BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

The Edinburg High Bobcats have had an up-and-down start to the season.

They lost their first two games before picking up a win against La Joya Palmview in Week 3.

The Bobcats have been switching between two quarterbacks — junior Matt Cruz and senior Danny Shawnee.

While coach J.J. Leija has worked to fill that position, another position has sorted itself out.

Junior Hearlin Benavides has become a threat for the Bobcats at running back.

In three games, Benavides has rushed 69 times for 424 yards and four touchdowns.

“Hearlin is a great kid,” Leija said. “He is very coachable. He is very dedicated to the team. It’s all about the team and not ‘me.’ The guy is pushing himself to the limit. He wants to be the guy getting the ball, and he has been a workhorse.

“We are very happy that he has been pretty good these first three games. Now we enter a tough district schedule, and we will see if he can just keep going along.”

Last year, the Bobcats were led by senior running back Nathan Marez, who carried the ball 239 times for 1,103 yards and 11 touchdowns. Benavides might not be there just yet, but he is on the right track. And Leija does see some similarities between the two.

“He doesn’t shy away from contact, the same way Nathan didn’t,” Leija said. “He will run over you if he can. He’s got good leadership qualities, and hopefully he can take it there.”

Those loftier goals are for the end of the season. Right now, Benavides and Leija have only one focus. At 7:30 p.m. Friday the Bobcats square off with the Edinburg Economedes Jaguars at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.

“We are just excited to start district,” Leija said. “We have been looking forward to this, and we tell them, ‘Every game you play is important. It’s not a sprint, it’s a long-distance race.’ These kids are excited to play.”

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At Roma, the Mission Veterans Patriots jumped on the Roma Gladiators early and often in a 40-10 rout on Friday night.

“We treated this like a business trip — coming over to Roma,” Mission Veterans coach David Gilpin said. “We had mind set on what we were going to do, and that was to establish ourselves early.”

Patriots quarterback Landry Gilpin ran for three touchdowns in the first half, pushing his district-high total to eight through four games. Mission Veterans (4-0, 2-0) took a 28-3 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Gilpin threw for three more touchdowns, two to sophomore Mikey Garcia and the other to junior John Aguilar.

But it was Mission Veterans’ defense that turned in another stout performance after experiencing major struggles a season ago. Through the first four games in 2016, the Patriots allowed 30 points or more twice. The most points they’ve allowed in a game this season is 24, including the 10 points they gave up to Roma (0-4, 0-2).

“Our secondary’s been playing on another level,” Gilpin said. “That was a big question mark heading into spring, but they’ve been playing outstanding football. Our defensive line has been solid as a rock up front, and our linebackers have made plays behind them. I continue to be thrilled with our defense and our defensive staff with the job that they’re doing.”

MISSION HIGH 21, EAGLE PASS WINN 14: At Mission, Mission coach Koy Detmer is feeling pretty good about his team’s performance in its non-district finale.

“We mixed run and pass,” Detmer said. “The thing was Steven De Leon got back involved running the ball some. He had some carries that were big runs.”

De Leon scored 2 TDs and Horacio Moronta scored the other TD, also on the ground. QB Damian Gomez followed up his 300-yard passing performance a week ago by adding more running plays, further varying the attack.

Mission starts district play against La Joya High next week. The Mission home game will be played at Valley View ISD Stadium in Hidalgo while Tom Landry Stadium continues renovation.

LA JOYA PALMVIEW 27, BROWNSVILLE 14: At La Joya, the Lobos got back on the winning path at home tonight.

It wasn’t a perfect game according to coach Mage Requenez.

“It was a bit of a slow start. We turned the ball over three times in the first half,” Requenez said. “The kids stayed calm, and we regrouped at the half. It was a good win.”

The Lobos had lost their previous two outings after winning their opener, leaving their record at 2-2. They’ll be tested in a big way when they welcome McAllen Memorial in their 30-6A opener.

Requenez said it will take “a total team effort” to stop Memorial’s run game.

VICTORIA EAST 34, McALLEN HIGH 31, OT: At McAllen, Gunnar Henderson returned the opening kickoff for a score. He also scored a rushing TD.

Roy Gutierrez and J.R. Cortez reached the end zone with their legs, but it wasn’t enough for the Bulldogs to overcome Victoria East in an OT thriller.

