In less than a week, most area football teams will take to the fields for the first official practices of the 2018 season.
And, as of today, only 30 days remain until Week 1 kicks off.
For all intents and purposes, football season is now upon us. We made it!
So, in this my final one of these such commentaries, I’d like to take a quick look at some of the sub-4A team schedules, including those of Lyford, Santa Rosa, Santa Maria and La Villa.
Just a season ago, Lyford and Santa Rosa were league foes as was Santa Maria and La Villa. However, the UIL’s most recent realignment split them all apart.
Now, Lyford is part of District 16-3A Division I while Santa Rosa is a member of 16-3A Division II. Meanwhile, Santa Maria is in District 16-2A DI while La Villa is part of 16-2A DII.
What this means, essentially, is that these four teams will have to do a lot of traveling once they get into conference play. More so than before, even.
The Bulldogs, for instance, will have to make trips this season to George West in Week 5, San Diego in Week 8 and Kingsville Academy in Week 10.
Meanwhile, the Warriors play their district away games this season at Hebbronville, Banquete and Corpus Christi London.
The two face off in their season opener on Aug. 31 at Lyford.
Last year, the Bulldogs finished 8-4 overall, won the league title with a perfect 5-0 mark and went two rounds deep in the playoffs, beating Jourdanton 44-8 in the bi-district round and then losing to Edna in area 45-7.
As for the Warriors, they limped their way to a 5-6 record, squeaked into the postseason as the fourth seed and were quickly dismissed in the first round by Goliad 49-0.
In Class 2A, Santa Maria plays four of its five league games on the road this season, including a neutral site game against perennial powerhouse Refugio, which was a state finalist last season. In addition to trips to Three Rivers, Ben Bolt and Riviera, the Coogs take on the Bobcats on Oct. 26 in a game that will be played at Riviera.
The Cougars went 5-6 last season, made the playoffs as the No. 3 seed and got hammered by Shiner 61-0 in the opening round of the playoffs.
As for La Villa, they hit the road for three district contests. They’ll be at Agua Dulce, at Benavides and at Woodsboro.
The Cardinals struggled in 2017, finishing 4-7 overall as they dropped their first five contests of the season. However, in district they rebounded nicely and finished 3-1 to earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were severely outmatched in the postseason and were routed by Yorktown 51-14 in bi-district action.
Well, folks, thanks for reading the past few weeks. Enjoy the upcoming season and let’s hope that at least one of our teams does something special.
2018 Lyford Bulldogs schedule
-Aug. 31: Santa Rosa
-Sept. 7: at Hidalgo
-Sept. 14: at Raymondville
-Sept. 21: OPEN
*Sept. 28: at George West
*Oct. 5: Falfurrias
*Oct. 12: Aransas Pass
*Oct. 19: at San Diego
*Oct. 26: Mathis
*Nov. 2: at Kingsville Academy
*Nov. 9: Bishop
*District
2018 Santa Rosa Warriors schedule
-Aug. 31: at Lyford
-Sept. 7: La Feria
-Sept. 14: at La Villa
-Sept. 21: Progreso
-Sept. 28: Odem
*Oct. 5: at Hebbronville
*Oct. 12: Monte Alto
*Oct. 19: at Banquete
*Oct. 26: Taft
*Nov. 2: at CC London
*Nov. 9: OPEN
*District
2018 Santa Maria Cougars schedule
-Aug. 30: at MMA
-Sept. 8: TBA
-Sept. 14: Premont
-Sept. 21: OPEN
-Sept. 28: at La Villa
-Oct. 5: at Progreso
*Oct. 12: at Three Rivers
*Oct. 19: at at Ben Bolt
*Oct. 26: vs Refugio at Riviera
*Nov. 1: at Riviera
*Nov. 9: Freer
*District
2018 La Villa Cardinals schedule
-Aug. 31: at Progreso
-Sept. 6: vs Three Rivers at Bishop
-Sept. 14: Santa Rosa
-Sept. 21: Monte Alto
-Sept. 28: Santa Maria
-Oct. 5: OPEN
*Oct. 12: at Agua Dulce
*Oct. 19: at Benavides
*Oct. 26: Bruni
*Nov. 2: at Woodsboro
*Nov. 9: Premont
*District
