Chargers dominate, win season opener

PHARR — The 2024 football season kicked off this Thursday at PSJA Stadium in Pharr, Texas, where PSJA Memorial met with Brownsville Veterans. Vets took control early thanks to a standout performance by their running back, Cesar Belmontes (15). With approximately nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, Belmontes made a 51-yard rushing touchdown, giving Veterans Memorial a 7-0 lead.

PSJA Memorial, determined to respond, advanced the ball into Charger territory. Their drive culminated in a successful field goal by kicker Omar Garcia (30), narrowing the score to 7-3. This was the last time the Wolverines would score, and Vets soon countered with a field goal of their own.

As the second quarter began, Brownsville Veterans continued to assert their dominance, scoring again on a 20-yard rushing touchdown from (22), extending the lead to 17-3. And they didn’t let up. The Chargers marched down the field once more before the end of the first half, putting up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Michael Montoya (7), entering the locker-room with a 24-3 lead.

It was more of the same in the third quarter, with Vets adding another two touchdowns to extend their lead to 34-3. In the fourth quarter, PSJA Memorial found themselves in the red zone, with a potential opportunity to score. However, Brownsville Vets’ defense held strong, preventing any further points. The Chargers managed the clock in the final minutes and sealed a comprehensive 34-3 victory in the first week of the 2024 season.