Realignment delivered a major hit to the Valley’s two Class 6A districts heading into the 2022-23 season. The reshuffling dropped the area’s 6A teams from 17 to just 12.
In boys soccer, the newly formed six-team districts opened the door for new playoff contenders to emerge, with RGV powers La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and Donna North, among other teams, dropping to the Class 5A level.
Three teams took advantage of the opportunity, with Edinburg Economedes, Harlingen High and La Joya High all making a return to the postseason after missing out last season.
“Realignment was big. It became a little bit more urgent to win those district games because we didn’t have as many,” Edinburg Economedes head coach Juan Rodriguez said. “If you lose one or two here or there, it could cost you more than when you had those extra four games. The kids saw that urgency and they responded well.”
Edinburg Economedes made the biggest improvement of any playoff team this season, jumping from seventh place last season to District 31-6A champions this year.
Led by first-year head coach Juan Rodriguez, the Jaguars doubled their district win total from last year, finishing 6-2-2 to edge city rival Edinburg North for the crown.
“My seniors haven’t experienced the playoffs yet,” Rodriguez said. “This being my first year, I came in with my three assistants and asked the team what would be their goal. They pretty much said they wanted to win, and the goal became to turn the program around and make the playoffs. Anything else that came with it was more than welcome. We had some tough games throughout the season but we were able to fight through that and finish in first, which is a lot more than our original goal. Once we started winning, though, it became expected. Things went from making the playoffs to why not us as district champs?”
Economedes’ first-place finish set up a matchup against another team making its playoff return, the Harlingen High Cardinals.
Led by second-year head coach Joey Johnson, the Cardinals are marching into the postseason for the first time since 2018 and just the fifth time since 2000. Harlingen High recorded a 5-3-2 district record, picking up wins over Los Fresnos and Brownsville Hanna along the way.
The Cardinals are set to host the Jaguars at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Cardinal Stadium in Harlingen. The two teams faced off during their non-district slate, playing to a 1-1 draw.
“Mentally, playing against a team we’ve played before is huge,” Johnson said. “There is no looking at MaxPreps for who they played that we played and trying to do the math. It is pretty straightforward. We played them hard here at home then for 80 minutes. We’ve gotten better since then, and I am more than positive they have also. It should be another great, physical and fast-paced game between two teams hungry for a playoff win.”
La Joya High was on the cusp of a playoff berth last season, finishing fifth behind Mission High by one point. The Coyotes got their revenge this year, defeating the Eagles 3-1 during their regular-season finale to secure a playoff spot and keep Mission High out.
The Coyotes finished third in District 31-6A with a 3-2-5 mark. They’ll host District 32-6A runner-up Los Fresnos during the Class 6A bi-district round at 7 p.m. tonight.
“There is excitement in the locker room, but I’m not going to say we feel fulfilled,” La Joya High head coach Alexandro Davila said. “We feel like we could have and should have been better. We’re still excited about it, though, after missing it last year by a point or two. It brings back memories of the pre-COVID times, when it felt like playoffs were a given for us. Getting to the playoffs is something we’ve felt we’ve always had the team to do it. The boys are ready to go.”
While three teams are set to make their playoff return, the other five have been consistent in postseason appearances.
Brownsville Hanna, Brownsville Rivera, Edinburg High, Edinburg North and La Joya High have a combined 18 playoff appearances during the past five years, with the 2019 and 2021 seasons the only years all five haven’t qualified. This year is no different, with all returning for another run at the state championship.
All the area’s 6A teams take the field tonight. For the full schedule, visit RGVSports.com.
