DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Barring any surprises, Thursday’s game between PSJA Southwest and Brownsville Porter will likely determine the fourth-place team in District 32-5A.
With Edcouch-Elsa (2-0), Donna High (2-0) and Mercedes (2-0) looking a step above the rest and almost assured a postseason berth, that leaves one spot open for a district playoff representative. And seeing how things have played out so far — with Southwest (1-1) and Porter (1-1) in contention, while PSJA High, Brownsville Pace and Donna North are all winless — that makes Thursday’s game at PSJA Stadium between the Javelinas and Cowboys vital.
“It’s a big game for us and big for them,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “It’s going to be one step forward going to the playoffs. The kids understand that.”
Last season, it came down to PSJA Southwest and PSJA High for the final playoff spot. PSJA High won 27-0 in the second district game for each team. That meant Southwest had to beat a top-3 team (again, either Mercedes, Edcouch-Elsa or Donna) to get in, and it didn’t. The Javelinas finished a game out of the playoffs.
Winning Thursday would give Southwest a leg up.
“Our goal is to be 2-1 in district,” Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “We want to control our own destiny.”
Porter and Southwest have similar styles. Each boasts an elite running back (Jesus Acosta at Southwest and Jorge Gutierrez at Porter). Gutierrez is the district’s top running back with 1,003 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Acosta is fourth (609 yards, 5 TDs) despite playing the last two games with a broken bone in his hand.
Each team has an offense that can sustain drives and kill clock. And each has a defense that leaves a lot to be desired.
While Porter and Southwest are two of the top three rushing teams in 32-5A, they are also the worst in stopping the run.
“Our boys were determined and showed the will to win last week (a 27-13 win over PSJA High),” Reyes said. “They wanted that game bad. Now we need it again this week.”
GARCIA EMERGES FOR ‘JACKETS
Despite a slew of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, Edcouch-Elsa has still managed to post 32-5A’s best overall record (4-1) and tie for the best district record at 2-0.
That is because of the play of some emerging talent, one of the primary sources being junior defensive tackle Seth Garcia. It was Garcia who helped steady the Yellowjackets’ defensive front early in the season when stalwarts like Julio Contreras and Elias Munoz were struck with injury.
Garcia has been a pleasant surprise. He is third on the team in total tackles with 78 and leads in sacks with 9.0 He also has two forced fumbles and nine “big plays,” defined as big situation stops (i.e. sacks on third-and-long) and/or outstanding effort (when Garcia is lined up on one side of the field and makes a play on the opposite side).
“That kid’s a player,” E-E coach Joe Marichalar said. “He’s quick as a cat and he’s ridiculously strong. He’s real flexible and has great balance. He’s been a pleasant surprise the way he’s played.”
Garcia looks more like a linebacker than a lineman, but his experience in martial arts and powerlifting gives him agility with strength.
Because of Garcia’s play, Marichalar was able to give more time to Contreras, E-E’s top defensive playmaker on the line, in returning from a knee injury.