LYFORD — In the last 20 years, the Lyford Bulldogs have failed to make the playoffs only three times. The last time was 2013.
After a third-place 7-4 finish in District 16-3A D1 in 2021, second-year coach Gerry Jauregui returns 14 starters, including breakout quarterback Osmar Martinez.
The Lyford Bulldogs are RGVSports.com’s No. 2 sub-5A team in the Rio Grande Valley.
“That bar is always pretty high over here,” Jauregui said. “When I came back and became the head coach here, the first thing I told the boys was, ‘Hey, that bar that has been set here in the past, we are not going to go ahead and lower it, if anything we are going to keep raising it every year.’”
That expectation is to win district, to put the team in the best position to make a long playoff run Jauregui said.
Osmar Martinez returns after throwing for more than 1,000 yards, rushing for 1,200 yards and tallying a 21 combined touchdowns.
“Excited. New district. We have a better chance for the playoffs,” Osmar Martinez said. “Our guys look good, the lineman are working, we have a lot of speed and we are just working every day.”
One of the linemen expected to be a big presence on both sides of the ball is senior Carlos Martinez.
“I feel like we are ready and can take anything that is thrown against us,” he said. “We want to make a big ol’ run in the playoffs. Here, that has always been the standard.”
Lyford will travel to Port Isabel to kick off the season Thursday in a matchup the pits two of the best sub-5A teams in the Valley against each other.
“I think it is going to be a good measuring stick for us,” Juaregui said. “Port Isabel has a lot of tradition over there. They had a good playoff run last year and I really do feel like it will be a good measuring stick for us to see where we are at this year.”