GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
After La Joya Juarez-Lincoln strung together back-to-back wins to enter the race for a playoff spot, coach Tommy Garcia had seniors come to his office about joining the team for its final weeks.
The effect is one La Joya High coach George Espinoza noticed last season, when the Coyotes reached the playoffs for the first time since the La Joya ISD split in 2008. Now, La Joya has two freshman teams, both of which are contending for district titles.
That’s the impact a playoff berth can have on a football program, and the reason tonight’s de facto play-in game between La Joya High and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at 7:30 in La Joya is for more than just an opportunity to play in the postseason.
“Success breeds success,” Garcia said. “I really believe that if we get into the playoffs, that will help our program. I believe some of the younger kids, freshmen kids that got out this past year, would be willing to take another chance.”
La Joya High and Juarez-Lincoln both have just three wins this season, including 2-3 marks in District 30-6A.
Whichever team wins tonight’s clash will claim a playoff berth, while the loser will be on the outside looking in.
Neither team figures to have much of a chance in the bi-district round. Last season, La Joya High lost 62-7 to Laredo United. Regardless, simply making it to that stage can help the programs as they continue to develop.
“It did wonders for us last year as far as numbers and participation,” Espinoza said. “Making the playoffs back to back, I think that would help generate more numbers from the middle school.”
Juarez-Lincoln heads into this matchup on a high note, ending a 10-game district slide with back-to-back wins against La Joya Palmview and Mission High.
A Huskies team that starts five sophomores on either side of the ball has produced its two best offensive games of the year in the past two weeks. Juarez-Lincoln has also allowed just 230.5 yards per game in those two, compared to 462.3 per game in its first three district matchups.
“We gained some valuable experience early on in the year,” Garcia said. “Those kids are starting to believe in themselves.”
La Joya High has been on the opposite trajectory. After picking up back-to-back wins against McAllen High and Palmview — a feat that seemed to put the Coyotes in prime playoff position — La Joya has dropped consecutive games to Mission High and McAllen Rowe.
Even a Week 9 bye was not enough to heal the glut of injuries that have made it hard for the Coyotes to find consistency on either side of the ball.
“Same old scenario,” Espinoza said. “We’ve been plagued by injuries. We’re playing guys that aren’t playing 100 percent.”
Still, Espinoza said he’s seen a different attitude because of the looming matchup with a sister school. The playoff scenarios are secondary to beating a rival, Espinoza said.
For Juarez-Lincoln, Garcia has been stressing each of the past three weeks that the Huskies can make the playoffs with three straight wins. Two-thirds of the way to that goal, he sees a team that is excited to be playing for both a city championship and an opportunity to build a better future for the program.
“I told them it’s going to be something, especially for you seniors, that you guys are trailblazers, or trend setters,” Garcia said. “Hopefully, that will turn the program around and get more kids out for football.”