PHARR — No team in the Rio Grande Valley has won more games over the last three seasons than PSJA North and its 35 victories.

The Raiders haven’t lost a regular season contest since Nov. 4, 2021, and while that streak may end, PSJA North is far from falling off despite graduating a strong senior class.

The Raiders return some of the RGV’s top players on both sides of the ball to start the 2024 season as the RGVSports.com No. 1 team at the 5A/6A level.

PSJA North finished last season with a 12-1 record and fell short of its goal of reaching the state semifinals and state championship game after losing in the regional semifinals against Brownsville Veterans by a score of 45-28. The Raiders’ season ended with a sour taste in their mouth as Brownsville Veterans charged on to the state semifinals, the Valley’s first team to do so in 20 years.

That motivated PSJA North’s returning group to get back to work in the offseason with hopes of putting together another deep playoff run in 2024.

“We’ve been working all summer and we have some guys back. We’re still a force to be reckoned with and I don’t think anybody should sleep on us,” senior offensive lineman Jordan Brewster said.

Offensively, PSJA North brings back five starters spearheaded by junior running back Ethan Guerra and the senior Brewster. 

The 6-foot, 4-inch Brewster cooked up 91 pancake blocks and graded 95% or better in every game last season. He’ll slide from right tackle to center this season to lead the middle of the PSJA North O-line alongside senior Matthew Pompa.

That bodes well for the Raiders’ all-purpose back Guerra, who has 4.6 speed and the ability to do damage on the ground and through the air. He finished with 1,572 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 153 carries last season, while also catching 13 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns.

“The only way we got here was through hard work and thanks to the teammates I’ve had,” Guerra said. “It’s the same expectation as every year and I think we’ll be good.”

Junior Daren Garcia is taking over starting quarterback duties after playing sparingly the last two seasons late in fourth quarters with PSJA North up big. He made the most of his opportunities, however, completing 15-of-25 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Senior athlete Diego Aparicio (236 rushing yards, two touchdowns) will also be leaned on as a Swiss Army Knife in different positions in PSJA North’s multiple pro style offense.

PSJA North’s “Blackshirt Defense” has been the RGV’s top defensive unit during their run and this year’s group shouldn’t be far off thanks to key returners in several positions.

Senior four-year starters Steven Garza and Jesse Montez star as the linebackers in the Raiders’ 4-2-5 scheme and play with their hair on fire. They’re fast, physical and can blow up plays in the running and passing game. Garza posted 109 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2023, while Montez recorded a team-high 114 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and one interception.

The Raiders also have experience in the secondary with junior defensive backs Ethan Montemayor (72 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks) and Bryan Guerrero (56 total tackles, one interception) and seniors Devante Espinosa (25 total tackles, one interception) and Raul Isasi, who also starts at kicker. The top task for the Raiders defense will be filling holes on its defensive line to play next to senior Alejandro Villarreal.

“We play at 110% and we don’t give up,” Garza said of the Raiders’ defense. “We’re looking forward to having a better season than last season.”

PSJA North will be pushed in district play this year as they join the new look 15-5A DI which features nine teams, seven of which qualified for the postseason in 2023. The Raiders will lock horns with Coastal Bend powers Corpus Christi Flour Bluff and Corpus Christi Veterans in district, while also battling against hard-nosed RGV teams in Harlingen South, PSJA Memorial, Weslaco East, Donna High, Donna North and Brownsville Rivera.

The Raiders will have to fight for a playoff spot but possess the tools to finish as a top four team in 15-5A DI while also chasing a third consecutive district title.

“It’s a tough task but I think we have the capability to keep it up,” Brewster said.

PSJA North opens the regular season with a marquee matchup against San Benito at 7 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito. The Raiders then face rival PSJA High in the Tri-City Classic in Week 2 before kicking off District 15-5A DI action against Donna North in Week 3.

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EDINBURG — It was an offseason of change for the Edinburg Vela football program, but the goals remain the same for the SaberCats: compete for district titles and prepare to win in November.

Vela starts the season off ranked at No. 4 in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A Preseason Poll, as the SaberCats are in shape to contend for gold once again, this time in District 16-5A DI.

“We all got our goals already — we’re going to go after a district title and deep in the playoffs,” senior defensive lineman RJ De Leon said. “We have some pretty good opponents this year but we’re just going to take it week by week and execute each game.”

Head coach Ernie Alonzo is in Year 1 at the helm of Edinburg Vela’s football program and is ready to lead the charge after serving as defensive coordinator at McAllen High. He’s not the only new face with the SaberCats, however.

