All six teams in District 31-6A had at least a win a year ago. Third through sixth place in district were only separated by one win.
That means the battle for the four playoff spots should go to the wire again this season.
Here’s what to watch for in District 31-6A.
Edinburg Bobcats
Head Coach: Jose Pena (1st season)
Last Season: 5-6; 2-3 in district (Lost to Brownsville Veterans Memorial in bi-district)
Returning Lettermen: 33 (7 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)
Edinburg Key Players and Storylines
Weslaco offensive coordinator Jose Pena takes over at Edinburg in 2025. He and his coaching staff have high expectations with plenty of experience on both sides of the ball.
That includes the offensive skill talent. Receivers Jude Vega (179 receiving yards) and Ethan Calderon (288 receiving yards) are both four-year starters. Running back Oscar Jasso (508 rushing yards) is coming off a strong sophomore season and should take on the lead role in the ground game.
Offensive lineman Ryan Garza is Edinburg’s most physical player in the trenches. He’s heading into his third year as a starter.
Defensively, Edinburg’s front seven should help it stop the run. Up front, defensive tackles Diego Gonzalez (87 tackles) and Esteban Damian (68 tackles) and defensive end David Garza (59 tackles, six TFLs) are all also three-year starters. Garza will be the Bobcats’ premier pass rusher.
Linebackers RJ Ramirez (70 tackles) and Moises Hernandez (129 tackles) were both first team all-district selections last year.
In the secondary, there’s even more experience. Safety Woodrow Villareal (96 tackles) is a four-year starter, while cornerback Isaiah Cisneros (38 tackles, two INTs) is heading into his third year in the starting lineup.
The Bobcats don’t have a ton of depth, so a number of those key defensive players will go both ways. But with so much experience returning, they expect to “compete at a high level” in 2025.
Edinburg Economedes Jaguars
Head Coach: Raul Salas (4th season; 7-24 record)
Last Season: 5-6; 2-3 in district (Lost to Los Fresnos in bi-district)
Returning Lettermen: 27 (8 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Economedes Key Players and Storylines
There has been a huge shift within the Economedes football program after the Jaguars earned their first playoff berth since 2016 last fall.
Head coach Raul Salas said it’s evident that the culture and mindset among his players are very different now. Much of their production from last year is back too.
Quarterback John Carreon (594 passing yards, 771 rushing yards, 13 total TDs) is the perfect leader for the Jaguars’ run-heavy offense with his poise and decision making. Running back Johan Nunez (948 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) is a three-year starter, who has the vision and experience needed to carry the ground game.
Tight end Edgar Gonzalez has really “grown into the position” and will be an option in the passing attack.
On the other side of the ball, junior cornerback Dereck Cantu has had a great offseason. Salas is looking for “bigger and better things from him” this fall. Safety Mathew Chavira is another player that has shown “major improvements.”
In the front seven, linebacker Jaime Eguia was Economedes’ leading tackler last season and has a “nose for the football.”
The expectations have shifted for the Jaguars after last year. Confidence is high, and they’ll expect to return to the playoffs in 2025.
Edinburg North Cougars
Head Coach: Rigoberto Morales (1st season)
Last Season: 3-7; 1-4 in district
Edinburg North Key Players and Storylines
Rigo Morales comes over from Bishop to take over at Edinburg North. He led Bishop to the playoffs all three seasons he was in charge.
The Cougars did lose several key contributors on their offense to graduation. However, junior quarterback Jorge Trevino is back for his second year behind center. Look for senior guard Jerry Mancha to anchor the offensive line. He was an all-district honorable mention in 2024.
Defensively, the Cougars are going to pack a punch at linebacker with the senior quartet of Jaden Rodriguez, Vicente Cappadona, Brian Morado, and Angel Mendoza. Senior Santino Alonzo is a key returner on the defensive line. He can either play at defensive tackle or on the end.