The Bulldogs missed a field goal attempt in overtime, and Victoria East’s kick went off the upright and in for the game-winner.

McHi will need to pick itself up off the mat from the heartbreak and disappointing 1-3 start. The Bulldogs will have an open week before starting district play against La Joya High.

GRULLA 34, LYFORD 21: At Grulla, down 21-13 at halftime, Grulla coach Abel Gonzalez III made adjustments, and his team rallied back in the second half, holding Lyford scoreless for the final two quarters.

“We made a quick defensive front adjustment at the half,” Gonzalez said. “That helped us get our linebackers in the running lanes. The guys just started playing better. We got two interceptions in the second half. … Our guys were resilient. They battled back, and they won the second half, which won us the game.”

Junior quarterback Dillen Salinas ran for a touchdown to put the Gators within 2 at 21-19. He then passed the ball to senior wide receiver Miguel Flores for a score to put the Gators up 27-21.

Junior quarterback Ebenezer Cantu iced the game with a score with about three minutes left to put the Gators up for good, 34-21.

“Our non-district schedule is very tough,” Gonzalez said. “For our guys to bounce back in the second half and get the job done is a huge lesson for our kids. These are the different type of situation that you want your kids to face in non-district so that you can see how they react.”

Grulla started strong with a 50-plus yard touchdown run from Salinas on the opening drive.

But Lyford responded with a scoring drive. On the ensuing kickoff, Grulla muffed the ball and gave Lyford good field position. Lyford converted the turnover into points and held the lead for the rest of the half.

“Lyford is a good football team,” Gonzalez said. “I give them a lot of credit. They played really tough, and we had to battle tonight.”

HEBBRONVILLE 50, PROGRESO 6: At Hebbronville, Progreso fell to 0-2, while Hebbronville jumped to 3-1.

C.C. JOHN PAUL II 58, MONTE ALTO 13: At Corpus Christi, with the loss, Monte Alto now sits at 1-3. John Paul II, meanwhile, is 3-1 on the year.

BISHOP 49, LA VILLA 6: At La Villa, the Cardinals dropped to 0-4, and the Bishop Badgers stayed undefeated at 4-0 with the win.

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

PHARR — Coming into Friday’s game, La Joya High junior JR Rodriguez had practiced at quarterback only four times this year.

“It was the last four days,” Rodriguez said. “Last year, I switched from quarterback to receiver, so this year, I was focused on receiver. But, when coached asked me to practice at quarterback this week, I felt good.”

Despite the lack of preparation, Rodriguez shined as the perfect complement to sophomore running back Eddie Villarreal on Friday. La Joya High beat PSJA North 21-20 at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.

“This win means a lot to us,” junior defensive back Irvin Zamora said. “It’s my dream to play for the Coyotes. And to come here under the Friday night lights and get this win, it was awesome.”

While it was La Joya’s offense that powered the Coyotes, that unit wasn’t on the field for the biggest plays of the game.

With 44 second left of the clock, La Joya lined up to punt.

“We took the delay of game,” La Joya coach Reuben Farias said. “I was kind of hesitant, because I knew it would put us in a situation where we were backed up.”

After the penalty, the Coyotes were punting from their own 21, and Farias’ worry proved to be warranted, as PSJA North got into the backfield and blocked the punt. North junior Marco Salinas recovered the ball in the end zone to make the score 21-20 La Joya.

“It was a crazy moment,” Villarreal, who ran 28 times for 198 yards and two touchdowns, said. “At that point, it was up to God on that (extra point). And he came through.”

North kicker Jose Alvarez lined up to take the extra point, but the kick went wide right.

“I got so excited when that kick went wide,” Rodriguez, who had nine carries for 77 yards and a touchdown, said. “My eyes opened up wide, and I got happy.”

La Joya junior Charlie Alvarez recovered the ensuing onside kick to stave off any final attempt at late-game heroics by PSJA North.

That ended the dramatics, but that’s hardly where they started.

La Joya had the ball with the lead late because of a great play by senior defensive back Carlos de Leon.

“We had seen them setting that play up on several plays before,” Farias said. “So when we saw number 17 drying his hands, I told the boys, ‘It’s coming now.’”

