By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
It figures to be an interesting finish to the regular season for Metro-area football squads, particularly those fortunate enough to be involved in the playoff picture and even in the conversation for a district championship.
After this week’s round of games, one more week remains before the playoffs start.
Normally for Metro-area teams, it all begins on Thursday with a game at Sams Memorial Stadium, but there is none this week. That means there is a full schedule of action coming up during the two following days.
District 32-6A games at 7:30 p.m. Friday will find Los Fresnos (7-1, 4-1 district) going against Brownsville Veterans Memorial (6-2, 3-2) at Sams, Lopez (1-6, 1-4) at Harlingen High (6-2, 4-1) and Harlingen South (3-4, 3-2) at San Benito (6-2, 4-1). All of those teams except Lopez remain very much in the playoff picture.
The Brownsville Veterans-Los Fresnos matchup is The Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week.
In other games Friday involving Metro-area teams, it’s Pace (1-6, 1-4) at Edcouch-Elsa (6-2, 4-1) at 7:30 p.m. for a District 32-5A contest, Port Isabel (5-2, 2-1) at home at 7:30 p.m. against Orange Grove (7-0, 3-0) in District 16-4A Division II action and St. Joseph Academy (7-1, 3-0) at San Antonio Central Catholic (6-2, 3-0) at 7 p.m. for a battle of conference unbeatens in TAPPS district play.
Weekend action continues with a doubleheader Saturday at Sams. At 1 p.m., it’s Porter (5-3, 3-2) taking on PSJA High (0-8, 0-5) in a 32-5A game, and Hanna (3-5, 14) goes against Rivera (0-8, 0-5) at 7 p.m. in 32-6A action.
At this point, there appears to be too many variables involved for any team from 32-6A to have clinched a playoff spot, although Los Fresnos, Harlingen High and San Benito, all with one district loss, can secure a trip to the postseason by winning Friday.
Brownsville Veterans and Harlingen South are tied for fourth place in 32-6A with two district losses apiece. If it comes down to a tiebreaker, the Chargers defeated the Hawks 35-28 during their district opener on Sept. 25.
“We have approached each game all year as though it was the biggest of the season,” said Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu, whose team closes out the regular season against Lopez on Nov. 6 at Sams. “That doesn’t change now. Our focus is on preparing to execute the game plan (against Los Fresnos) and correcting little things. Our mentality is to be aggressive and strive for our best game yet.”
Brownsville Veterans is trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012, when the Chargers went 9-3 and advanced two rounds. Harlingen High, San Benito and Los Fresnos all went to the postseason one year ago as quad-champs from 32-6A along with Rivera. South last reached the playoffs in 2013.
Another Metro team right there in the playoff mix is Porter in 32-5A. The Cowboys, who last reached the postseason in 2008, can clinch a playoff berth with a win Saturday against PSJA High. After playing the Bears, the Cowboys end the regular season Nov. 6 at Mercedes.
Two area teams that have clinched playoff spots are St. Joseph Academy and Port Isabel.
The Tarpons secured a spot in the Class 4A Division II playoffs with last week’s 44-18 win at home against West Oso. After playing undefeated district leader Orange Grove on Friday, the Tarpons travel to Raymondville on Nov. 6.
“If we win out (these last two games), we’ll get a share of the district title, so that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh, whose team has reached the postseason six straight years. “That’s our focus (for the rest of the regular season).”
SJA has been perhaps the most impressive team this season in the Metro area as the Bloodhounds have won seven straight games, including last Friday’s 29-26 triumph at home against traditional TAPPS district power Austin St. Michael’s. Before last Friday, the last time the Bloodhounds beat the Crusaders was 1997.
The victory clinched a playoff spot for the Bloodhounds, and now they’ll be playing for a TAPPS district title Friday at Central Catholic.
SJA coach Tino Villarreal said the Bloodhounds went from TCIL to TAPPS in 1998, and since that time his school has never won or shared a district championship in football. The Bloodhounds missed the TAPPS playoffs last season after advancing in 2013.
SJA closes out the regular season Nov. 6 at home against San Antonio Antonian.
“Last week’s win was huge for us,” Villarreal said. “A win this week would really be huge for our school. It would be history for our program.
“Our theme from the start of the season has been ‘finishing,’” he added. “We’ve been there before, but we haven’t finished the way we wanted. Now we’re at the right place and the right time (to do well).
“At this point of the season, it’s the most important time for teams to finish strong and be peaking before the playoffs.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.