By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
They just want to play.
Having the soccer season reach the postseason stage around the state, boys and girls teams would like the playoff berths they’ve earned to be tested on the field so they can prove their worth there.
But a state of limbo exists because the University Interscholastic League has halted competition in all sports and even banned team practices until at least May 4, and possibly longer, over heightened concerns regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus.
On Thursday, the UIL revised its ban on all school activities, including sports, and even athletic practices from April 14 to May 4.
The Los Fresnos Falcons, who won their first boys soccer title in school history at any classification this season, are hoping they get a chance to play in the postseason, especially since they missed the playoffs one year ago.
The Falcons took first place in District 32-6A with an 8-2 record and 24 points.
What is happening now regarding the stoppage of play and even practice as mandated by the UIL is a unique situation, Los Fresnos boys soccer coach Michael Miller said.
“As a coach, I don’t believe anyone has experienced anything quite like this (disruption of the season) before, but all the teams are in the same position,” Miller said. “I know all of the teams that have qualified for the playoffs are just hoping for the opportunity to compete and give the seniors closure on their careers.
“We have not had a team meeting since the Friday before Spring Break (started on March 13),” Miller added. “I informed my players before we dismissed to be smart over the break as to where they went and what they did. Otherwise, we are all just waiting, seeing (what’s happening) and hoping for the best.”
A NOTABLE FEAT
The Brownsville Rivera boys are back in the playoffs for the 28th time in 29 seasons as the fourth-place seed from 32-6A in 2020. The only time during that span they missed out on the postseason was 2009.
In light of the UIL’s latest announcement Thursday, Rivera boys soccer coach Salvador Garcia isn’t too optimistic the soccer season will continue.
“When we practiced for a bit March 13, I was honest with the players and told them my feelings about the whole situation with the UIL rulings and the guidelines about practices and games,” Garcia said. “The way I see it, it is all over for the spring sports. The UIL has moved everything back (to possibly May 4 now), and we know for a fact that things are not going to get better in two weeks (or so).
“The UIL’s priority, just like all school districts, is the well-being of the student/athlete, so why take a chance on an uncertain situation, and why start something like the playoffs that we are not going to be able to finish?” Garcia added. “I honestly feel that the best thing to do is shoot down the (spring sports) seasons. Since nobody was ready for a situation like this, we are all concerned with the uncertainty surrounding the remainder of the school year. It seems to me that all the planning at this point is in that direction (to end sports activities for the school year).
“All we can do at this point is pray and be patient. But as far as the athletic aspect for this school year, (I believe) it is all over.”
32-6A BOYS PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
If the soccer playoffs actually are played, four 32-6A teams would go against District 31-6A squads in bi-district.
For the boys, the matchups likely would be Los Fresnos vs. Weslaco East, Brownsville Hanna vs. Edinburg High, San Benito vs. Edinburg Economedes and Rivera vs. Donna North.
32-5A BOYS PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
For District 32-5A boys, the bi-district playoff matchups likely would be Brownsville Veterans Memorial vs. La Joya Palmview, Valley View vs. PSJA Southwest, Brownsville Porter vs. PSJA Memorial and Brownsville Lopez vs. Sharyland High.
Actually, Brownsville Veterans’ final 32-5A regular-season game at home against Edcouch-Elsa is still pending and possibly could be played sometime around May 4.
As part of a pending doubleheader, the Brownsville Veterans-E-E girls match would decide a vacant fourth-place playoff spot in the 32-5A girls race that would go to E-E or Brownsville Pace.
The outcome of the boys match would not change anything because Brownsville Veterans already has clinched the outright 32-5A boys title with a 12-1 record and 36 points. E-E already has been eliminated from making the playoffs.
32-4A BOYS QUALIFIERS
If they get to play, the four boys teams that are playoff qualifiers from District 32-4A are Brownsville Jubilee, Brownsville IDEA Frontier, Rio Hondo and La Feria.
Jubilee was the 32-4A champion.
Originally, the soccer playoffs for all boys and girls teams in all classes were scheduled to start March 30. That original date was moved back to April 14 and now to May 4 by the UIL.