North senior running back Vonzell Griffin (17) got the ball on a sweep, but he slowed up and looked to pass downfield. Because of Farias’ instructions, the defense was ready, and with de Leon and Zamora both there, de Leon got the interception.

“We knew it was coming,” Zamora said. “Coach kept telling us to watch for that play, that it was going to come.”

The theatrics didn’t end there. North had the ball on that possession thanks to a La Joya turnover. Junior quarterback Aaron Martinez awaited the snap from the North 6. When it came, it sailed right over his head.

“I wanted to get under center,” Farias said. “I was upset, but I told the defense, ‘You are going to have to step up.’”

Sophomore defensive back John Sanchez recovered the fumble and ran the ball to the North 44.

Despite all the drama, La Joya was in control for much of the game and was on the verge of coasting to an easy win before the red zone fumble.

Rodriguez and Villarreal played a big part in that.

Rodriguez and Martinez spelled each other at quarterback. Rodriguez exclusively ran from the formation, although he played the position on junior varsity and is considered a capable passer.

The Coyotes pounded the middle with Villarreal. Often, Villarreal would break loose for 10-12 yards per carry.

“It was all about the O-line” Villarreal said. “They opened up the holes, and I just read them.”

Villarreal is a powerful runner with a large frame. So, when the slimmer, more agile Rodriguez got the carry, it gave the Raiders nightmares.

This was old school, hard-nosed Valley football. Each team ran it straight up the gut for much of the game. The teams combined for 21 pass attempts.

North got production out of both running backs. Senior Juan Elizondo carried the ball 18 times for 79 yards and a touchdown, and Griffin carried it seven times for 19 yards and a score.

PSJA North started each half sluggish, and that allowed La Joya to pounce. After forcing the Raiders to punt in their own territory on the openiacng drive of the game, the Coyotes went on a seven-play, 71-yard drive punctuated with a 34-yard touchdown run from Villarreal.

To start the second half, the teams traded three-and-outs. On the third possession of the half, La Joya got great field position on a 52-yard punt return from Zamora. The Raiders held at first, but on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Villarreal punched it in to give the Coyotes a 14-7 lead.

In the end, the Coyotes never surrendered that lead. Despite the drama at the end, the Coyotes running attack of Villarreal and Rodriguez put them in a position to win.

“I’m happy for our boys, because they grinded all week,” Farias said. “Tonight, they played their hearts out, and we found a way to win.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

PHARR — PSJA North senior running back Vonzell Griffin began playing football in a much different environment than many of his teammates.

During the cold, snowy winters in Chicago, Illinois, Griffin and about 20 of his fellow 8-year-olds would play football on a plot of grass. Their field was surrounded on all sides by government housing high-rises. The familiar dark-red exterior of those high-rises served as the backdrop for many of Griffin’s earliest memories.

Running around on that frosted grass was safer than what many kids his age were getting into.

In 2015, there were 11,081 violent crimes committed in Chicago, according to the FBI’s Annual Crime Report. In 2016, that number grew to 13,729. Similarly, the 2015 and 2016 murder totals of 213 and 317, respectively, mark the highest totals for any city in the United States, according to the report.

“It’s unavoidable,” Griffin said. “You don’t have to go looking for the trouble. It can cross you at any time and any place, just because that’s how the people are up there.”

The violence in the city is the main reason why Griffin now resides in the Rio Grande Valley. He has family in the Valley, and when his grandmother reached out to ask him if he wanted to relocate to Texas, he gave it some serious consideration.

“When she asked me, the first thing I thought of was (the crime),” Griffin said. “That’s one of the big reasons I came. It’s just a lot of violence, a lot of crime. And then I thought to myself, ‘Texas has to be way better.’”

This past summer, Griffin transferred from East Chicago High to PSJA North.

Griffin was on the outer vestiges of the city’s violence growing up. He was studious and focused on his grades. He played football, the game he loves, and had plenty of friends who were his teammates all the way from that field in the projects to East Chicago’s Pete Rucinski Field as members of the East Chicago Cardinals.

“It was hard growing up in Chicago,” Griffin said. “You hear about the violence and whatnot. I lived close. If you know who you are cool with, then you are good. I had fun out there, because I wasn’t a troubled kid or nothing.”

