By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
The Porter Cowboys will try to right the ship following last week’s District 32-5A loss to Edcouch-Elsa when they take on the PSJA Southwest Javelinas at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium.
Porter’s game against Edcouch-Elsa was a tale of two halves. During the first half, the Cowboys (2-3, 1-1) allowed 35 points and scored zero. They flipped the script at halftime, and though they scored just seven points during the second half they only allowed three.
Coach Tom Campos hopes his team can carry over elements of its second half from last week into this week’s contest.
“We have to come out with the fiery attitude we had in the second half,” he said. “The first half we had a deer-in-the-headlights look. It was mainly a mentality thing. We came out flat.”
Campos expects this game to be close right up until the end.
“I think we’re going to burn a lot of time off the clock between our offenses,” he said. “They run the ball well and have a stout defense, one of the toughest we’ll face all year. I think it will come down to a possession or two in the fourth quarter.”
PSJA Southwest’s offense was almost entirely shut down by PSJA High last week. A normally productive group that had averaged 344 yards per game was held to 97 yards on 41 plays.
In order to turn the tide, Javelinas coach Jesus Reyes understands his team will need to reset and get back to basics against the Cowboys. Both teams are .500 in district play and are looking to jockey for position among the still-gridlocked standings.
“We were held in check last week so we focused a lot on fundamentals (in practice),” he said. “Porter is good team. They’re 1-1 and we’re 1-1, so it’s a big game for both of us.”
The two teams are healthy for the most part. But following a hit to the back during last week’s game, PSJA Southwest running back Jesus Acosta is being treated as a game-time decision. He is recovering but is not fully healed.
Each team next plays at 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Porter takes on Pace at Sams Memorial Stadium, and PSJA Southwest will play host to Donna North.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.