SAN BENITO — The RGVSports.com Game of the Week kicks off the regular season with a top 10 matchup between the No. 1-ranked PSJA North Raiders and No. 10-ranked San Benito Greyhounds.
The action between upper and lower Valley powers is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito.
Both the Raiders and Greyhounds are known for playing a physical brand of football and their collision in Week 1 is set to showcase their smash-mouth style.
PSJA North is coming off a third-round playoff appearance and a 12-1 overall record in 2023. The Raiders bring back 12 starters including all-purpose runner Ethan Guerra (1,572 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns; 374 receiving yards, three touchdowns), offensive lineman Jordan Brewster and first-year starting quarterback Daren Garcia. Defensively, senior linebackers Steven Garza and Jesse Montez both recorded over 100 tackles last season and are ready to lead the “Blackshirt Defense.”
San Benito is gunning for its 11 straight playoff appearance after finishing the 2023 campaign in the area round with a 10-2 record. The Greyhounds return only seven starters but they’ll lean on the duo of Adam Cortez and Gabriel Covarrubias as versatile athletes to lead the way. Offensive linemen Ethan Ruiz and Zaylen Graham are a force up front while junior quarterback Tyler Ruiz, who transferred from Edinburg North, starts behind center to run the San Benito offense. Senior linebacker Armando Garcia and senior defensive back Kian Jones are set to spearhead San Benito’s “War Dog Defense.”
