BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
By now, most Edinburg High fans know what to expect from running back Hearlin Benavides.
The junior has 1,417 yards on the season, raking second in the Upper Valley. He also has 14 touchdowns.
What Bobcats fans may not be as clear on is the value of sophomore Erik Cano. Coming into the year, the converted quarterback was splitting time between wide receiver and running back, but he wasn’t having a huge impact on the games.
That was then, this is now. In the past three games, he has put up rushing totals of 203, 105 and 111.
Cano had a breakout game against PSJA High in Week 8. An 81-yard touchdown run fueled his 203-yard outing.
“Erik has always been a very talented young athlete,” Edinburg High coach J.J. Leija said. “He’s really produced the last few weeks, especially coming off a 200-yard performance with PSJA, and then he has had some great games after that. He’s been a remarkable find for us and having a one-two type of punch with him and Hearlin. He’s more of a slasher, and Hearlin is more of a power back, like we like to say. He’s come out to be a big surprise, and we love having him there in the backfield.”
Cano is up to 489 yards and 5 TDs on the season. He has earned more of a role in the offense, even getting a package specially designed for him.
“There have been some times where we have put Hearlin and Erik both on the field,” Leija said. “We have a little wildcat formation where we put Erik at QB. Erik was at QB last year as a freshman. He’s just what people call an athlete, and he can play at any position.”
Edinburg High clinched a playoff spot by virtue of its 28-0 win over PSJA Southwest last week. The Bobcats will make back-to-back trips to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 seasons.
“When we started this last year, we tried to change the culture here and bring back the tradition,” Leija said. “We always talk about how Edinburg has always been a playoff team. They have always had high expectations. We have always done that with our kids. We have always set our expectations high. The kids have accepted what we are trying to implement. They have become the 28th team in Bobcat history to make the playoffs. They are excited. I told them that they are now a part of Bobcat history by making the playoffs. ‘Now let’s try to make a run and try to add to that.’”