Despite his efforts to avoid danger, Griffin was not exempt from being affected by the violence.

“Anything you can think of, I have had it happen to people around me: jail, murder, all of that,” Griffin said.

Griffin also lost his father when he was 14. Given all the pain in his past, it is easy to see why Griffin runs with so much anger when he’s on the football field. The former linebacker hits the hole with explosive energy, and any defender in his way is in for a seismic collision.

Through two games this season, Griffin has carried the ball 19 times for 134 yards and a touchdown.

“Von is doing a great job of blocking and running,” North coach Marcus Kaufmann said. “He’s a very smart guy. He is picking up (the offense) very, very well. He listens to you word for word — very coachable kid.”

Typically, the Raiders running game centers around the three players in the backfield: Griffin, senior running back Juan Elizondo and senior quarterback Randy Reyna.

Griffin and Elizondo line up side by side on the field, and they are often side by side off the field.

“Juan helped me a lot when I first got here,” Griffin said. “We chilled when I first started coming. We chilled at his crib and my crib. Everybody is really cool here. I like the team a lot.”

The ties that bind Elizondo and Griffin together are rooted in similar tough upbringings. Like many of the Raiders, Elizondo wasn’t born with a silver spoon.

“He’s pretty cool. He’s a funny guy,” Elizondo said of Griffin. “We have been through some similar things in our lives. We both know what it’s like to come from a difficult upbringing and try to do the best we can.”

He may be new, but Griffin is invested in the Raiders’ season. Before PSJA North had its open week in Week 3, the team suffered back-to-back difficult losses, and no one was more upset than Griffin.

“I was devastated,” Griffin said. “It’s really tough, because it was mental errors, and we just lost the groove we had. … That’s my ammunition. That’s my fuel going forward.”

The Raiders host the La Joya High Coyotes at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at PSJA Stadium.

Griffin, Elizondo and the rest of the Raiders are ready to get their first win of the season.

“They are ready to go,” Kaufmann said of his players. “They are learning. I feel good about this group, because they care. These guys here, they grew up watching Raider football. They know what it means to play football at PSJA North. So they are trying. Other places I have been, after two losses, it would be infighting and blaming, and no one would get along. Here, it’s not like that. They all love each other, and they all get along. So they are ready to go out there and fight together and get that first win.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

It is easy to see PSJA High junior quarterback Trey Guajardo’s 962 passing yards through three games and think of PSJA as just a passing team.

That would be a fatal error.

The Bears have 429 rushing yards on the year. Against Brownsville Rivera on Thursday, sophomore JR Vasquez rushed for 130 yards.

“We have two good backs, JR Vasquez and Christian (Rivera),” PSJA coach Lupe Rodriguez said. “JR is a sophomore. He was a freshman last year, so he is still trying to figure it out as far as the transition from freshman level to varsity level. I knew one of those had it in them. This week, it just happened to be JR, but they are both very capable of putting up those type of numbers.”

While Rodriguez has been known for his passing attacks, his offenses have always had a healthy balance.

“Everywhere we have been, we have had backs that have gotten close to 1,000 yards each year,” Rodriguez said. “Normally, our QB is right around there, as well. So, it is there for our offense to run the football. We just let the pass set up the run.”

To Rodriguez’s point, Guajardo may only have 67 rushing yards, but he has 3 rushing touchdowns already.

The key for the Bears running game is knowing the situation and exploiting the opponent when it overextends to prevent the pass.

“We have sometimes a four- or five-man box,” Rodriguez said. “That allows us to run the ball. Some people play a Cover 2 behind it and try to drop seven or eight into coverage. We have it in our system, to where if we need to run the ball, we will run it. As a coaching staff, we do see those things, and we do adjust.”

The Bears get a bye this week before opening District 31-6A play with PSJA Southwest.

“I told our guys PSJA High is the big brother. The other schools are kind of like the little brothers,” Rodriguez said. “We have to take that role back. In the past, it used to be PSJA North, and we have emphasized that we want to be the big dogs in the city. It is a long time coming for PSJA High to step up. … I knew it was going to be big for us to start off strong. Especially for these kids that have been a part of not-so-successful seasons.

