A new-look PSJA North roster ahead of the 2024 season

HARLINGEN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — PSJA North has a combined 25-2 record the past two seasons, which included deep postseason runs.

However, the 2024 season is a new challenge for the Raiders for two reasons. The first being new pieces on both sides of the ball.

Ale Aparicio led the Raider’s offense to two straight regional semifinals appearances. Aparicio moved on to the collegiate level, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, so bring in junior Daren Garcia.

Garcia played in limited minutes last season as the third-string on the depth chart. The one similarity Garcia has with Aparicio is the man that will be in the backfield, junior running back Ethan Guerra.

Guerra combined for 1,946 all-purpose yards his sophomore season, also totaling 24 TDs. North’s offense is predicated on a strong run-game, and that won’t change this season.

With so much turnover from last year’s roster, a lot can change. However, senior offensive lineman Jordan Brewster doesn’t see it that way.

He said, “I don’t think we should be slept on because we still have a lot of our people coming back. We have our whole secondary. We have our star running back coming back, so I think that we’re still a force to be reckoned with.”

The second challenge for PSJA North in 2024 is a new district. After realignment, North joins District 15-5A D-I, which includes top-tier Coastal Bend programs, such as Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial and Flour Bluff.

Notable Rio Grande Valley teams also in the district are Harlingen South, PSJA Memorial and Weslaco East.

Despite so much change, North does not see it as something that will affect the program. To them, it is business as usual.

Garcia said, “We take big pride in what we do. From the offseason with 7-on-7, running routes on the field, we put work in. It’s honestly the same mindset as last year.”

PSJA North has a tough test Week 1. They hit the road to face San Benito on Friday, Aug. 30.

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