When lining up against Edinburg High’s offense, teams are forced to pick their poison, with three of District 31-6A’s top rushers suiting up for the Bobcats.
Sophomore quarterback Jae Santa Maria and senior running backs Jacob Gonzales and Noel Serna form one of the Valley’s most lethal trios, combining for 1,259 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
“This is exactly what we were trying to establish, the running game,” Edinburg High head coach Rene Guzman said. “When you establish the run, it tends to open up the passing. We’re hoping that comes along as well. … But these guys have made it known we’re going to be a running team. Just hoping that these guys can continue to establish that in every district game we’re going to play. When one is going, that opens up the ground for the other one.”
Each athlete brings a different skillset to the table. Serna serves as the team’s lead back, taking over the spotlight following the departure of last year’s leading rusher, Rolando Abrego, to graduation.
The speedy rusher ranks No. 2 in the district in rushing despite missing two games, toting the rock 53 times for 477 yards and five touchdowns.
“(Noel) played last year and was coming back after just a little over 500 yards rushing,” Guzman said. “But last year it was the quarterback who was the man. Abrego was the one who would jump-start our offense. Now, headed into district play, we knew we had to keep (Noel) healthy. … Him coming back, it’s been a huge impact. We knew he was going to be that type of kid this season, and that is what we’re expecting more of now in district play.”
Spelling Serna during his injury was Gonzales. The power back stepped up in Serna’s absence, ranking fourth in the district with 75 carries for 375 yards and two touchdowns.
Added into the mix this season is Santa Maria, in his first year at the helm for the Bobcats. The sophomore signal caller sits behind Serna in the district in rushing, carrying the ball 74 times for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
Santa Maria delivered one of his biggest performances of the season last week, rushing for 155 yards and two touchdowns during a district-opening 48-29 win over Mission High.
“Big surprise with (Santa Maria) being a sophomore,” Guzman said. “He’s grown into the role, and I think he’s only going to get better as we go forward. He’s a young sophomore. To be able to fill that role as a leader on offense, no matter how you look at it in any offense in any program, the quarterback is the one who makes the offense goes.”
The Bobcats field District 31-6A’s top rushing attack, averaging 230.3 yards per contest, nearly 50 yards more per game than second-ranked La Joya High (184.0).
Edinburg High’s ground attack takes the field against Edinburg Economedes at 7 p.m. Friday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
PLAY OF THE WEEK
With two minutes left in the third Harlingen High junior quarterback Randy Morales broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run, putting Harlingen High up 17-7 after trailing at the break.
Morales’ play garnered state-wide recognition, earning him Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s TSTC Technical Play of the Week.
Morales’ touchdown carry capped a 14-0 run by the Cardinals during the third, leading to a 31-21 victory over the Weslaco High Panthers during their District 32-6A opener Friday.
The junior signal caller added a 62-yard touchdown pass to Paul Price during the fourth, finishing 10-of-17 for 198 yards and a touchdown, adding eight carries for 33 yards and a score.
DOMINANT ‘D’
San Benito’s defense is among the top units in the state in points allowed this season, ranking second with only 3.8 points per game against, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
The Greyhounds have pitched shutouts during three of their six contests, with each of their victories coming by two or more scores. Their most points allowed this season came against McAllen Memorial on Sept. 9, beating the Mustangs 47-13.
San Benito (6-0, 1-0) seeks to continue its hot defensive start at 7 p.m. Friday, hosting Brownsville Rivera (2-4, 0-1) at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
