KEVIN LU | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
PHARR – PSJA High topped rival PSJA Memorial 18-14 on Friday night at PSJA Stadium in a hard-fought, comeback win.
The Bears kicker missed a potential go-ahead 29 yard field goal late in the fourth quarter. Down 14-12, they gave the ball back to Memorial. On the Wolverines’ first play rom scrimmage on that drive, PSJA forced a fumble and recovered on the Memorial 27.
Four plays later, senior Andrew De La Cerda ran 19 yards to the left side for the game-winning score. De La Cerda finished with 155 yards on 26 carries.
“He wants the load,” PSJA High coach Steve Marroquin said of his running back. “He’s been telling me, ‘Give me the ball, Coach’ and that’s what we did tonight.”
Memorial got to Bears territory on the ensuing drive, but cornerback Eric Castillo intercepted a pass on the 16-yard line with a 1:30 left to seal the victory.
“Tough game… it was a hard-fought game,” Marroquin said. “The kids showed a lot of heart, a lot of mettle. Especially in the second half.”
Memorial (1-1) took a 14-6 lead into halftime, but PSJA High (1-1) slowed the Wolverines’ passing attack after the break.
Memorial quarterback Michael Gonzalez had 164 yards passing in the first half. He connected with Jay Bocanegra on a 49-yard catch to open the scoring.
It was a different story after halftime, as Gonzalez completed just two of his 10 attempts for 35 yards. The junior finished with 199 yards passing to go with a touchdown and interception.
On the other side, the Bears focused on running the ball after halftime. Thirty-two of the Bears’ 37 second-half plays were on the ground.
“Take what the defense gives us,” Marroquin said of his offensive game-plan. “I’m proud of my offensive line, they really stepped up in the second-half.”
Memorial had a chance to take a two-score lead in the opening quarter. With the ball on the Bears’ 23 yard line, PSJA High forced a fumble, the first of three.
Linebacker Christian Sanchez recovered the ball and returned it 75 yards for the score.
“We always preach to our defense that if we keep hustling to the ball, good things are going to happen,” Marroquin said.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, PSJA High pulled to within 14-12 on a Bobby Guajardo 6-yard run. The Bears drove 84 yards on 16 plays and gobbled up nearly eight minutes.