Cougars' defense denies Rattlers in red zone for upset

EDINBURG — Moises Beltran struggled to find words to describe another stunning win by his Edinburg North Cougars.

Considering the defensive back’s team just pulled off what had never happened in the program’s history, it’s easy to forgive him.

Behind three interceptions — two by Beltran — and Simon Edwards’ 207 yards rushing, the Cougars upset a previously undefeated Sharyland team 28-24 in the teams’ Class 5A area round game on Friday night at Cats Stadium.

It is the first time the Cougars (9-3) will play beyond the second round of the playoffs.

“I don’t know how to explain this,” said Beltran, who will compete at 4 p.m. next Saturday against either Pflugerville or San Antonio Brandeis at the Alamodome in a regional semifinal. “I don’t know what to say.”

Edwards had the words his teammate struggled to find.

“It is the best feeling to know that you made history,” said Edwards, who also scored on a 48-yard TD run. “This can never be taken away from us. Years down the line when we are old and wrinkled we will always remember, ‘When we were at the high school level we went three-rounds deep for the first time at Edinburg North.’”

There were tense moments late after a botched punt gave the Rattlers the ball back at the North 31 with 1:08 left and the Cougars leading 28-24. But Sharyland gained only seven more yards, and the game was sealed when quarterback Scottie Meyer threw an incompletion with 17.6 seconds left on a fourth down.

The Cougars took the lead on a 31-yard TD reception by Danny Cardenas with 4:41 left.

Despite the 450 yards of total offense for the Cougars, it was the defense that came up big.

“Usually with Sharyland, if they are in the red zone they are going to score,” Cougars coach Roy Garza said. “We had three interceptions all year, and we matched that today.”

The Rattlers led 24-21 after Meyer found Ricky Mata for a 16-yard TD with 6:49 left in the game.

That was the only TD in five trips inside the 20 that the Rattlers scored on Friday night.

Sharyland managed to move the ball inside the 10-yard line four times during the first half but all the Rattlers mustered was a Joey Martinez 22-yard field goal. Those trips deep inside Cougars territory included two Meyer interceptions in the end zone. His third interception also was inside the red zone with 2:59 left in the game. Manny Garcia recorded the second pick for the Cougars.

“We had plenty of opportunities,” Rattlers coach Fred Sanchez said. “Those three turnovers killed us. … A game like (Friday), whoever wins that turnover battle is going to win.”

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