Senior quarterback Geoffrey LeFevre is set to take the reins of the offense after transferring from Donna High. He started two seasons at Donna and led the Rio Grande Valley in passing yardage last year with 3,324 yards and 24 touchdowns.

The SaberCats have had standout passers in the past, but they’ve also leaned heavily on their running game with an imposing offensive line and talented backs behind them. Vela only threw the ball about 170 times last season.

At Donna in 2023, LeFevre attempted 346 passes in one fewer game.

“We’re going to kind of keep the same mold as Edinburg Vela had but we might throw some new stuff in. That’s something for people to wait and see,” LeFevre said.

The SaberCats will have to find a new group of pass-catchers, but they do have some experience at running back as senior Jonathan Flores is Vela’s leading returning rusher after posting 527 yards and seven touchdowns on 44 carries last season. Senior offensive linemen Ronnie Ramirez, Jesus Cedillo and Angel Rios will help clear space in the running game.

Edinburg Vela’s defense brings back seven starters including three on the defensive line with De Leon (13 tackles in three games), Daniel Duberney (40 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks) and last season’s 15-5A DI defensive newcomer of the year Ethan Delgado.

“We’re just ready. We help each other and motivate each other, push each other,” De Leon said. “I’m just ready. It’s senior year so we’re just ready to go out there and do our thing.”

The SaberCats are also strong on the back end with 6-foot, 2-inch senior safeties Luis Garcia and Derek Rodriguez patrolling the secondary, while junior linebacker Noah Lopez is the team’s top returning tackler with 74 total stops a season ago.

Vela is slated to open its 2024 campaign with non-district rivalry games against Edinburg North and Edinburg High in Weeks 1 and 2 before colliding against Harlingen High in a marquee matchup Sept. 13 in Harlingen.

The SaberCats are scheduled to open District 16-5A DI competition Sept. 20 on the road against Mission High.

“We’re hungry. They (Vela) ended with a good season last year and we just want to keep that going,” LeFevre said. “It’s tradition at Robert Vela, you know? Just expect a lot of explosive plays. We got some dogs on offense and defense.”

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The 2024 high school football season is one week away from kickoff, and the RGVSports.com countdown of the top 30 returning RGV football players for the 2024 season continues with players No. 11-15.

Today’s list includes two powerful running backs from District 15-5A DII set to run wild, a PSJA High pass-catcher in a prolific offense, and defenders from Port Isabel and Sharyland Pioneer who are forces for their respective teams.

Be sure to check back Saturday and Aug. 28 as the countdown continues with the top 10 players and for the reveal of the top five players in the 2024 RGVSports.com Football Tab on Aug. 28.

Players No. 16-20 can be found here.

Players No. 21-25 can be found here.

Players No. 26-30 can be found here.

No. 11: RB Dylan Tijerina, jr., Sharyland Pioneer

2023 Stats: 175 car, 1,388 yds, 22 TDs, five rec, 77 yds

Notes: The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area newcomer of the year winner, Tijerina, smashed his way onto the scene with an impressive sophomore season. Pioneer’s offense has leaned on its passing attack in the past with dual-threat quarterbacks and receivers putting up impressive numbers, but Tijerina added an element of toughness to that equation with a team-high 1,388 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. The Diamondbacks will depend on Tijerina to get their offense going, and he’s shown he’s more than capable of keeping the chains moving.

No. 12: WR Ryan Vallejo, sr., PSJA High

2023 Stats: 65 receptions, 1,204 yards, 14 touchdowns

Notes: PSJA’s spread offense returns a trio of standout receivers, and Vallejo is back as the leader of the pack after finishing second in the Valley in receiving yards a season ago. He’s got 4.5 speed to beat defenses deep and route-running to get open at every level. Vallejo, who ranked first on the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in 2023, is poised to put up numbers once again in the PSJA offense.

No. 13: RB Ediel Garcia, sr., Roma

2023 Stats: 117 carries, 1,141 yards, 17 touchdowns; eight receptions, 186 yards, two touchdowns

Notes: Roma had arguably the top tandem of ball carriers in the RGV in 2023, but now the backfield belongs to Garcia, the Gladiators’ returning leading rusher in the Slot-T offense. The senior running back showed big-play ability with 9.8 yards per carry and is a receiving threat out of the backfield. The Roma offense will revolve around Garcia’s ground game while opening opportunities for other skill players with defenses keying in on the Gladiators’ back.

