BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
ELSA — Prior to Friday’s game, Edcouch-Elsa coach Bradly Chavez rearranged two key pieces in hopes of jump-starting an offense that had scored 20 points in three games. Starting quarterback Albert Treviño was moved to free safety, and defensive back Jay Cardenas became the Yellow Jackets’ new running back.
“We just wanted to get the ball in our athletes’ hands at the end of the day,” Chavez said. “It’s the like the saying goes, ‘It ain’t about the X’s and O’s. It’s about the Jimmys and Joes.’ We wanted to make sure we gave our kids every opportunity, and they stepped up tonight.”
Cardenas had touchdowns runs from 38, 23 and 4 yards out in the second half. A consistent running game coupled with a defense that forced two first-half turnovers allowed Edcouch-Elsa to run past Edinburg North 36-7 at Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium.
“I felt really comfortable this week,” Cardenas said. “We practiced this all week, and we’ve been going hard. My O-line did everything. Without them, none of those touchdowns would have happened. I like how they’ve been working. We have to keep it going.”
Junior cornerback Jesus Beltran was responsible for Edcouch-Elsa’s first takeaway. With Edinburg North (0-4, 0-0) pinned at its own 6-yard line, Beltran picked off a pass and returned it for an easy score to put the Yellow Jackets up 16-0 in the first quarter.
“I remember from watching film that their quarterback would throw the ball behind the receiver on slants,” Beltran said. “I didn’t have to make a break on the ball. I just waited and the ball just came to me.”
“Our defensive game plan hadn’t changed. The kids did what we told them to do,” Chavez said. “A lot of the stuff that we try to tell our kids is that we’re going to give you a solid game plan. It comes down to execution. Doing your assignment, doing your one-eleventh of a job, is what they did. They were flying around and came up with some key turnovers that gave us a boost. Once we got that confidence, it’s hard to stop those Yellow Jackets.”
After struggling to find a pulse in three blowouts to start the season, the Edcouch-Elsa defense came into Week 4 renewed.
“Coach (Chavez) told us Monday that he wanted us to sell out,” Beltran said. “When he told us to sell out, he wanted us to give everything we had to make big plays. If we sell out, he said good things would happen.”
Friday’s win was the first for the Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-0) in four games and the first victory for Chavez, a first-year coach.
“It’s good for our community and good for our kids,” Chavez said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff to correct, but for tonight, the kids need to soak in it and understand that they have come a long way since we took over as a staff. We’re more than happy to be here and blessed to have the kids that we have.”
District play starts up for all 16-5A Division II teams next week. For the Yellow Jackets, next week will be a renewal of one of the Valley’s classic rivalries as they travel east to face Mercedes next Friday night.
The Tigers have won the last four games against E-E in the series to knot the all-time series record at 32-32-1.
“We’ve been trying to work for this game (against Mercedes),” Beltran said. “We want to end the streak.”