PSJA North advances to 7-on-7 championship bracket
BY BRYAN RAMOS
STAFF WRITER
COLLEGE STATION — The Rio Grande Valley qualified five teams for the State 7-on-7 Football Division I Tournament from Thursday through Saturday at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, but only one squad advanced to today’s championship bracket — the PSJA North Raiders.
PSJA North, a program making its first appearance at the state 7-on-7 tourney, finished second in Pool H to punch its ticket to the championship bracket, which kicks off at 8:45 a.m. today. The Raiders take on College Station A&M Consolidated. The championship and consolation brackets are winner-moves-on contests, and the loser is eliminated.
“It’s an honor. We deserve to be here, most definitely,” defensive back Nick Gaona said. “This is going to reflect off the season and what we do. We’re definitely coming on strong and deserve to be here.”
The Raiders lost their opener 33-12 against Byron Nelson before turning things around with a 24-20 win over Shadow Creek.
Facing a must-win scenario in order to qualify for today’s championship bracket, the Raiders needed a victory against Round Rock Westwood to get there.
Trailing by one score with less than two minutes remaining, PSJA North quarterback Ale Aparicio connected with Leroy Palacios on a bomb down the left sideline for the game-winning touchdown at 13-12.
“We started off a little slow after the first game. We got a pep talk from our coach, picked it up the second game, carried it into the third game, and we came out and did our job and got the win,” Aparicio said.
Gaona and PSJA North’s “Blackshirt Defense” came up with two key pass breakups near the end zone to keep Westwood from scoring late, sending the Raiders into the championship bracket for the first time in program history.
A&M Consolidated went 3-0 during pool play to set up the championship bracket opening-round matchup against PSJA North.
“We got to come out strong, finish what we started and try to make it to the (championship),” Gaona said.
SAN BENITO
San Benito delivered a strong showing in pool play despite falling just short of today’s championship bracket.
The Greyhounds finished pool play 2-1 with a 27-26 victory over Midlothian Heritage and a hard-fought win over Aldine Eisenhower 14-6. San Benito’s only loss in pool play was 26-18 against Red Oak. With three teams finishing 2-1 in pool play, the Greyhounds were the odd man out due to a net points tiebreaker.
Rodney Rodriguez wound up on the receiving end of multiple touchdown passes during pool competition.
San Benito is back in action against Katy Cinco Ranch at 8 a.m. today in the consolation bracket.
MISSION HIGH
The Eagles got off to a soaring start at the state tourney before stalling in pool play.
Mission secured a 19-7 win against Prosper to open the tournament, then lost a nail-biter 28-26 against San Antonio Brandeis. Needing a victory in their final pool game against The Woodlands, the Eagles couldn’t keep up, falling 41-27.
Mission will look to bounce back in the consolation bracket at 8 a.m. against Austin LBJ.
McALLEN ROWE
The Warriors dropped two games by one possession in pool play to miss out on the championship bracket. Rowe fell 33-27 against Dickinson and 28-21 versus Crandall, then lost its pool play finale 35-6 to Austin Anderson.
McAllen Rowe faces Willis at 8 a.m. in the consolation bracket.
SHARYLAND HIGH
Sharyland High went winless during pool play but nearly pulled off an upset of Rockwall-Heath, 29-26, in the Rattlers’ final game of the day.
The Rattlers are slated to take on Lake Travis at 8 a.m. in the opening round of the consolation bracket.
SANTA ROSA
The Warriors were the lone RGV team to qualify for the Division III tourney but lost their opening matchup of the championship bracket 25-19 against Brady on Friday morning. Brady went on to qualify for the state championship game, where it lost 35-19 against Miles.
Santa Rosa’s trip to state ended 1-3 overall. The Warriors picked up a 35-14 pool play win over Henrietta on Thursday.