No. 14: DE/TE Christopher Gonzalez, sr., Port Isabel

2023 Stats: 62 total tackles, 28 hurries, 15 TFL, seven sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery

Notes: Gonzalez returns to lead the Tarpons after earning District 16-4A DII defensive player of the year honors and Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state third-team recognition last season. The senior two-way player is expected to create space as a blocking tight end but does his most damage on the defensive line setting edges. Gonzalez constantly creates pressure on passes and blows up the running game with 15 stops behind the line of scrimmage last season.

No. 15: DB Andrew Rivera, sr., Sharyland Pioneer

2023 Stats: 76 total tackles, six interceptions, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery

Notes: Rivera is the definition of a ball-hawk at the safety position in the Sharyland Pioneer secondary. The senior’s seven interceptions last season led the RGV and his 76 total tackles ranked third on his team despite missing two games due to injury. Rivera returned to action with a cast on his right/hand wrist and remained a force for the Diamondbacks’ defense. His ability to impact the passing and running games of opposing offenses makes Rivera one of the top returning defenders in South Texas in 2024.

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BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville St. Joseph senior all-state offensive lineman Diego De la Cruz announced Monday his verbal commitment to play college football at the University of Texas at El Paso. UTEP is a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school that competes in Conference USA.

“I am honored and blessed to announce my commitment to play football and continue my studies at the University of Texas at El Paso,” De la Cruz tweeted Monday evening.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 315-pound De la Cruz is a three-year letterman with the Bloodhounds who plays on both sides of the ball as an offensive lineman and interior defensive lineman. He said he’s always had dreams of playing college ball, but midway through his junior season he started hearing from Division I programs.

“They’re going to get a driven, smart player on and off the field. They’re going to get a player that goes balls to the wall,” he said. “I’m going to be all-in to the program, to the place I’m at, to the people that care for me, and I’m going to do whatever’s asked of me to do.”

De la Cruz said he took two visits to UTEP and that it felt like a place he could connect with the campus and community as he begins his college football career in 2025 following his senior season at Brownsville St. Joseph.

“What made me decide that’s where I wanted to go is the people there, the environment, how the coaches treat their players and how the coaches treat each other. It made me feel welcome,” he said. “It’s a new culture because the coaches are new there and I feel they’re doing a good job.”

De la Cruz and the Brownsville St. Joseph Bloodhounds are scheduled to kick off the 2024 regular season at home against Raymondville on Aug. 30.

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HARLINGEN — Harlingen High’s 2023 campaign could be labeled a successful season by most program standards. The Cardinals finished 8-4 overall and advanced to the second round of the postseason for a fourth straight year.

The Cardinals aren’t just any other program, however, with district titles and deep postseason runs the standard.

A “down” 2023 season has this year’s group motivated to get back to that level, with the Cardinals opening the year as the No. 5 team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A preseason poll.

“The mood has been good going into this year,” Harlingen High junior running back Noah Huerta said. “We’re trying to get revenge for the season after last year. We got a few losses we feel like we shouldn’t have had. We have a lot of people coming back, a lot of leaders. We’re just excited. We got that motivation, and we’re ready to get it this year.”

While the 2023 campaign could be viewed as a rebuilding year on the outside, for the Cardinals the season served as valuable experience.

The experience will be on full display on both sides of the ball, with a total of 13 starters (seven offense, six defense) returning for the 2024 campaign.

“We don’t believe in rebuilding years, but I understand the stigma,” Harlingen High senior linebacker Sterling Tomlin said. “We’re ready, though. We’ve done a lot of reloading. We’ve put people in different places and changed things up. We’re ready for whatever God throws our way. We’re just going to keep pushing.”

Offensively, the Cardinals return one of the area’s top backs in Huerta. The junior ball carrier exploded onto the scene after being forced into the starting role following an injury to the team’s starting back, rushing for 942 yards and 18 touchdowns.

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He’ll have an experienced front five opening holes for him this season, led by senior Anthony De Leon and junior Steve Lopez.

The biggest question mark for Harlingen High’s offense comes at the quarterback position, with the Cardinals graduating both their top options from a year ago. Senior Jonas Serna and freshman Hasaan Woolery are the likely candidates to take the QB1 role, both seeing action during the team’s scrimmages thus far.

Whoever lines up at quarterback will have a valuable weapon in sure-handed wideout Adam Sanchez. The senior receiver finished second in the district in receiving last year, hauling in 46 catches for 550 yards and three touchdowns.

