EDINBURG — Edinburg North’s Malachi Ortega’s growing pains on the football field are over.
The versatile junior linebacker, who is not afraid of taking down the offense, said the team is done with losing seasons and is now ready to hit the field and take care of business.
In the past three years, the Cougars have gone 11-21 overall.
This season, they plan to turn the program around and go where no Edinburg North football team has gone since 2014 — the playoffs.
Losing is not an option, Ortega said, adding that the team’s mindset going into this year’s season is to win.
“Everyone is putting in dedication and hard work into the team,” Ortega said. “We all just have to work together and we will be fine for the whole season.”
The Cougars are coming into the season off a 2-8 record last year with Edinburg North head coach Damien Gonzalez at the helm. It will be Gonzalez’s second year in charge.
This season, the team is coming back experienced, strong and dedicated and ready to work hard to win games, he said.
The team has grown up and know what they need to do to win, Gonzalez said.
“Right off the bat, experience is going to be the key for success,” Gonzalez said about the difference this season is going to be from last season. “We have also matured mentally, we’ve matured physically.
“I think we can compete for district title,” Gonzalez added.
One way the team could make it is with senior wide receiver Brendon Borrego.
Despite having a strong offensive running game, Borrego, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound wide out, could be the difference-maker at getting into the end zone this season.
“Just throw me the ball and I’m going to score,” Borrego said.
Edinburg North’s first test will come against the Mercedes Tigers at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 in Mercedes.
During their last meeting, Mercedes edged out a win over Edinburg North High, 19-16, in Mercedes last season.
“We are ready,” Edinburg North junior cornerback Jerry Peña said. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to get into the end zone.”