By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The Rivera Raiders appear to be on the rise as the second round of the District 32-6A boys soccer race gets going.
The Raiders opened the second half of 32-6A action Tuesday with a come-from-behind 2-1 overtime win at Hanna.
The victory kept Rivera tied with Harlingen South for the 32-6A lead. Each team is 4-2 with 12 points.
“I think everybody knows that we don’t have the talent and we don’t have the numbers that we used to have,” Rivera coach Salvador Garcia said. “But we still have the spirit. We have that Raider spirit that we’re going to fight, play as a team and play with discipline, which we’re doing most of the time.”
It figures to be a close battle all the way to the end in 32-6A for the four playoff spots from the six-team district.
“I was saying it (before) that in the 28 years that I’ve been a (head and assistant) coach at Rivera, this is the tightest race that I’ve seen,” Garcia said. “In reality, anyone can beat anyone. That’s how tight the race is.
“I don’t know if it’s wishful thinking or what, but in the one week we had off (last week), I saw a transformation in the team,” he added. “We finally found the two guys we want in the middle (at center midfielder) that are going to help drive the team. We were ready for Hanna (in the second round).”
Those two center midfielders are Jorge “Toti” Morales and Salvador “Chava” de Leon.
The Raiders are still without injured midfielder Kevin Zarrazagas, who Garcia said would be an anchor for the team when in the lineup. He is expected back in action in March.
Rivera goes on the road to face Harlingen South next Tuesday in a possible matchup of district leaders. First, on Friday, Rivera plays host to Los Fresnos and South is at San Benito.
32-6A UPDATE
Here are the latest 32-6A boys standings: Rivera (4-2, 12 points), South (4-2, 12 points), San Benito (4-2, 11 points), Hanna (2-4, eight points), Harlingen High (2-4, six points) and Los Fresnos (2-4, five points).
Here are the most recent 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (5-1, 14 points), Harlingen South (4-2, 13 points), Harlingen High (4-2, 12 points), Hanna (3-2, nine points), Rivera (1-4, three points) and San Benito (0-6, no points).
BUS ACCIDENT
The girls game between Rivera and Hanna on Tuesday night at Hanna was postponed because the Lady Raiders’ bus was involved in a traffic accident with a car en route to the game.
It appears the accident wasn’t serious.
“Overall, we are OK,” Lady Raiders coach Eduardo Torres said Wednesday.
The game has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. March 11.
32-5A UPDATE
Here are the most recent 32-5A boys standings: Brownsville Veterans Memorial (8-1, 24 points), Valley View (8-1, 24 points), Porter (6-3, 19 points), Lopez (6-3, 17 points), Pace (5-4, 15 points), Donna High (2-7, six points), Edcouch-Elsa (1-8, three points) and Mercedes (0-9, no points).
Here are the latest 32-5A girls standings: Pace (7-2, 22 points), Porter (7-2, 18 points), Lopez (6-3, 18 points), Edcouch-Elsa (6-3, 18 points), Brownsville Veterans (5-4, 15 points), Donna High (3-6, 11 points), Mercedes (2-7, six points) and Valley View (0-9, no points).
32-4A UPDATE
Raymondville (6-2) and Port Isabel (6-1) remain tied for the District 32-4A lead with 18 points apiece, although the Bearkats suffered a 3-2 overtime loss at La Feria on Tuesday, while the Tarpons had an open date.
Port Isabel plays at home against La Feria on Friday and goes to Raymondville next Tuesday, so the race is getting pretty interesting.