EDINBURG —PSJA High quarterback Jaime Lopez accounted for three touchdowns and the defense added a pair of scores as the Bears defeated the Edinburg High Bobcats 38-28 during their District 31-6A finale Friday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
The win clinched second place in the district standings for PSJA while Edinburg High is the third seed in the district.
“We fell short of our goal of winning a district championship,” PSJA High head coach Lupe Rodriguez said. “Second place in our district is not bad either. We wanted to win our last game and carry that momentum with us into the playoffs. Very proud of our guys. The defense stepped up. It was one of those back-and-forth games, but they came through big tonight.”
Lopez finished the night with 301 total yards, completing 25-of-52 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown and adding nine carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
His 41-yard touchdown scamper on fourth-and-12 with 5:11 left gave the Bears the lead during the fourth.
“I was just thinking to get a first down,” Lopez said. “That was pretty much all I could think of. I was just hungry for it. There is always a chance for a touchdown. Caleb (Salas) sealed the big block to help me get into the end zone.”
The defense sealed the victory on the ensuring drive on a 13-yard scoop and score by sophomore linebacker Armando Davila, their second touchdown of the night. Sophomore linebacker Cody Longoria forced the fumble on the play.
PSJA High’s Johnny Martinez scored the other defensive touchdown for the Bears, returning a forced fumble by Yahir Orozco 22 yards for the score.
“Our defense has played lights out all year long,” Rodriguez said. “They bend but don’t break. They made big plays when they needed to. My hats off to our defensive coordinator and the defensive unit. They do a great job. We feed off of them and they feed off of us. Sometimes we have to lean on each other and tonight we leaned on this defense.”
The Bobcats rushing attack clawed the team back into the game during the third, with running back Noel Serna and Jonathan Maldonado scoring back-to-back touchdowns during the quarter to give Edinburg High its first lead heading into the final period.
The lead evaporated as soon as it came, with the Bears scoring twice in the span of a minute to complete the comeback and take home the win.
Edinburg High finished with 307 rushing yards, led by Serna’s 89 yards on 13 carries. Jae Santa Maria added 89 yards and a score on 16 carries, while Jacob Gonzales chipped in 82 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
PSJA High freshman Jorge Alaniz chipped in 22 carries for 89 yards, while senior wideout Andrew Castillo hauled in nine catches for 127 yards and a score.
Both the Bears (5-5, 4-1) and Bobcats (5-5, 3-2) turn their attention to the postseason, each waiting to find out who they’ll be facing during the first round.
