Physical Raiders blast Bobcats
EDINBURG — If your name’s J.J. and you’re wearing black and silver, you’re feeling pretty good today.
A lot of credit for PSJA North’s 34-6 win against Edinburg on Thursday at Cats Stadium goes to J.J. Both of them.
First, Raiders first-year defensive coordinator J.J. Leija and his stop troops had one of their best efforts this season. The Raiders sacked Edinburg quarterback Steve Guerrero seven times including three by linebacker Christian Morgado.
PSJA North held the Bobcats to 95 total yards and only one score at the end of the first half.
"I told the kids that last week was last week," Leija said. "We had an opportunity to improve this week and we did. I told them we had unfinished business and we took care of it tonight."
The other J.J. is senior fullback, J.J. Rodriguez.
Rodriguez scored a career-high five touchdowns and rushed for 127 yards on 28 carries to lead a monster ground game that produced a sick 378 rushing yards on an even sicker 66 carries.
The win clinches a postseason berth for the Raiders.
"All the credit goes to the defense and our DC coach Leija," Raiders head coach Bruce Bush said. "We punched out ticket now we’re playing for fun. We’re playing for a district title."
Pharr North hosts Harlingen next week in one of the biggest games this season. The winner will likely clinch the District 31-5A crown. Harlingen hosts Edinburg Economedes tonight.
Rodriguez scored on runs of one, one, four, 17 and 11 yards on the night.
The converted linebacker now has 20 TDs on the year with 981 yards. Not bad for a kid that was knocking heads on the other side of the ball last year.
"The defense stopped them and we scored," Rodriguez said. "The win feels great. It gives us momentum heading into next week against Harlingen."
PSJA North didn’t waste any time taking over the game.
After forcing the Bobcats to punt on a three-and-out, North marched right down the short field Edinburg gave them for its first score.
Rodriguez capped off a 41-yard drive with his first touchdown run of the night.
Rodriguez added another TD run on the Raiders next possession.
This time Pharr North started a little further back but not too much as the Raiders went 57 yards for the score. Rodriguez scored from one yard again.
Edinburg seemed flat on offense but their defense came up with a stop forcing the Raiders to punt on their third possession.
It didn’t make much difference as the Raiders sacked Edinburg QB Steve Guerrero for a 14-yard loss to the Edinburg five.
PSJA North marched another 53 yards to pay dirt with Rodriguez scoring from four yards this time.
Edinburg finally got on the board late in the first half when Guerrero hit Steve Trevino on an 18-yard scoring strike.
It was the Bobcats most productive drive of the first half with Edinburg gaining 63 of its 65 first half yardage.
"They had a good scheme defensively," Edinburg head coach Joey Caceres said. "But we really shot ourselves in the foot a lot tonight. We just couldn’t stop them. We knew we had to force them to punt but we didn’t and that was the difference."
