PSJA North (4-0, 1-0) at Edinburg Vela (4-0, 1-0): It’s the game of the year in the Rio Grande Valley as the top team in the 956, the state ranked PSJA North Raiders face their toughest test of the regular season as they take on a stout Edinburg Vela squad.
Vela fell to North in a close one a year ago, but the Sabercats come into this one with plenty of confidence and they are without a doubt not intimidated by North in the least.
This will be an absolute war.
North sent a statement out to the rest of the Valley last week as it absolutely obliterated a good McAllen squad, 56-0, with maybe its most complete performance of the year. QB Ale Aparicio returned from an injury, and he appeared to be in mid-season form playing QB and WR accounting for 56 yards passing and two touchdowns, 99 rushing yards and a score and he had touchdown catch as well.
Vela, led by RB Jamal Polley, has played a tougher schedule and lived a bit more dangerous recently, but they did escape an upset bid from McAllen Memorial with a 31-27 win. Vela trailed 27-17 going into the fourth quarter but rallied for two scores and the defense held firm in the final frame.
Vela has the offensive weapons to take out PSJA North, but the big question is can their defense hold up against a massive North offensive line and the waves of ball carriers the Raiders will throw at Vela?
North simply wore Vela down in the second half a year ago and that scenario could play out once again this week. This will be North’s biggest test to date, but Marcus Kaufman’s squad passes it in a big way.
Stepp’s Pick: PSJA North by 12
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