Fab Four: PSJA Southwest shuts down Hidalgo, makes history with winning streak
PHARR — The PSJA Southwest Javelinas made program history Thursday night as they capped off a perfect non-district slate this season.
The Hogs (4-0), blanked the visiting Hidalgo Pirates (0-4), by the score of 27-0. The win capitalizes a four-game winning streak for PSJA Southwest and the best start in the school's 16-year history.
They also remain as one of the Rio Grande Valley's undefeated football teams.
"You know, I'm happy for them. They really worked hard. You know, this was a goal that they've said, that they want to try to make the playoffs," Head Coach JJ Leija said. "We tell them there's three seasons: non-district, district and the postseason. And we're trying to get to that third season. And they've been successful right now."
Successful they have been as this is the second straight shutout of the year as the prior week they blanked Valley View (42-0). Speaking of playoffs, the last time the boys in blue made the postseason was in 2020, which was the start of the COVID shutdown and curfews.
After a quick four and out by the Pirates, the Hogs only needed two plays to put six on the board as a pitch to Raul Garza ended up with a 40-yard dash to the endzone. With less than four minutes of game time, the home squad were up 7-0.
Garza, who is senior halfback for PSJA Southwest, has solidified as one of the household names in the region as prior to this game he has garnered nine touchdowns with 693 yards rushing off of 59 carries.
Defense for the Javelinas was keen as the defensive line and linebackers clogged up any gaps for the Pirates to run through and they made it difficult for senior Cory Justice to find any receiver in the passing game.
Another ailment for the Pirates' offense was the penalties that they racked up off of delay of games.
In the second quarter, at the 50-yard line, the Pirates' problems started to pile up as a bad snap led to a fumble recovery by Yonathan Mendoza at Hidalgo's 24-yard line.
Then, with the Hogs eyeing the end zone at the 1-yard line, dialed in with a halfback draw to Garza to make it 14-0 for the Javelinas.
In the second half, the Pirates did switch some things up on offense as Kristofer Gutierrez was substituted in as quarterback. A few times he connected with William Reyes, but it was never anything that capitalized for some points on the board.
In the third quarter — with less than four minutes to go — Garza scored his third touchdown of the game for a 58-yard run off a counter.
With the missed field goal, it was 20-0 going into the fourth.
To seal the deal, quarterback Alec Garza found AJ Arevalo on a 15-yard touchdown pass that put the Javelinas up 27-0 with five minutes left in the game. To pitch the shutout, PSJA Southwest's Adrian Acevedo had this first interception to bring the game to a close.
On the night, Garza finished with three rushing touchdowns which would make it 12 total on the year so far. More so, this is the third straight game with 200-plus yards rushing.
Asked about making program history, Garza said it was an unbelievable feeling.
"It feels great, knowing that we're the first ones to get that (record)," the senior said. "It's a good feeling. Our coaches were telling us that, they trusted us, that we were gonna be the ones who do that this year. And we just stayed consistent."
Garza also attributed the sense of brotherhood on the team that has helped contribute to the success of the Javelinas.
"Chemistry has grown a lot," he said. "Trusting the guy next to you is always a good thing."
Next week, the Hogs will face their toughest test yet as they start district on the road against the Roma Gladiators — who have shown their colors as one of the top teams in the RGV over the past two weeks.
"That's a big one, you know?" Leija said. "We're going to face a good football team next week, and we gotta see who's gonna show up.
"... It all goes off the first series, off the first snap and let's see who's coming after who."