Edinburg North, Sharyland to meet in an area-round battle

EDINBURG — Edinburg North and Sharyland have so much to play for at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night at Cats Stadium that it is almost easy to forget that the teams collide in a Class 5A area round game.

The game arrives with an element of revenge, with the guarantee that no matter what happens history will be made and with a couple of Sharyland streaks on the line. All that without even mentioning that it will be the only playoff game played in the Rio Grande Valley this weekend and possibly the last played in deep South Texas this season.

“It is going to be an exciting game for both teams and both communities because it is the only Friday night game played in the Valley,” said Rattlers coach Fred Sanchez, whose team rides into the game with an 11-0 record and is 5-0 all time against North. “That should be a real good environment there.”

Cougars coach Roy Garza said he heard from the Cats Stadium ticket office that even fans from nearby cities have shown interest. Coogs quarterback Matthew Muñoz wants to see the stands full.

“I hope so,” Muñoz said about a playoff atmosphere. “People can see us shock the world again.”

Muñoz was referring to North’s win over Los Fresnos in bi-district last week. Perhaps the win was not as stunning as the final score, 60-27.

“I guess it was shocking because of how many points we scored,” Muñoz said. “We have been underdogs all year.”

Partly because of their records and because Sharyland beat North 24-10 in Week 1, Muñoz sees the team as underdogs again.

Garza downplayed any notion that his team was out for revenge and was more comfortable talking about his team’s chance at history. If North wins, it will be the first time the program advances to third round of the playoffs.

“We are just trying to explore new territory,” Garza said. “We are fortunate to play someone in the Valley and someone we have played before. It is a good challenge and I think the kids are looking forward to it.”

The Rattlers can make their own history. A win would make them the winningest team in the program’s history with 12.

“We’re just going to keep on doing what we are doing,” Sanchez said. “We have a good opponent in front of us. We are going to go out to play our best game. We are going to have to because it’s a good team. I’m sure they are looking forward to getting a second chance at playing us.”

Peter Rasmussen covers District 30-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.