“I have faced (PSJA Southwest coach Michael Evans) before, when I was at Veterans in the playoffs. I know he is a defensive-minded guy. I know he always has his teams ready. I told our guys we have to start off fast against this team and not take them lightly.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

In Edinburg North’s game against Harlingen South on Thursday in Harlingen, the Cougars came away with a 24-7 win, but they also suffered a difficult loss.

Junior quarterback Francisco Zuniga suffered a broken clavicle. North coach Rene Saenz said the initial diagnosis is Zuniga will be out four to six weeks, but that the evaluation will be made week to week.

“Like any kid would be, Frankie is frustrated,” Saenz said. “He is a little bit shocked, because now he is not able to do anything for a few weeks. He’s dealing with it and ready to bounce back. That’s just the natural competitiveness in him.”

Luckily, sophomore wide receiver Izaiah Rangel has been taking snaps at quarterback in practice all season. He first began trying the position during two-a-days and has developed a feel for the role, Saenz said.

Saenz had one word for his feelings on Rangel at quarterback going forward.

“Comfortable,” Saenz said. “It’s always been something we wanted to look at, him at QB, because we know he has a ton of talent. Unfortunately, he’s pushed in there 100 percent of the time because of the injury with Frankie. We were hoping to kind of share the responsibilities and ease him into the role, but now that he is full time, we are very comfortable with it. We just hope he stays healthy.”

After coming on at quarterback Thursday, Rangel rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Prior to the injury, Zuniga had 398 passing yards on the season. Despite the difference in play style, Saenz said North’s offense will not be less effective.

“It might look a little different,” he said. “Week to week, we add and adapt a little bit based on who we are playing and what we are getting. For the most part, the playbook stays the same. We are hoping nothing really big changes. We need to continue to progress. It showed when Izaiah went in there. I don’t think we missed very much, as far as rhythm goes. There wasn’t much of a hiccup as far as the fluidity of running the offense. There shouldn’t be any adjustment.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — After last year’s disappointment, Weslaco East wanted to leave no doubt in Week 3 this year.

Weslaco East dominated Edinburg Economedes for a 56-14 win on Friday at Richard Flores Stadium.

Last year, East was 2-0 heading into a Week 3 matchup with Economedes, but the Jaguars pulled off an upset and shocked the Wildcats 23-16.

“We hated the way we lost last year,” senior quarterback Richard LeFevre said. “It felt like we lost the third round of the playoffs. We knew we made so many mistakes in that game. It was very painful.”

This year, the Wildcats were ready for Week 3.

“That’s a good ball club, they were 2-0,” Weslaco East coach Mike Burget said. “I know Gabe (Peña, Economedes’ coach). He will have his team in the playoffs.”

After forcing the Jaguars to go three-and-out on the opening possession, the Wildcats went on an 11-play, 45-yard drive. East capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior running back Roy Pedraza.

“He was running hard,” LeFevre said. “It’s his birthday, so I guess he decided to unleash it tonight. He came out and did a heck of a job running the ball.”

The Wildcats went on to score three more touchdowns in the next quarter and a half to extend the lead to 28-0.

In all, the Wildcats ran for 301 yards and passed for 214. Their total of 515 yards is the team’s highest output this year.

“They call themselves the strong side, we call ourselves the strong side,” Pedraza, who carried the ball 24 times for 170 yards and three scores, said. “Last year, we didn’t prove it. This year, we did.”

Not only did the Wildcats want revenge from last year, they had a bad taste in their mouth after last week. East lost to McAllen Memorial 28-14 in Week 2 after committing six turnovers.

“We were a little bit embarrassed after what happened last week,” Burget said. “A lot of our fans were questioning JC Vargas. I don’t think they are going to question him anymore. The guy is a football player. He had a bad game last week. It bugged him for the whole week. He came out to play today.”

Last week, Vargas had 11 carries for 63 yards and didn’t catch a pass. This week, he caught 7 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown.

LeFevre, who got him the ball, finished the night 15-of-21 passing for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

Combine that deadly duo with Pedraza, and you have what many Wildcats fans have affectionately termed “The Big Three.” But, you probably shouldn’t say that to them.

“There is no ‘Big Three,’” LeFevre said. “We are a team. Everybody came together and played. It starts with the O-line. Everyone plays a part.”

