SAN ANTONIO – Southside High School won the District 29-5A Championship, thanks in large part to running back Eddie Perez.
The senior back set a single-season school record with 2,415 yards and 29 touchdowns. He topped the Southside single-season mark of 1,849 yards, set by former teammate Matthew Collier.
“It’s amazing. I’m really happy to have done that,” Perez said Tuesday. “I exceeded my goal of 2,000 yards by 400. I didn’t expect it, but I’m just really happy that I was able to do so with all my teammates, great blocking and unselfishness. It’s been amazing.”
Last Friday, with the district title at stake, Perez rushed for a career-best 404 yards and four touchdowns against Floresville to help the Cardinals win, 36-28.
“He’s an outstanding young man,” said Ricky Lock, Southside's head football coach. “He’s kind of an under-the-radar type of player, but he has tremendous speed. If he gets a step or two, he’s got a chance to take it to the end zone.”
Perez and the Cardinals will open the playoffs with Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Southside ISD Stadium in a Class 5A Division 1 bi-district contest.