NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
PSJA High left no doubt in anyone’s mind that they are a district title contender after the Bears rolled past La Joya High, 46-25 in both teams’ district 30-6A opener Friday.
The 46 points were the most points the Bears put on the board since Week 2 when they scored 55 against Corpus Christi King. That was the only other time they played at home this season.
Along with a strong offensive output, 25 points are the fewest points the defense has allowed.
“We were very pleased as a staff,” Head Coach Lupe Rodriguez said. “We spoke about how we needed to step up and make some changes in certain things that we were doing. Our kids responded and they came out big. I told them we needed a statement win and defensively they needed to show people that we’re for real and they did that.”
They limited La Joya’s top rusher, Eddie Villarreal, to just below his average in the win. He had 130 yards compared to his 133.
Rodriguez knows with the number of teams who love to pound the ball, it’s an important attack to stop.
“There’s a lot of teams in our district that run the football – McAllen Memorial, I know Mission is more of a running team,” Rodriguez said. “Even Rowe, as much as some of these guys run spread, they’re more run-oriented.”
On offense, Trey Guajardo threw seven touchdown passes, which ties not only his season and career-best performances but he equaled RGV record once again.
Miguel Flores caught10 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns while Marco Guajardo had seven catches, 187 yards and three scores.
“These guys run track, they’re great track runners as well,” Rodriguez said. “They have a lot of talent, a lot of speed and they’re both on the offensive side so it’s very hard for the defense to double team or to focus on one.”
PSJA High faces cross-town rivals PSJA North on Friday and the road stays brutal when they visit McAllen Memorial in Week 7.
“Just like any rivalry, you can throw any record out the door, it’s just the team that decides to show up,” Rodriguez said about the matchup with the Raiders. “We have to treat it just like another team in the way of winning a district championship.”