By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Having come out on the winning end of a four-overtime game last week, the Porter Cowboys feel as though they are ready for anything.
That resolve will be tested at 7:30 p.m. Friday, when the Cowboys play host to the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets in a District 32-5A matchup at Sams Memorial Stadium.
The two teams come into the contest with 3-1 overall records and 1-0 marks in district.
While Porter was prevailing over Donna North 52-44 in four OTs on the road last Friday, E-E was busy at home routing PSJA High 42-0. Both games were 32-5A openers.
“In a game like that, it’s very tiring (to play four OTs),” said Porter defensive tackle Manny Rodriguez, a 5-foot-8, 270-pound senior. “It becomes mostly mental. You’ve just got to get through all the reps, get in there and give it your all. We had busted our butts all during the summer (getting ready for the season), so it helped us out a lot (to be in shape).
“We’ve come a long way,” Rodriguez added. “Most of us have been together for three years now. We’ve come together as a team. We believe in ourselves and the coaches, and the coaches believe in us. I think that makes a big impact on how we play and how we are with each other (on the field).”
E-E is using a backup quarterback now since junior starter and 32-5A passing leader Marco Aguinaga (513 yards, four touchdowns) suffered a hairline fracture of his left ring finger during a 35-12 victory against Edinburg North on Sept. 11. Aguinaga is out, so Andrew Segura, a senior, started last Friday at QB against PSJA High, and the Yellowjackets didn’t skip a beat.
Segura has played in three games this season, passing for 354 yards and three TDs and running for 92 yards and three scores. His three TD passes and three rushing scores all came against PSJA High.
“Losing their quarterback hasn’t hurt them at all,” Porter coach Tom Campos said of E-E. “The one they have at quarterback now is just as dangerous as the one who was there before. Segura has played other positions, so he knows the game of football.
“They might not be bigger than anybody we’ve played, but E-E is definitely faster than anybody we’ve played,” Campos added. “We’ll have some challenges throughout the game to overcome, but it’ll be a good matchup.”
While the Yellowjackets are more of a quick-strike team mostly utilizing a spread offense, Porter is in its comfort zone when it can keep the ball on the ground and move methodically down the field. An offensive line with size and might has helped make Cowboys senior running back Jorge Gutierrez the top rusher and scorer in 32-5A with 865 yards and 12 TDs.
“This E-E game is definitely a test we need to pass so we can show people we’re not the old Porter,” said Gutierrez, a 5-9, 220-pounder. “We won’t be pushed around anymore. We feel it’s our time — the Porter Cowboys’ time.”
Porter will attempt to redeem itself after last year’s 38-7 loss to the Yellowjackets in Edcouch.
“We’re looking toward (qualifying for) the playoffs and proving people wrong about what they think of Porter,” Rodriguez said. “We’re changing things around here.”
District 32-5A action continues next week for each team as Porter is at PSJA Southwest on Thursday and E-E is at home against Donna North next Friday.
Attempts to contact E-E coach Joe Marichalar for a comment regarding this story were unsuccessful.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.