By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Rio Grande Valley schools and coaches gathered Thursday at the Harlingen CISD Aquatic Center for the unveiling of the 2022-2024 UIL realignment.
Football was on everybody’s mind in February as teams looked to solidify their non-district schedules.
It was anticipated that Harlingen South would be moving down to Class 5A, and they did. The Hawks landed in District 16-5A Division I. The Hawks were matched with Brownsville Lopez, Brownsville Pace, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Donna High, Donna North and Weslaco East.
“We think it was the best thing that could happen for us. Our numbers have been low,” Hawks coach Israel Gonzalez said. “We like where we landed. It is an ultra-competitive district. Getting in the playoffs will be a fight.”
There will still be a Bird Bowl, though. South and Harlingen High will meet Week 1 to kick off the season.
“We are going to have a great football game to start off the season,” Gonzalez said. “We are excited about that for sure.”
Said Cardinals coach Manny Gomez, “It is going to be a great game to start off the season for our community, for our kids and for football.”
“It is an awesome schedule,” he added. “Every team we play is a district champion or playoff contender, so it should be a nice and aggressive non-district schedule.”
Harlingen High will compete in a less crowded District 32-6A with San Benito, Brownsville Hanna, Brownsville Rivera, Los Fresnos and Weslaco High.
The Cardinals will play Edinburg High, Mission Veterans Memorial, Laredo United and Laredo United South in non-district.
San Benito opens its non-district schedule with Brownsville Veterans Memorial, then faces PSJA Memorial, Mission Veterans and Edinburg High.
“Well, it is always tough to look for five opponents when you are in a six-team district,” San Benito coach Dan Gomez said. “Things worked out, and we were able to get some games in the Valley.”
In District 16-4A Division I, the defending district champions, the La Feria Lions, welcome Alice, Corpus Christi Calallen and Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway into a group that retains Hidalgo, Kingsville King and Zapata.
Raymondville remains in District 16-4A Division II. The Bearkats will play in a considerably smaller district than last season. Port Isabel, Grulla and Bishop make up the district.
Rio Hondo was in 16-4A Division II last season but will drop to 16-3A Division I. Rio Hondo is joined by Lyford, Falfurrias, Progreso, San Diego and Santa Gertrudis Academy.
Santa Rosa is in District 16-3A Division II with Banquete, George West, Hebbronville, Monte Alto, Odem and Taft.
In District 16-2A Division I, Santa Maria is joined by Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco, Freer, La Villa, Premont and Riviera Kaufer.