PSJA North recovers from 21 down to beat Eagle Pass

EAGLE PASS — The emotion on several of Eagle Pass’ players faces said it all after Friday night’s memorable area round playoff. The Eagles had PSJA North exactly where they wanted them, up 35-14 in the first half that was as wild as a half as it could have been.

But PSJA North never once let its 21-point deficit deflate it and instead used it to its advantage after the Raiders reeled off 35 unanswered points en route to a 56-42 win at Eagle Pass ISD Stadium.

After the feverish celebration, PSJA North coach Bruce Bush hesitated before beginning to describe just what had transpired on the field.

“We beat a great football team,” said Bush, whose team’s victory ties the program’s all-time wins record in a season with 11. “These guys are really good. A lot better offensively and quicker than we anticipated. That’s what happens when you don’t see somebody and you just have film to work with.

“Our kids never gave up. We adjusted to the speed and quickness. Defensive coaches made some good adjustments at halftime.”

One of Bush’s concerns entering the game was the team’s five-hour trip, not knowing how much of an affect the ride would have on his team. Whether the trip did have an affect or not, the Eagles stormed out of the gate and looked unstoppable, scoring on all five of their first-half drives, including what looked like a comfortable 35-14 second quarter lead.

The Eagles (6-5) and Raiders (11-1) combined for 63 first-half points with Eagle Pass clinging on to a 35-28 lead after North running back J.J. Rodriguez scored on consecutive TD runs to get the Raiders back into the game. Bush then challenged his team at halftime to score on its first possession to shift the game in its favor.

North answered Bush’s plea, marching 62 yards in eight plays on its first drive that was capped off by a 1-yd plunge from Alex Gutierrez to tie the game at 35. That score began the first of three consecutive scores from the Raiders to take complete control.

The defense then did its job, forcing a spiraling Eagles’ offense out of its element and holding them to only a touchdown during the second half.

Gutierrez ignited the Raiders’ offense in the second half, finishing as the team’s leading rusher with 175 yards on eight carries and three TDs. The elusive back deflected any credit after the win.

“Our defense stepped up and our line blocked a hell of a game,” said Gutierrez, who scored on runs of 17 and 48 yards in the fourth quarter to put the game away. “It was all thanks to the line.”

Rodriguez (144 yards) and quarterback Noe Garcia (120 yards) joined Gutierrez as 100-yard rushers with Rodriguez scoring four TDs.

The Raiders will play the winner of tonight’s New Braunfels-Corpus Christi Carroll game, which is being played at the Alamodome.

Ramiro Paez covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4470 or via e-mail at rpaez@themonitor.com.