of the poorer defensive units, by the numbers. PSJA High is the exact opposite, the top defensive team and a not-so-good offensive team.

But stats don’t tell the whole story, and realistically these are two teams in the same boat. Both are defensive-minded. Both have potential-laden offenses that have a long way to go because of inexperience at skill positions.

Each coach speaks complimentarily of the other. Where others might see E-E off to a bad start, Marroquin sees otherwise. And where PSJA High has what some see as a quarterback issue, Marichalar sees differently.

“They’re Edcouch-Elsa for a reason,” Marroquin said. “If history repeats itself, they only get better as the season goes along.”

“They’re peaking at the right time,” Marichalar said. “Those three quarterbacks do a great job moving the ball, whether passing or running. Defensively, they have good guys in the box, with good size. Offensively, we have to play an ‘A’ game. We can’t be flat against a defense like that.”

Marroquin desires consistency on offense. His Bears move the ball just fine; he wants finishes.

Edcouch-Elsa is chasing a complete game. Marichalar has preached “playing four quarters,” and that’s only happened once, the overtime win over the Cougars. He wants more. He sees an offensive line, led by Gabriel Armendariz and Jared Cantu, that has blossomed considerably, and changes made to the kicking game are expected to pay significant dividends.

Now would be the ideal time to see everything click.

“Obviously, there’s more of a sense of urgency now, but on our end I stress not focusing on our opponent,” Marichalar said. “We have to take care of our family first. Once we’re where we want to be, we’ll start worrying about our opponent.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PSJA High’s defense is strong, the catalyst for the Bears’ 2-1 start heading into Thursday’s district opener versus Edcouch-Elsa.

The offense, however, is not. It needs consistency. That is why coach Steve Marroquin is convinced his team can be better.

“The consistency is what’s holding us back,” said Marroquin, whose team is averaging 15.3 points on 228.7 yards. “We have spurts. We can move the ball. But we can shoot ourselves in the foot with mental errors, not knowing assignments … Once we get continuity, consistency, we’re going to be tough to stop.”

The instability begins at quarterback, where Marroquin has used four signal-callers this season.

Andrew Castañeda, a junior who has made just six varsity starts, has seen the majority of the snaps, completing 19 of 47 passes for 196 yards, with one touchdown to five interceptions. Troy Flores (2-for-3, 87 yards) has seen a few snaps, as has Bobby Guajardo in a Wildcat formation.

Sophomore Mark Castillo has also seen time under center.

“I know people may think we’re struggling, and yes we need more consistency, but at the same time we utilize a bunch of kids and we’re going to get better,” Marroquin said. “Andrew’s going to get better and he’s made improvements. He has struggled with accuracy and knowing where to go, but we’re confident he can put us in position to win games.”

Marroquin said Castañeda has improved in confidence and game management, but also emphasized he’s going to “play the kids that give us the best chance to win the game.”

TIGERS’ GOMEZ EMERGES

When Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. looks at this week’s first district opponent, Brownsville Pace, he sees a team better than its 1-2 record.

He sees a dangerous offensive unit that averages 27 points on 250.7 yards, led by a quarterback in Alex Cisneros who leads 32-5A teams in touchdowns and pass attempts, and is second in completions.

Fortunately, Adame has a stout defense, led by a veteran secondary, quick linebackers and a blossoming defensive front that has benefited from the emergence of 5-foot-11, 235-pound nose guard Jose Gomez.

“We lost a centerpiece last year in Rick Hinojosa, so we wanted to see if (Gomez) could hold his own,” Adame said. “He’s coming off the ball, attacking double teams and he’s impressed. He’s a guy who will give you everything he’s got. He’s a practice player, too, and not all guys are. He does it all the right way.”

Gomez, who has a long arm reach, saw little varsity time last year, but committed himself to the weight room once Adame told him he would be counting on him. It has paid off, as he is averaging 10.7 tackles.

NORTH’S ‘D’ ON THE RISE

Donna North’s defense has incrementally improved each week this season. The fact that seniors Marco Olivarez and Jose Sanchez have blossomed as the focus of the unit during that time is no coincidence.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Olivarez leads the Chiefs in tackles with 33. To further take advantage of his size, coach Tommy Sauceda recently moved Olivarez to inside linebacker from outside.

“He has a nose for the football,” Sauceda said. “He does a good job keying his reads and making plays. He’s a bigger body, and being inside gives him more opportunity.”

Sanchez, meanwhile, is a typical outside linebacker. He’s not big, but he’s smart, and like Olivarez he leads by example. He has 26 tackles and two fumbles caused.

“He’s got to be able to get off blocks, and he does that,” Sauceda said. “He’s probably 5-7, 165-pounds soaking wet, so he has to do everything right.

“For the most part, he does that.”

Since the Chiefs’ defense has identified its leaders, things are moving forward.

“We’re playing better fundamentally,” Sauceda said. “Everyone’s taking care of responsibilities. Everybody’s got a job. We have 11 guys getting better at doing their job.”

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