Economedes was feeling decent after the first quarter. The score was just 7-0, and the defense had given the Wildcats some issues on the scoring drive. It’s not often the Wildcats need three tries from the 1-yard line to score.

Another promising aspect of the game for the Jaguars was the passing of junior quarterback Albert Guerra.

“We have been throwing the ball well the last three weeks,” Peña said. “We can build on that. He’s getting more confidence.”

Guerra was responsible for both Economedes touchdowns, passing for one and running for the other.

Even the Jaguars had last year’s upset on their minds.

“Did it play a factor? It may have,” Peña said. “But we are both different teams from last year to this year, and they were the victors tonight.”

There was no repeat to be had. Weslaco East once again proved why it is one of the most dominant teams in the Valley.

“They are a very good football team,” Peña said. “We needed to see a team like East. To see where we are at.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

HIDALGO — For new Hidalgo coach Monty Stumbaugh, Week 3 is just another week in the season.

“We have to look at it as game three,” Stumbaugh said. “We need a win. Whoever we play, we want to win.”

Stumbaugh spent the last 16 years as the coach at Port Isabel. That’s why, despite Stumbaugh’s resolution, the Pirates know that their game against Port Isabel at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo has a little extra meaning to it.

“It’s pretty exciting,” senior linebacker Timothy Busby said. “We don’t have a good history against that ball club, so it will be exciting to go out here and get a win. … Obviously, it’s personal for him. It would mean a lot to him.”

“It would be great to get the win,” senior linebacker and fullback Abram Sifuentes said. “Coach would be really excited.”

Despite starting the season 0-2, the Pirates still remain intrepid about their year. The Pirates weren’t out of either of their first two games. In Week 1, the Pirates faced the Santa Rose Warriors, and a dropped pass on a crucial third down right before the half swung the game from what could have been a tie to a 14-point Santa Rosa lead. The Warriors carried the momentum into the second half and won 42-28

In a similar fashion, Hidalgo trailed Valley View by just three points early in the third quarter of its Week 2 matchup. The Tigers stormed back and scored quickly, overwhelming the Pirates on the way to a 34-10 win.

“We felt like when we executed, we moved the ball,” Stumbaugh said. “When we execute, we can move the ball on people, but we have to execute. … Just like anybody, we can’t have penalties. We can’t be first-and-15, third-and-10, stuff like that.”

One of the biggest reasons for optimism is the emergence of junior running back Bryan Aleman in Stumbaugh’s run heavy system. But, Aleman wasn’t even sure he wanted to be the running back coming into the year.

“He played a little quarterback last year, but they ran the spread,” Stumbaugh said. “I watched a little film on him, and I saw he is pretty good runner. I convinced him he could play J back — that’s what we call it — and not quarterback. We had a nice talk. We had an understanding that he would be the running back for us.”

The 5-foot-10, 172-pounder has carried the ball 50 times this season for 267 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

“He’s still learning where to hit and where to run. He’s doing a good job, and he is getting better every week,” Stumbaugh said. “He’s got some talent, and I’m looking for big things for him. He’s really coming on. When I saw him run, I said, ‘This kid could be a good one.’ I told him before the first game, ‘My backs get 1,000 yards, so you better be ready. Get yourself in shape.’”

Stumbaugh said Aleman has improved more than just his running. In his first two games, combined with Hidalgo’s scrimmages, Aleman has shown increased blocking and faking abilities, according to Stumbaugh.

Aleman’s production, combined with the continued development of quarterback Marco Bella and the offensive line, has brought the offense to a new level.

Stumbaugh has continued to advance his system with the players, as they have become more comfortable with their roles.

“We add like four or five plays, every week, to our playbook,” Sifuentes said. “We are getting better every day.”

Stumbaugh said he adds plays and formations because he wants to get his team comfortable with his entire offense quickly.

“It’s a whole process,” Stumbaugh said. “Once you get the basics, you can add your little wrinkles, like any other offense.”

In that respect, it may end up being a positive that the Pirates have four more games before they hit district play.

“It’s definitely a good thing,” Busby said. “We have come a long way week to week. … Everybody is just learning the new stuff, and hopefully we will be fully comfortable in this system by district.”

For now, Stumbaugh may be insistent that Week 3 is just another week, but he does acknowledge this week will be unusual for him.

