(Harlingen, Texas)-PSJA North Raiders RB Jack Lugo (6’2 210lbs) rushed for six touchdowns and the Raiders racked up almost 700 yards of total offense as they shocked the previously unbeaten, Harlingen South Hawks 56-26 on Friday night at Boggus Stadium in the University Interscholastic League Class 6A Division II Bi-District Championships. With the win, the Raiders (9-2) will play 30-6A Eagle Pass (8-3) in the 6A Area Playoffs next week. “We played a great tonight. We had almost 625 yards rushing and our running backs did an outstanding job,” says Raiders head coach, Marcus Kaufmann.
It was unfinished business for the Raiders. It’s what Kaufmann has been talking about all season. “We had to forfeit last year’s area playoff game against San Antonio Taft due to COVID-19 team issues. That was hard to digest. Now, we are back,” added Kaufmann. Yes, the Raiders are back in the second round of the UIL State Football playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
On Friday night, Lugo had his biggest night scoring six touchdowns, four in the first half, breaking on touchdown runs of 42, 28, 35, 10, 45, and 49 to lead his team. “He had one heck of a night. He also played defense and recorded two quarterback sacks,” says Kaufmann. “He was on fire.” In the fourth quarter, exhausted, Lugo scored from 45 yards to add his sixth TD of the night and came off the field, gasping, and smiling. “Can you believe this,” he told Kaufmann.
The Raiders opened the game with a three-play scoring drive, a 35-yard touchdown run by Lugo, but the Harlingen South Hawks answered right back with a score by Carlos Mossboss to tie the game at 7-7 all. Sophomore quarterback, Ale Aparicio, back from a shoulder injury, handed the ball to RB Issac Gonzalez, and he found daylight from 48-yards to put the Raiders up 14-7 in the first quarter. South, again, answered right back with Hawks QB Xander Casarez spotting WR Elias Ledesma for a 10-yard score to tie the game again at 14-14 all.
Then it happened. After a turnover on downs, the Raiders defense answered with an interception, followed by a Lugo 42-yard touchdown, and then an onside kick recovered by the Raiders, and then two more TDs from Lugo, to put the game out of reach at the half, 35-14. Whew!
