BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
For La Joya Palmview and PSJA Southwest, tonight’s game will be like looking in a mirror.
Both teams are 1-0, both are coming off the best season in program history, and both boast high-powered rushing attacks. As a result, their meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at PSJA Stadium will serve as a useful measuring stick for both schools.
“They believe in a lot of the things that we do,” PSJA Southwest coach Jesus Reyes said. “It’s going to be a good test; a good game for both of us.”
Palmview posted its first winning year last season, going 7-4-1 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs behind physical play on both sides of the ball. Prior to 2014, Palmview was 17-43 all time.
“It’s an up-and-coming program, and they had a great year last year,” Reyes said. “They’re going to have another one this year. It’s a great opportunity for both of us to go out there and execute and get better for our district season.”
For PSJA Southwest, that district season will be geared towards making the postseason for the first time in school history. After going 2-8 in 2012 and 1-9 in 2013, the Javelinas improved to 6-4 last year, just missing a playoff berth.
PSJA Southwest met Palmview in Week 2 last season, losing 35-28.
“I know they’re good, they showed it to us last year,” Palmview coach Margarito Requenez said. “They gave us a run for our money. This will be a good test.”
PSJA Southwest took down Valley View 11-6 in Week 1 on the strength of its ground game. Jesus Acosta led the way with 116 yards, and Reyes said he looked bigger, faster and stronger than when he racked up 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior last year.
Palmview also showed off its rushing attack last week, picking up 371 yards on the ground in beating Brownsville Lopez 53-7. Junior running back Joel Pina led the way with 237 yards and four touchdowns.
“We knew he was good, but he was playing behind two seniors last year, so he didn’t really touch the ball too much,” Requenez said. “But we knew he was special, and it shows on Friday nights.”
Senior Misal Guerra also eclipsed 100 yards for Palmview, racking up 104 and a touchdown on 12 carries. Guerra was used only sparingly last season, but Requenez said he is likely Palmview’s fastest back.
Requenez and Reyes both said the key to slowing the opposition’s running attack will be diagnosing which direction the play is going at the snap.
“They came out last week and they looked like a million dollars. They did a hell of a job,” Reyes said. “We just have to read our keys and play hard-nosed football.”