“I know people think it’s going to be a huge game because I was at PI and all of that,” Stumbaugh said. “I love those kids over there. I was with them forever. I always will. But this week, I will be in the navy. Being on the opposite sideline will be a new experience. … I’m a Hidalgo Pirate, and we are going to try to beat the Port Isabel Tarpons, because that is our goal. And next week, we will try to beat the Rio Hondo Bobcats. We just want to be 1-0 this week. Besides that, nothing else really matters.“

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

PSJA Memorial may be 0-2 heading into Week 3, but the Wolverines still have a lot of optimism.

“Our goals are still intact,” Memorial coach Michael Uribe said. “Our kids are doing some good things. We are showing improvement every single day. We are going to continue to work hard. Participation has been great. The attitude has been great. The numbers are bigger than any other year since I have been here. I’m proud of the effort my kids are putting in.”

A large portion of the optimism centers around junior quarterback Orlando Muñoz, who has completed 30 of 50 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown.

“By the time the season is said and done, he’s going to be one of the top quarterbacks in our district,” Uribe said. “He’s getting better every single day. He has jumped leaps and bounds from his freshman year to last year. At the start of his sophomore year, he got thrown into the fire. Now, he has the situation under control. The game has slowed down for him. He’s confident. He handles the flow of the game a lot better.”

If there is one area Muñoz needs to improve, it’s his punting. He was rushed into the role after last season’s punter decided not to join the team this year. In Memorial’s game against McAllen High, Muñoz’s punting played a large part in the outcome. Punting from his own end zone, Muñoz had a punt go out of bounds after 0 yards, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the 4-yard line. He had several other less than stellar punts in the game. The punting, combined with other special teams blunders, hurt Memorial in the field-position battle.

“It’s not that he’s a bad punter. It’s just when you’re transitioning as a punter, and you play quarterback, it can be a little challenging,” Uribe said. “We have been hunting and scouring the soccer classes, but he’s currently the best one that we have. … We still believe in Orlando to be our punter, but we would like to have some options just in case.”

The turnaround for Memorial could begin Friday. The Wolverines host Brownsville Lopez at 7:30 p.m. at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.

“I used them as an example all offseason and all summer,” Uribe said. “I have a lot of respect for coach (Jason) Starkey over there. I got to know him personally over the last year. The way he has changed the culture there is similar to the situation and circumstance that we are under. Lopez has had some good years in the past, but it’s been up and down. PSJA Memorial has had some good years in the past, but it’s been up and down. The way that they are playing and the environment and the feel that they have over there, I think that is the direction that we are heading. I think we can get there really soon.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR

Edinburg Vela is off to a 2-0 start under new coach John Campbell, but for Campbell, there is no reason to celebrate yet.

“We are trying to improve in every area: offensively, defensively and special teams,” Campbell said. “The whole purpose of non-district is to try to get those as polished up as you can before district play. With us losing a scrimmage, it puts even more stress on these three ball games, to try to get everything as cleaned up as possible.”

In Week 1, Vela visited Laredo Martin and came away with a 34-13 victory. Last week, Vela hosted Edcouch-Elsa in The Monitor’s Game of the Week and pulled out a late victory, 56-35.

The 35 points allowed is a concerning total, but Campbell remains confident in his defense.

“I thought, once we were able to settle down, we played quite well defensively,” Campbell said. “The challenge this week is we have to put together a complete game on that side of the ball. We played quite well in the second half. We struggled a little bit in the first half. At the same time, offensively it goes hand in hand. We have to convert first downs and get our defense off the field.”

Campbell said he isn’t even thinking about district play yet. His only focus is Week 3. The SaberCats will travel to Brownsville to take on the Brownsville Veterans Chargers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Sams Memorial Stadium.

“Once again, we have a top-10 caliber opponent, so we will be challenged again, and hopefully we continue to improve at the rate that we improved last week,” Campbell said. “We had the privilege of taking over a program that was in very, very good shape. I was very pleased with the resiliency we showed the other day. Anytime you are able to put a ball game away in the fourth quarter the way we did the other day, you feel good. That saying, ‘You are only as good as your last performance,’ well that last quarter, we played pretty good football. So hopefully, we are able to continue to build on that, and we have a very critical Monday practice this week.”

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