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SAN ANTONIO — There was a soothing sense of calm after PSJA North fell behind, 35-14, to Eagle Pass in last week's area clash.

And it didn't come from the Raiders veteran head coach Bruce Bush.

It came from three-year starting quarterback Noe Garcia.

One of the most underrated QBs in the Valley the last couple of years, Garcia rallied his troops as the silver and black came back and won a wild one 56-42.

Bush hopes that Garcia and the rest of the Raiders play with the same resolve that saw them overcome their biggest deficit of the season today when Pharr North (11-1) takes on New Braunfels (9-3) in a Class 5A, Division II regional game at the Alamodome.

"Noe was probably the calmest of all of us," Bush said. "I was the one that panicked a little. We tried some trick plays and pass plays we weren't too successful with. Noe came up to me and said let's just run our offense. We still have time. He settled everyone down."

Garcia's been doing it all year long.

The Raiders fell behind against San Benito too before Garcia scored two second half TDs en route to a one-point lead.

Bush said it's that senior leadership that's guided the Raiders this far.

"The kids don’t get on each other in a negative way," Bush said. "It's all positive. The kids believe in each other and make it happen."

These Raiders are hoping to make history.

The 2009 Raiders are living in the shadows of the 2003 squad led by QB Gilbert Zepeda.

That band of Raiders was the only other in school history to play in the third round of the state playoffs.

That team also won 11 games, which stands as the school record.

Add the fact that no Valley 5A club has moved past the third round since Edinburg did it in 1999 and there's a lot of stake for the 2009 Raiders.

"They're really focused," Bush said. "The kids know we're playing a tough team and there's an opportunity to do something special. But we're focused and we'll have to play good on offense and defense."

Besides Garcia, the Raiders are led by fullback J.J. Rodriguez who's scored 30 TDs and rushed for over 1,478 yards in 12 games.

The Unicorns run a spread offense most of the time but NB can run the ball too.

It's three losses came to three of the best teams in the San Antonio area in Madison, Churchill and Reagan.

"We're going up there and playing our hearts out," Bush said. "These kids know when to turn it on."

Eladio Jaimez covers District 31-5A for Valley Freedom Newspapers.