Rio Grande Valley powers No. 10 San Benito and No. 1 PSJA North are set to collide in the RGVSports.com Game of the Week to kick off the 2024 season, but the entire Week 1 slate is lined with marquee matchups across the Valley.
BROWNSVILLE VETERANS AT PSJA MEMORIAL, 7 P.M. THURSDAY AT PSJA STADIUM IN PHARR
The reigning Region IV-5A Division I champion Chargers start their season with non-district action against a team on the rise in the Wolverines.
Brownsville Veterans returns key pieces from its fifth-round playoff squad a season ago who are looking for a repeat of last year’s success. That will take the Chargers coming together as they move up to the Class 6A level.
PSJA Memorial, meanwhile, started last season 7-0 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. The Wolverines have a chance to prove they can play with some of the Valley’s top teams as PSJA Memorial prepares for District 15-5A DI action in three weeks.
PSJA HIGH AT SHARYLAND PIONEER, 7 P.M. FRIDAY AT RICHARD THOMPSON STADIUM IN MISSION
Friday night’s matchup between the Bears and Diamondbacks pits two of South Texas’ top passing offenses against each other.
Both squads will have new quarterbacks taking snaps this season as PSJA High senior Myles Lopez makes his debut with the Bears after transferring from Edinburg Vela, and Sharyland Pioneer will have a new signal-caller behind center for the first time in four seasons. Both teams are coming off district titles in their respective districts and classes last season, so Friday night’s first look at the Bears and Diamondbacks sets up for an intriguing meeting.
MISSION VETERANS AT MISSION HIGH, 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY AT TOM LANDRY STADIUM IN MISSION
The Battle of Conway between the crosstown rival Eagles and Patriots will showcase quarterback play as three-year starter Diego Salinas leads Mission High against first-year starter Cameron Sarinana at Mission Veterans. The city of Mission has historically produced some of the Valley’s best passers, and these two are primed for big seasons leading their respective teams.
The Eagles hold a 3-2 advantage in their last five head-to-head meetings with Mission Veterans, emerging victorious in the previous two.
RIO GRANDE CITY AT ROMA, 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY AT GLADIATOR ARENA IN ROMA
This year’s Starr County Super Bowl is the first game of a new era for Rio Grande City as former Rattlers football great Abel Gonzalez takes over head coaching duties after 14 years at Grulla. The Rattlers will go from a ground-and-pound to a spread offense with Gonzalez at the helm.
Roma, meanwhile, is fresh off winning a share of its first district title in program history in 2023 and is looking to start this season on the right foot with a rivalry win over RGC. The Gladiators won last year’s matchup 36-22 to snap a three-game losing streak against the Rattlers.
