Cool Blue: PSJA Southwest keeps poise, defeats CC Moody to stay undefeated
PHARR — Last year, the PSJA Southwest Javelinas had a bit of a rough start to their season, especially in their third game against Corpus Christi Moody.
In that campaign, the Javelinas lost to Moody by 28 points, but this season, it's a fresh start for the boys in blue.
PSJA Southwest (2-0) has turned over a new leaf and won Friday's game as they hosted the Trojans (0-2) at PSJA Stadium. They got their retribution and won, 24-14.
"These guys have come together as a team, and you know, we've tried to fix things with them," Head Coach JJ Leija said after the game. "They have a lot of team unity. There is not really much finger pointing right now with these guys, which we ask. They got a good little brotherhood, and like I said, they've been playing together."
Leija, who was hired as head coach and athletic coordinator back in 2023, said that since they were freshmen, the players have grown and gone "through the fire."
"Now we got a great combination," he said. "We got a good group of seniors, good leadership here."
The Trojans and Javelinas had a bit of a sparring match in the first quarter as neither squad was able to get on the scoreboard. The Trojans were within striking distance at the 15-yard line, but the Javelinas' defense was able to strip Moody's Jose Rodriguez and capitalize on the fumble recovery by Southwest's Josiah Gonzalez.
In the second quarter, Moody was able to milk the clock for the majority of the time with their rush-heavy offense. If you were at the game, you were probably wondering how a squad could run the ball 98% of the time.
But if it works it works, because Moody's Rodriguez was able to rake up a 13-yard run to get the Trojans on the 2-yard line. Then on a first and short, Moody's Isaac Salazar scored on the halfback draw to make it 7-0 with 4:28 to play in the half.
However, Southwest was quick to respond as Raul Garza broke free with a 70-yard touchdown to knot it up at the half, 7-7.
The second half had the Javelinas showing poise but aggressive play as Garza once again scrambled to the end zone off a 51-yard run to make it 14-7 lead for the Javelinas.
On the following drive, Moody found themselves on the 34-yard line. On a 3rd and 10, Uriah Howard scrambled to the right and Southwest's Gonzalez picked him off for his only interception of the game.
Garza got tapped on a 3rd and short in which he caught a stride and read his blockers for a first down. After the chains were moved, Garza swaggered his way through a gap and scrambled for a 54-yard run for his third touchdown of the night.
Moody in the fourth quarter was able to close the gap to 21-14 after Xavius Silguero marched into the endzone on a six-play drive, despite his helmet being ripped off.
On the subsequent drive, "The Garza Show" continued as he had a 33-yard run and a 10-yard scramble to set the Javelinas up at the 20. After a few plays, the Javelinas' field goal from 15 yards out by Daniel Chapa iced the game at 24-14.
Garza, who was undoubtely the showstopper of the evening, had three total touchdowns on the night with an unofficial 295 yards on about 24 carries.
The senior running back said that the team put in work throughout the summer and thanked them for the performance.
"It's a team effort. It's not all about me, and I like to thank my boys for making me look good," Garza said. "I love my boys. We go through everything together."
The Javelinas look to extend their winning streak to three as they will play the Valley View Tigers on Sept. 11.