By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Lopez are looking for a victory in the District 32-6A season finale, albeit for different reasons. The Chargers need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and the Lobos are seeking their first win of the season.
Neither team is focusing on the big picture. The focus is squarely about the opponent, for the moment anyway.
“The good thing is that it’s a short week, so we have no choice but to be focused on Lopez,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said. “We talked about the Rivera-San Benito game briefly and then moved on. We need to take care of our own business first.
“I’m glad we play (tonight). We have no choice but to watch our own scoreboard, no one else’s.”
Lopez coach Jason Starkey said his team’s preparation was only different due to the schedule.
“It’s different because it’s (tonight) and because it’s the last game of the season,” he said. “We haven’t let the win-loss record define who we are (as a team). It doesn’t determine how we prepare or how we perform,those two things are something we have control over.”
Cantu said his team feels a high sense of urgency regarding the game in terms of a possible postseason berth. But he knows the Lobos want nothing more than to spoil that chance.
“Coach Starkey always does a good job of having his players fired up. They play hard for him,” Cantu said. “There’s no doubt in the game of football, a couple breaks here and there and it could be anybody’s game.”
The Lobos’ coach knows his team is facing a good test against the Chargers on both sides of the ball.
“Our kids are excited to face (Brownsville) Veterans,” Starkey said. “They’ve fallen on hard times, but they’re still a very good football team. We expect a really physical game.”
Brownsville Veterans will be without Carlos Garza, who hurt his ankle against Los Fresnos, but Marcus Castillo has improved and is ready to go against the Lobos.
Whether the Chargers play next week is yet to be determined, but the Lobos know tonight’s game ends the season.
Starkey was upbeat about the future of the program.
“Winning in general is a culmination of doing things the right way. I think our coaches and our kids have prepared the right way all year long, and ultimately getting a W is icing on the cake,” he said. “There’s only one direction for this program to go. We’ll start our offseason on Monday.”
Starkey is looking toward next season, but he is hoping to end this season on a high note.
“Our young kids are excited about the future, but we’re trying to send these seniors out with a win,” he said. “When any two Brownsville schools play, anything can happen.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.