STAFF REPORT
Facing a 28-14 deficit with less than eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Javelinas didn’t flinch.
“We didn’t need to say anything to keep their spirits up,” PSJA Southwest coach Michael Evans said. “They believed and they were ready to do whatever needed to be done. We kept calling plays and they kept executing them.”
Sophomore running back/wide receiver Cesar Bocanegra ran in the game-tying touchdown to tie the score at 28. PSJA Southwest and Brownsville Veterans traded touchdowns in the first overtime, but the Chargers could only muster an Israel Barron field goal to start the second overtime.
On a second down with 5 yards to go from the Chargers’ 10, running back Chris Sanchez went up the gut and lunged for the end zone but was a yard short. Quarterback Jalen Galvan hid behind his offensive line and took it in for a touchdown on the next play. The Javelinas (3-5, 3-4) prevailed 41-38 in double overtime at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.
“I’m not the most fiery guy, but when he (Galvan) ran it in, I got pretty excited that we pulled it off,” Evans said. “The kids never backed down. They made it happen.”
As Mission Veterans and Brownsville Pace are set to decide first place in District 16-5A Division I on Saturday, Brownsville Veterans (6-2, 5-2) entered Thursday in sole possession of third place. The Chargers have two losses in district competition for the first time since they were in District 32-6A three years ago.
Before he was named head coach at PSJA Southwest, Evans last served as the defensive coordinator at Brownsville Veterans in 2016.
“My dad (Dave Evans) is the defensive coordinator at (Brownsville) Veterans now and (head coach) David Cantu is one of my best friends,” Evans said. “We’re like brothers. ‘Does it mean more because I was there?’ It just means a lot to beat a good team. I’ve worked for David Cantu and my dad. I know what kind of job they do over there. It feels good to beat a well-coached team.”
The Javelinas’ three district victories this season are the most the program has had since going 4-3 in 2014. PSJA Southwest will travel to Rio Grande City (2-5, 2-4) next week before ending the season at home versus last place Brownsville Porter (1-6, 0-6).
DISTRICT 30-6A
McALLEN MEMORIAL 30, LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN 7: At La Joya,
Campbell Speights was back in the end zone four times to lift the McAllen Memorial Mustangs over La Joya Juarez-Lincoln on the road. The game was 7-7 at the half but Memorial’s unit pulled away in the third quarter behind the junior half back’s big night.
Speights had one touchdown in the first half but the Mustangs were held back by Juarez-Lincoln’s defense and penalties.
“They were good and we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit,” McAllen Memorial coach Bill Littleton said. “We had some mental mistakes that cost us, had a few penalties here and there that we didn’t need to have. We were kind of our worst enemy in the first half.”
The Mustangs defense cracked down in the second half to keep the Huskies are seven points. Sebastian Turk had a safety to put Memorial’s defense on the scoreboard.
Speights was a constant force and scored from the red zone with touchdown rushes of 10 yards and 16 yards but also busted long TDs runs from both 41 yards and 75 yards.
McAllen Memorial improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in district play. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln fell to 0-8, 0-4.
Speights finished with 310 yards on 25 rushes.
“It was a great team effort, the offensive line did a great job,” Littleton said. Our defense played a great game. Overall a great effort for all of our players.”
PSJA HIGH 38, McALLEN HIGH 0: At McAllen, Trey Guajardo was on the mark again as PSJA High passed and dashed by McHi at McAllen Veterans Stadium. The senior quarterback scrambled for one score and threw for three more in the win. Wide receiver Miguel Flores was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes and Marco Guajardo had the other.
PSJA High improved to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the district. McHi dropped to 1-7, 0-5.
Sophomore defensive back Isaac Espino had an interception to preserve the shutout on a deep McHi drive. Running back Joseph Rangel joined Trey Guajardo as the second of two rushing scores for the Bears.
“Yeah the kids are pretty excited,” PSJA High coach Lupe Rodriguez said. “With two games left they’re starting to see the district championship. Hopefully, we can win it outright with the next two games coming up.”
DISTRICT 31-6A
EDINBURG VELA 63, DONNA NORTH 0: At Edinburg, nine different players scored touchdowns and RGVSports.com’s top-ranked team – and only remaining unbeaten in the Valley – Edinburg Vela cruised to a 63-0 win over Donna North in District 31-6A play Friday at Richard R. Flores Stadium.
The SaberCats improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the district. The Chiefs fell to 0-9 and 0-5.
Daniel Enriquez, Aziel Garcia and Aaron Alvarez each scored in the first quarter for a 21-0 lead. Kevin Rojas caught a beautiful 17-yard fade pass to start the second-quarter scoring and touchdowns followed by Justin Cantu, David Arce and Elijah Trujillo for a 49-0 halftime lead.
The SaberCats scored twice in the second half, one on a Trujillo to Matthew Lopez pass and Joe Ramirez closed the scoring.
“It’s too hard to tell right now until we look at the film tomorrow to say exactly what we did well and what we didn’t,” said Vela coach John Campbell, adding that he wasn’t sure but he thought the win clinched a postseason spot for the SaberCats. “We had some kids who got a lot of reps in tonight that haven’t had the chance, so that’s always a good thing.”
Vela plays Edinburg High next week.
DISTRICT 16-5A DI
SHARYLAND PIONEER 28, LAREDO CIGARROA 7: At Laredo, Sharyland Pioneer did not take the bait on what could have been a trap game in Week 9.
The Diamondbacks (5-3, 3-1) are coming off an emotionally draining, last-second loss to rival Sharyland High last week, but they were able to get back into the winning column with a 28-7 victory over Laredo Cigarroa.
After an interception on Sharyland Pioneer’s first possession, quarterback Jacob Rosales tucked the ball and ran into the end zone from one yard out. The Diamondbacks opened up a 20-0 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Toros remained winless on the season. They are 0-8 overall and 0-4 in District 16-5A DII.