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EDINBURG — Despite finishing with just five wins combined in the 2005 and ’06 seasons, expectations were high at Edinburg North entering 2007.

The Cougars returned 32 seniors from their ’06 squad and felt that the experience and maturity of those players would lead to winning results on the field.

As it turns out, that thinking was correct.

Edinburg North finished 7-3 overall and 4-3 in District 31-5A to clinch its first playoff berth since 2001. The Cougars visit Weslaco High (8-2) in a Class 5A Division II bi-district playoff game Friday.

“Going in, we had so many seniors with a lot of experience,” third-year Edinburg North coach Roy Garza said last month. “We had four-year starters and three-year and four-year varsity lettermen.”

Quarterback Randy Ramirez and running back Oscar Hernandez lead the Cougars’ offense. Ramirez has passed for 675 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 602 yards and nine scores. Hernandez, meanwhile, finished the regular season as the 31-5A rushing champion, carrying 203 times for 1,378 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“We’re going to have to key on those guys and try to do what we can with those guys,” Weslaco coach Tony Villarreal said.

Middle linebacker David Torres keys a physical Cougars’ defense that will have to slow down the Panthers’ Mishak Rivas if Edinburg North is to continue its dream season.

McHi Pride

It may not be as well-known as PSJA High’s “Bear Pride”, but McAllen High has its own successful mantra.

“We’ve got two things we go by: Hard work pays off and ‘We are McHi,’” Bulldogs coach Tony Harris said. “It’s an attitude and a work ethic and it works well. These kids have done a great job all season.”

The Bulldogs (7-3) earned a trip to the postseason to face the Laredo United South on Friday night in the first round of the state playoffs in Corpus.

The Panthers (7-3) may have the same record as McHi, but they don’t have the same momentum.

United South will be one week removed from a 56-0 drubbing at the hands of Laredo United, the team that won the 29-5A title. The Panthers offense was held to only 145 yards and two first downs in the first half.