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“Our offense is going to be powerful,” Huerta said. “We feel like it is going to be one of the strongest in the game. Our quarterback, he’s going to ball out. He’s going to be good. You guys might not know who he is yet, but he’s going to show out. Just our whole offense is going to be good.”

The defense brings back its own set of playmakers at every level, beginning with first-team All-Valley linebacker Sterling Tomlin.

The hard-nosed linebacker enters Year 3 as a starter on the Cardinals’ defense and has established himself as one of the best at his position in the area, racking up 219 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions through 25 games.

Defensive end Jacob Ortiz (62 total tackles, 20 TFL, two sacks) adds a disruptive force in the trenches for the Cardinals, and the return of safety Julisses Garza (27 total tackles, two interceptions in four games played) from injury adds a ball-hawking weapon in the secondary.

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“I don’t want to say too much, but there has been some changes,” Tomlin said. “We’ve been practicing a lot and there has been a lot of consistency. We’ve had that consistency in our practicing, our plays and what we’re trying to do. To achieve our goals, we’re trying to stick to what we’ve been taught by our coaches. The defense is going to be stout. The offense is going to be stout. I say it every year, our offense is a sleeper. People don’t realize that. Often, we even lead the Valley in a lot of statistics, but people don’t see it because we’re known for our defense, but we’re going to be just as good on the offensive side of the ball.”

Harlingen High is set to open the regular season at home against a familiar foe in former district rival Weslaco High on Aug. 30 at Boggus Stadium, their first of three games at their home stadium to start the year.

The 32nd Bird Bowl against Harlingen South is set to follow the week after, with RGV powerhouse Edinburg Vela coming to town in Week 3. They’ll close out non-district play with games against Laredo United South, Mission Veterans and Cuero.

District play opens and closes with a bang for the Cardinals, who take on last year’s 5A DI state semifinalist Brownsville Veterans on Oct. 10 to kick off 32-6A play and finish the year at home with the Battle of Arroyo against San Benito on Nov. 8.

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ALAMO — PSJA Memorial, the No. 6 team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A Preseason Top 10 Poll, took a large step forward in 2023, the third season under head coach William Littleton.

After finishing winless in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Wolverines went 1-9 in 2021, followed by a 4-6 mark in 2022.

Last year, PSJA Memorial made a leap and went 7-4 to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and tied the program’s best start in program history at 7-0. The winning record was the program’s first since 2010.

Now, the Wolverines return 16 starters from last year’s playoff qualifying squad, determined to prove PSJA Memorial can play with the best South Texas has to offer.

“It’s a great group of kids. Our seniors that we have coming back have been a part of this since they were sophomores, and they’ve understood that from year to year it’s a process and understood that we had to get better,” Littleton said. “Going into last year, we had to improve to be able to get a winning record, and they’re understanding going into this year that we’re going into a completely different district. It’s a whole different grind, a whole different level of football, so they understood that they had to continue to improve and continue to rely on that process to get our program to where it’s respectful to now take our program to the next level.”

PSJA Memorial will have to fight in one of South Texas’ toughest districts in 15-5A DI, which features seven playoff teams from 2023, including the Wolverines. With a loaded district and only four postseason spots up for grabs, PSJA Memorial will have to fight every step of the way to put itself in contention.

PSJA Memorial brings back nine of its 11 starters on offense, a unit that proved it can pound the rock and take advantage of opportunities through the air. Senior quarterback Ryan Reyna is a three-year starter who threw for 525 yards and ran for 888 more last season with 25 total touchdowns. He has size and strength at the position to move piles in the short-yardage game.

“It’s been special the way Littleton has been able to work with us since our freshman year. Our class, we want to do something special to keep up this culture,” Reyna said. “Teams don’t see us as a homecoming team. We put in work, we bought in, and now we’re putting in that extra effort to keep it up.”

Senior running back Emi Colunga is a big play waiting to happen in the Wolverines’ backfield after rushing for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games. Senior lineman Jose Vigil and fullback Viktor Rodriguez will help make room for Colunga and PSJA Memorial’s rushing attack.

The Wolverines’ defense features playmakers in its secondary with seniors Thomas Lopez and Exzayveon Banks and junior Nolan Ramirez. Senior linebacker Diego Villegas led Memorial in tackles last season and returns as the quarterback of the defense.

