EDINBURG — Sergio Quintanilla scores touchdowns and makes it look easy.
The 6-foot-1 wide receiver for the Edinburg North Cougars is not one to make a big deal about scoring and celebrating in a big way after putting six points on the board.
He just raises his arms in the air with the ball in hand before tossing it back to the officials.
And he jockeys back to the sideline with his team to get ready for his number again to be called to make another play for the Cougars.
His favorite route is the slant and go.
“Mike (Rodriguez) puts it up there and I try my best to bring it down,” Quintanilla said about the Cougars’ quarterback passing game.
The two have connected seven times for touchdowns, enough to keep Quintanilla as one of the top five receivers in District 31-6A.
After missing his junior season following a season-ending ankle injury he suffered his sophomore year while playing quarterback, Quintanilla decided to return to the gridiron his senior year in hopes of making the playoffs.
Quintanilla did just that.
So far this year, Quintanilla has posted 480 yards receiving and seven touchdowns to help lift the Edinburg North Cougars to a playoff berth with his scoring.
“I’m pretty surprised,” Quintanilla said about his season success. “I just try to bring my best and our coach has helped us accomplish great things.”
The Cougars (3-7, 3-3) went head to head with playoff teams all season. Their record said one thing in print, but the contests Quintanilla and the Cougars competed in were back and forth matches at times that could have gone either way in some cases.
The Cougars traded blows in their game against Weslaco High before the Panthers pulled away for a 37-13 win.
In that contest, Quintanilla completed six catches for 72 yards receiving and one touchdown, and it is his most memorable score.
“We were down two scores and I was a big part of our scoring drive,” Quintanilla said. “I had a long catch and then finished off the drive with a quick slant for the score.”
Quintanilla catches the pigskin in full stride and lets the ball sail over his shoulder and into his hands while on the run.
And he makes his catches look easy.
His timing for the ball and where he needs to be to catch it is impeccable.
Quintanilla and the Cougars will face San Benito (6-4, 4-1) on the road at 7:30 p.m. Friday in San Benito.
“We’re looking good and bring a lot of energy to the field,” Quintanilla said about heading into their playoff match with the Greyhounds. “We’re getting our game right and we just have to execute and we’re going to hang in there with them.”