District 32-3A balloons to eight teams

EDINBURG - The University Interscholastic League opted to rejoin Raymondville and Lyford on Friday with the rest of the Rio Grande Valley’s Class 3A programs.

District 32-3A with the Willacy County schools, Rio Hondo, Port Isabel, Hidalgo, La Feria and Progreso has a similar look to what it was two years ago. The only difference is the addition of Zapata, which played the last two years with Raymondville and Lyford in District 31-3A, to form an eight-team league.

The three additions to District 32-3A only adds to an already tough league. Every team in district had at least a .500 record in 2007 and six of the eight schools were in the playoffs last season.

The three former District 31-3A teams all made the postseason in 2007. Making matters more difficult is that Class 3A calls for only three playoff teams.

“The district is going to be a lot tougher,” Bobcats coach Gus Cavazos said. “We have six playoff teams in this district. I know everyone talks about how 32-3A beat 31-3A last year. But that was last year and anything can happen next year.”

Two years ago Valley Class 3A schools scrambled to fill the non-district portion of their schedules when the UIL split Raymondville and Lyford from the rest of the Valley Class 3A squads, resulting in two five-team districts.

“(The larger district) is better for scheduling purposes,” Pirates coach Jorge Pena said. “(Class) 4A schools don’t really want to play us because they have everything to lose. The 5A schools are too big so it was hard to find games.”

This year Class 3A avoided a scheduling headache, having to only fill at most three non-district games.

“I love it,” Progreso coach Elvis Hernandez said. “Last time we had to really work hard to find teams. I already had non-district games scheduled so it was nice to know our schedule was basically complete once we realized we had eight teams.”

Raymondville and Lyford had to worry about travel costs the last two seasons with league trips to San Diego, Falfurrias and Zapata.

“I know administrators will like it,” Bearkats coach Alex Leal said. “It will keep our travel costs down, especially for our sub-varsity teams. We don’t have to travel as far anymore.

“I know (the administrators) will like the fact that the kids won’t miss as much school.”

Lyford coach Jamie Infante did not attend realignment at the Region 1 Center in Edinburg, traveling to Corpus Christi because of the possibility that the Bulldogs might be bumped down to Class 2A.

“This is good for Lyford and Raymondville because I know that traveling was a burden for those guys,” Pena said.

The only movement among sub-3A teams was Santa Maria — albeit briefly. Santa Maria originally was listed in District 32-2A at realignment, although the UIL later said it was a mistake. The Cougars found out about the mistake later in the day and will wind up back in District 32-A.

Peter Rasmussen covers Class 3A football for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956)683-4448.