Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 20, PSJA North 14

Class 5A-Division I Region IV Final

Buccaneer Stadium, Corpus Christi

December 3, 2022

The Rio Grande Valley’s best hope for a state title contender in years, 13-0 PSJA North had one final test to past in Region IV as the Raiders had to go on the road and take on the most consistent team in the region over the past few years, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial.

PSJA North had built a reputation all year as a big and physical team that wore teams down with a running game and powerful defense, but in this showdown Corpus Christi Vets proved more than up to the task.

After opening the game with a defensive stop, PSJA North would fumble on their opening drive as Christian Sabsook fell on the loose ball at the North 37. Corpus Christi Vets would quickly take advantage of the mistake as Sabsook would outjump two Raider DB’s for a 25-yard touchdown pass from QB Elijah Durtette to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

PSJA North would go on a long drive on the ensuing series that would take up the rest of the first quarter and the first two minutes of the second quarter, but the Raiders march would come up empty as they missed a short field goal to leave the score at 7-0 Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial with 9:33 left in the second quarter. PSJA North coming up empty in the red zone would become a theme on the night.

After forcing a Veterans Memorial punt on the next drive. PSJA North would get on the board this time marching sixty yards with the drive capped off by a nine-yard touchdown pass from QB Ale Aparicio to Marcos Rendon to make the score 7-7 with 2:53 left in the second quarter. The Eagles would get their two-minute drill going on their final series of the half and they’d go into the locker room with a 14-7 lead as Durrette would connect with Ryan Wilson for a fourteen-yard touchdown pass with seven seconds left in the first half.

The third quarter would end up being marred by turnovers as PSJA North would get an interception and fumble recovery, while Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial would recover a PSJA North fumble, but neither team could put points on the board and after three quarters the score remained 14-7 Corpus Christi Vets.

That would set the stage for the key sequence in this game as PSJA North would open the fourth quarter up on the Corpus Christi Vets eleven-yard line, trailing by just seven. The Raiders would push to the Vets five-yard line, but the Raiders would come up empty once again as a fourth down pass would go incomplete. Two plays later, Corpus Christi Vets would deliver the fatal blow as Durrette would again connect with Sabsook, this one was a 92-yard connection that gave Vets a 20-7 lead with 7:52 left in the game.

PSJA North would turn the ball over on downs on the next series, but they were able to get a quick stop themselves, which set up the Raiders to get on the board with 2:52 left in the game as Aparicio connected with Ethan Guerra for a twelve-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-14. Corpus Christi Vets would recover the onside kick and then they were able to get a couple of first downs and run the clock out to advance to the state semifinals for the second time in school history and ending PSJA North’s dream season at 13-1.