(Pharr, Texas)-Four turnovers plagued the Rio Grande City Rattlers (3-7, 1-6), all in the first half, as the PSJA North Raiders (10-0, 7-0) clinched the outright District 15-5A DI title with a 57-0 win on Thursday night at PSJA Stadium. As time expired, Raiders head football coach Marcus Kaufmann was chased by his players, zig-zagging, juking his Raiders on the field, almost looking like the athlete he once was in high school, but his Raiders were much quicker as he was drench with the water bucket. “They got me,” laughed Kaufmann. “This win is for our team and our staff. We did what was needed to be done tonight and now, we will either play Donna or Harlingen South next week.”
The Raiders were near perfect. The defense was perfect. On offense, junior quarterback Ale Aparicio passed for three scores, all to junior TE Julius Arredondo, to finish the night with 17-of-20 attempts for 210 yards. The Raiders also added 243 yards on the ground with 25 carries. Raiders junior RB Jason Montes ended the season with 1,255 yards rushing and scoring 11 touchdowns. Freshmen RB Ethan Guerra ended the regular season with 687 yards and seven scores along with junior RB Jaden Fuentes having a great season, with 540 yards rushing. “Now, it’s time for the the playoffs,” said Aparicio. “We have the team to make a playoff run.”
The Raiders went perfect for the third time in school history. Other perfect seasons were in 1997 and 2006. Under Kaufmann, the Raiders have made the playoffs five times in seven seasons. This is Kaufmann’s first career perfect season as a head football coach. The Raiders advanced to the UIL State 6A DII Regional Finals before losing to eventual State 6A DII Champions, Austin Westlake.