Edinburg North had made the playoffs the prior two years before last season. With the track record of Morales and a solid core of players in the front seven on defense, the Cougars will expect to be in that mix this fall.
La Joya Coyotes
Head Coach: Reuben Farias (10th season; 26-56 record)
Last Season: 1-9; 1-4 in district
Returning Lettermen: 15 (5 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
La Joya Key Players and Storylines
The Coyotes snapped a 17-game losing streak last fall with a win over Edinburg North in district play.
Now, head coach Reuben Farias will want his team to build off of that.
Junior quarterback Owen Benoit already got reps as a freshman and is ready to lead the Coyotes’ run-heavy offense with senior running back Mauricio Mendoza.
Junior receiver Dante Perez is the player to watch if the Coyotes do go through the air. He was an all-district honorable mention in 2024.
Defensively, junior safety Leo Maldonado is the lone returning letterman in the secondary for the Coyotes. Senior linebacker Stevan Ramirez is coming off a strong campaign, where he earned second team all-district honors.
It has been a couple of tough years for the Coyotes with just one win in their last two seasons. However, that hasn’t changed expectations at all as Farias said his team is aiming for a playoff berth this fall.
PSJA Bears
Head Coach: Lupe Rodriguez (9th season; 48-35 record)
Last Season: 9-3; 5-0 in district (Lost to Cibolo Steele in area round)
Returning Starters: 3 on offense; 3 on defense
PSJA Key Players and Storylines
The Bears have now won a district title and a playoff game in back-to-back years.
However, this season’s team will have a very different look after the Bears graduated a ton of key players.
Among those losses is a 3,400-yard passer at quarterback. Junior Dylan Rodriguez looks set to take over behind center. Senior Ramsey Arroyo (304 receiving yards and two touchdowns) is the only returning receiver that had double-digit catches last season. Junior receivers Riley Limon and JD Sauceda are expected to help fill those voids in the passing game.
Defensive lineman Marco Maynez (50 tackles, 14 TFLs) is a playmaker in the trenches. He was a first team all-district pick in 2024.
Junior defensive back Mathew Azuara (55 tackles) is PSJA’s leading returning tackler. The Bears lost their top nine tacklers from a year ago.
Along with Maynez and Azuara, senior defensive back TJ Ayala, junior linebacker Jordan Palomin, and senior defensive lineman Jacob Cuevas are among the players that will need to take on bigger roles this season.
Despite all the new faces, PSJA head coach Lupe Rodriguez likes the talent he has on his roster. He expects his team to go “win another district championship and go a few rounds in the playoffs.”
Weslaco Panthers
Head Coach: Roy Stroman (7th season; 45-18 record)
Last Season: 8-4; 4-1 in district (Lost to East Central in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 20 (3 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Weslaco Key Players and Storylines
Weslaco must replace over half its starters from a year ago, but it does have a JV team that was district champs a year ago to pull from.
The Panthers will have a number of new starters on the offensive line this year. However, their skill positions have the talent to cause some problems.
Athlete Chris Luna (1,044 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns) will lead the way with playmaking receiver Joseph Leal (713 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) right alongside him. The Panthers also believe “tough runner” David Garcia (812 rushing yards and eight touchdowns) is ready to lead the ground game after splitting time a year ago.
Trevino finds Luna for the second time today to make it 21-0 w/ 8:20 left in the half. #RGVFootball #TXHSFB pic.twitter.com/Qdxj4tOJIP
— Ivan Palacios (@ByIvanPalacios) November 16, 2024
Defensively, the Panthers have great depth. They also have plenty of threats in the front seven. Linebackers Reik Castro and Jacob Villa were both second team all-district picks last season. Defensive end Jacob Hinojosa turned heads a year ago, earning the district’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year award.
Last fall, the Panthers came up just eight points short of a district title and seven points short of a third-round playoff appearance. After those close calls, they’re motivated to finish atop District 31-6A and strive towards practicing on Thanksgiving this year.
