Bobcats put it away: EHS extends win streak with dub over PSJA Memorial
PHARR — The Edinburg Bobcats (3-0) remain as one of the undefeated teams in the RGV as they scrapped with the PSJA Memorial Wolverines (1-2) on Friday at PSJA Stadium.
The Bobcats took the win with conviction, 32-14, which extends their win streak to three on the season.
The original cats of Edinburg were quick to make a statement in the game as they were able to get on the board within two minutes of game time.
After a quick four and out, a bad snap led to the Bobcats recovering the ball on the Wolverines' 13-yard line. The Bobcats then ran an end-around play that appeared if the squad was running to the right but as Osiel Rios received the handoff, he saw nothing but green to make it 6-0.
The 'Cats then capitalized on their two-point conversion as a fake kick and pitch to Ayden Garcia led him to make the game 8-0 as he punched it into the end zone.
After another stop for the Bobcat defense, Roy Peña — sophomore quarterback for EHS — launched it for 25 yards to Rios to make it 15-0.
PSJA Memorial's offense struggled tremendously as quarterback Josh Bautista found himself scrambling trying to find his receivers. The offensive line had some moments of struggle as well, as the Bobcats defensive tackles and ends were quick to clog up any gaps.
Peña on the next drive — in the shotgun formation — took it to the air as he found Ayden Garcia on a 62-yard throw to set themselves up on the Wolverine's 15-yard line.
The 'Cats were able to get a field goal from Xavi Lopez to build the cushion to 18-0 going into the second quarter.
The Wolverines' woes continued to wear them down as on a punt return, the ball touched a player and was recovered by the Bobcats, with 8:25 left to go in the second quarter.
On the subsequent drive, the second play found Peña launching it to Garcia for a 36-yard touchdown to make it 25-0 going into the half.
There was a bit of life in the third from PSJA Memorial as Bautista heaved it to the left-side of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown to Leo Maravilla. After a failed field goal, it was 25-6 going into the fourth quarter.
The defense from the Wolverines was able to tame the Bobcats a tad. More specifically, a blindside sack by Issac Pillado led to a fumble recovery by Anthony Ramirez to set the Green Machine at the Bobcats' 20-yard line.
On a halfback draw, Joe Daniel Martinez swaggered his way to the endzone for a 6-inch touchdown run.
Grinding their teeth a bit, the Bobcats found their lead at 11 after the two-point conversion pass from Bautista to Jonathan Vasquez put the score as 25-14.
However, on the subsequent drive, Marcelino Quintanilla — on a halfback pass — ran 50 yards to seal the deal at 32-14.
After the game, Edinburg Bobcat Head Coach Joe Peña said that he thought his team played well but fell a tad flat in the second half as PSJA Memorial was able to recover turnovers and put 14 on the board.
"We've struggled the past few weeks, putting four quarters together, and we come off good in the first half and we flatten out," the second-year coach said. "Our job is to keep getting better, and we have to finish that job, and we have to be more consistent on a day-to-day basis."
Last season, the Bobcats made history as Peña led the team to its first playoff win in over 10 years against Brownsville Veterans Memorial. Prior to that, the original cats from Edinburg played second to third fiddle behind Robert Vela and Economedes, as well as Edinburg North.
"We're coaching with love, and (if the players know that we love), they will, too," he said. "The more united we are as a staff, they will be as a team. And all we can do for them is show them a way to do it, and that's all we can do."
PSJA Memorial looks to bounce back against Palmview — which is a district game — at PSJA Stadium next Friday. The Bobcats will look to extend their winning streak to four as they head back to Edinburg and face Brownsville Rivera.
Asked why the Valley should respect the Bobcats, Peña made it quite clear.
"We do things for the right reason," he said. "We do things to build men of character and athletes of character."