GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
GEORGETOWN — During the five-minute break between the end of regulation and the start of overtime, Progreso senior Cristian Chavez told his teammates about a hole he saw in the Argyle defense.
“I told them, ‘If you’re going to dribble the ball to the corner, try to send it to the middle, or send it back to a midfielder or defender,’” Chavez said. “’Somebody is going to be open.’”
For Progreso, that somebody was Chavez. At 2:01 of the first overtime period, the midfielder blasted in the game-winning goal from about 30 yards out, lifting Progreso to a 3-2 win against Argyle in a Class 4A state semifinal on Wednesday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
Chavez said he could feel that the ball was going in as soon as it left his foot.
“It was very emotional,” Chavez said. “When I saw that ball going in, I wanted to cry.”
The victory advances Progreso to the state final, where it will face Palestine at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Georgetown. Palestine advanced to the state final by beating Kilgore 1-0 in penalty kicks on Wednesday.
The Red Ants now have a school record 22 wins, advancing to the regional semifinals, regional finals, state semifinals and state finals for the first time in program history.
“Since the beginning of the season, we knew the type of team we had,” Progreso coach Margarito Jimenez said. “We always set our goals high, and it was to come to state. It became a reality last Saturday. Now we’re going for the bigger goal, which is to win it all.”
Jimenez has said throughout the year that Chavez has the hardest kick in the Valley. Also Progreso’s football kicker, Chavez said he’s been focused on developing a stronger shot since his eighth-grade year.
This season, he remembers scoring from as far as 45 yards out during a district match against La Feria.
“I had faith that he could score at any minute,” Jimenez said. “If he gets a clear shot, more than likely it’s going to go in.”
Progreso captain Rogelio Zamora said he knew the third goal was going to be the winner. The Red Ants continued to control play during the final 18 minutes, allowing just two Eagles shots, even as Argyle brought its goalie all the way into the attacking box to try to apply extra pressure. Throughout the night, Argyle’s offense was based on sending long passes to its taller forwards.
“We prepared for that,” Jimenez said. “We knew what was coming. … Our boys are bigger than you see them. They are bigger because they have the heart of a lion.”
Although Jimenez felt his team opened the game with some nerves, Progreso found the back of the net first.
During the eighth minute, Zamora volleyed in a corner kick from Fabrizzio Gonzalez.
“I’m not good at heading, so I just waited for the ball, I got my chance, and I got it,” Zamora said.
Argyle needed less than four minutes to take over the lead. Dylan Sadler scored twice, first on a deflected free kick from 25 yards out with 30:37 to play in the half and then again on a header with 29:05 remaining.
For the second game in a row, Progreso was facing a first-half deficit.
“We felt frustrated, but not for too much,” Zamora said. “We know how to control the game, and that’s what we do.”
Zamora didn’t need long to answer with a second goal of his own, volleying the ball out of the air and into the right half of the net from about 25 yards out during the 16th minute. Zamora said he wasn’t sure he could score from that range but felt he had no other choice than to try.
“They always tell us if we have a chance, take it,” Zamora said. “And I took it. I helped the team a lot. I’m really happy.”
Both teams had eight shots in the first half, while Argyle had four corner kicks to Progreso’s three.
Although the second half finished without a score, Progreso seemed to take control of the game, tallying nine shots in the period to Argyle’s four. The Red Ants also earned four corner kicks in the second half compared to two for Argyle.
That pressure paid off with Chavez’s goal early in overtime.
“This means a lot to us,” Chavez said. “We made history. For Progreso, this is the first team going to state and making it to the final. We’re very proud of the team.”