The Wolverines start the season against Brownsville Veterans on Aug. 29 at home and visit McAllen High on Sept. 5 in non-district play. PSJA Memorial then opens District 15-5A DI competition against Weslaco East in Week 4 and closes against Donna High in Week 11.

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The McAllen Rowe student and football player Adan De La Cruz, who was injured in what the McAllen school district described as a “tragic accident,” remains hospitalized, according to Sgt. John Saenz from the McAllen Police Department.

Saenz added that police are investigating the incident and currently have one adult arrested and a juvenile detained.

“To say the least, there’s plenty of work to be done,” Saenz said.

The sergeant stated that they’re expecting to release some information including charges later today, but that there’s potentially more to come as the investigation continues.

Saenz is currently waiting on some “imagery” that McAllen police want to share in order to “show the scene.”

“Once I have those images, we intend to show … what the scene was,” Saenz said.

According to McAllen ISD spokesman Mark May, a vigil planned for Sunday night was canceled out of respect for the family.

De La Cruz is a three-year letterman at linebacker and one of Rowe’s top returning senior starters in 2024. He was named a First Team All-District 15-5A DI selection as a junior last season after posting a team-leading 82 total tackles and five tackles for loss in 10 games.

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LOS FRESNOS — The Los Fresnos Falcons are no strangers to the postseason. Since the arrival of head coach David Cantu in 2021, the Falcons have qualified for the playoffs three straight times, earning two postseason games during that span, as well.

One thing missing, however, is a district title.

With a star-studded group of returners, this season could be the year Los Fresnos breaks through and captures the gold ball. The Falcons are the No. 7 team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A preseason poll.

“We, for sure, have pressure this season,” Los Fresnos quarterback Robert Pineda said. “We know what we did all offseason though and spring ball. We’re all competitive. We all have the same ambition. We’re chasing that gold ball. Every day we come in with that mindset. We want it really bad not just for us, but for the community.”

The Falcons return a solid core on both sides of the ball, bringing back a total of 11 starters from last year’s bi-district finalist squad.

One of the biggest returning pieces is Pineda, the third year starting signal caller. The junior has started 23 games since stepping onto the field in 2021, leading the Falcons to back-to-back playoff appearances and one postseason win.

Pineda has established himself as one of the RGV’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks since his freshman year, throwing for 3,254 yards and 35 touchdowns and rushing for 1,567 yards and 16 scores in two years.

Year 3 could bring even more success for the quarterback, with Pineda’s experience allowing coaches to open the playbook even more on offense.

“I feel really comfortable in this offense going into this year,” Pineda said. “I feel like my offensive line trusts me. My receivers and coaches trust me. I just feel really good going into this one.”

The Falcons also bring back a pair of playmakers at wideout in junior Lucky Perales and senior Josh Limon. The receiver duo earned their quarterback’s trust last season, combining for 737 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

A new face will start alongside Pineda in the backfield in 2024, with junior running back JC Fuentes stepping into the starting role. Fuentes showed flashes of his potential despite a limited role last year, averaging 9.4 yards per carry en route to 347 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Junior middle linebacker Juan Sanchez returns to command the offense, racking up 82 tackles and three tackles for loss as a sophomore, while versatile safety Cade Stumbaugh (61 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception) gives the Falcons another weapon against the pass and run.

Junior defensive back Abraham Elizondo’s return from injury should help solidify the Falcons secondary, displaying his lockdown potential last year after racking up 30 tackles, 10 passes deflected and one interception in nine games played.

“We’re feeling great going into this year,” Pineda said. “We’ve had a good spring ball. Everyone on our team is competitive. We’re all looking forward to having a good season this year.”

The road to a district championship won’t be as long as years past, with realignment knocking 32-6A down from six teams to five in 2024.

That won’t make it any easier, however, with the already loaded district, which features RGV powerhouses Harlingen High and San Benito, adding Brownsville Veterans into the mix.

“It is going to take a lot of hard work to come out on top of this district,” Pineda said. “We’re ready though. We are going to take on anyone. We’re excited for the challenge.”

Los Fresnos opens the season with non-district games against a pair of McAllen ISD schools in McHi and Rowe. A home tilt against Laredo United South follows in Week 3, followed by back-to-back road games against PSJA High and Edinburg High before closing out their non-district slate at home against Sharyland High.

The Falcons won’t waste any time taking on the top dawgs in their district, kicking off 32-6A play against San Benito on Oct. 18, followed by tilts against Brownsville Veterans and Harlingen High before closing out the year against Brownsville Hanna.

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