Gridiron Glimpse: Local squads scrimmage, gear up for game week
The high school football season will officially start this week as local teams — including PSJA and PSJA North — played in their respective scrimmages just a few days ago.
This year has the recipe for an interesting season as those who have been keeping up know that the realignment and reclassification of some schools switched up traditional schedules.
For example, PSJA North — one of the top football squads last year and this season — is now operating in conference 6A compared to 5A. Another shift too for local teams is now all the Edinburg teams are now operating in the same district. Edinburg Vela, who is now under a new head coach with Sean Landez, now find themselves in District 31-6A compared to 5A last year.
In terms of new coaches, PSJA is now under the helm of a new leader with Horacio Garza.
Garza was the PSJA North offensive coordinator for the last few years and helped propel the team to being one of the most respective teams in the Valley. He takes over the Bears who went 1-9 last year.
They have a big first test at home on Thursday as they are matched up against the Mercedes Tigers.
The Tigers are coming off a 11-1 season last year and look to capitalize off that success for this year.
The game will be at 7 p.m. at PSJA Stadium.
Then speaking of PSJA North, they start their journey operating in 6A and have a tough first game against Laredo United in Laredo for on Friday.
That game will for sure be a great test to see how tough the Raiders will be as United usually has a good squad. They’re also the same team that eliminated Los Fresnos — another good Valley squad — in the playoffs last season in the second round.
Here are some other games to keep an eye for:
• Weslaco vs. Weslaco East on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Bobby Lackey stadium in Weslaco.
• Harlingen vs. Nikki Rowe on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.
• Economedes vs. McHi on Friday at 7:30 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
• Mission Veterans Memorial vs. Mission on Friday at 7 p.m. at Tom Landry Stadium in Mission.