(McAllen, Texas)-The PSJA North Raiders enters the 2023 UIL Football season as the No.11th ranked team in Class 5A Division I and in the Rio Grande Valley, the Raiders takes the No.1 rankings in the High School Sports Magazine’s Top 20 Rankings. Several HSSM fans did not agree with HSSM’s Sports Director, David “Tddave” Amador rankings. “I think he just threw all the names in a hat and threw them up in the air. That list (HSSM) is about as sharp as a ballon,” says HSSM fan, John Cavazos. He is a true Harlingen Cardinal fan.
The PSJA North Raiders advanced to the UIL State 5A Division I Quarterfinals in 2022 for the first time in school history before falling to Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 20-14. The Raiders were the last team standing from the Rio Grande Valley. “We are proud of our ranking but we have some unfinished business in 2023,” says Raider head coach, Marcus Kaufmann. Rounding out the Top Five are No.2 McAllen, No.3 San Benito, and No.4 Harlingen. All three teams finished their seasons in the third rounds. Port Isabel HS rounds out the Top Five with back-to-back State 4A DII Area appearances. “To have any teams above San Benito and Harlingen is disrespectful! We all know who the powerhouse teams are in the Valley,’ says HSSM fan, Esteban Salceda.
Rounding out the Top Ten Polls are No.6 Edinburg Vela, No.7 Flour Bluff, No.8 Weslaco HS, No.9 Brownsville Veterans, and No.10 Calallen HS. The Sabercats enters the the UIL State 5A DI polls at No.16 despite losing in the 5A DI Area playoffs to Corpus Christi Veterans 14-7. The Hornets from Flour Bluff advanced to the UIL State 5A DII Quarterfinals before falling to Liberty Hill 63-43. Calallen lost to Boerne 49-19 in the 4A DI Quarterfinals.
The final rankings at No.11 are the PSJA Bears followed by Los Fresnos, Mission Veterans, Donna, Sharyland Pioneer, Weslaco East, McAllen Rowe, Edinburg North, Sharyland, and at No.20, Gregory-Portland. “Not close, wait till season begins and Then u see,” says HSSM fan, Ben Lopez Jr., retired college recruiter.
HSSMLive! will go on the air on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to talk about this year’s Top 20 Rankings with HSSM’s David “Tddave” Amador, sports director. Agree or Disagree! Get ready football fans, RGV Football is Back with Tddave!