Veterans clinches playoff spot
MISSION — After his team’s 31-14 win over Roma on Thursday night at Tom Landry Stadium, Mission Veterans Memorial coach David Gilpin said he thought about telling his kids to stop celebrating so much and act like they’d done what they just did. Gilpin, though, realized that he and his kids hadn’t ever clinched a playoff spot. Because, for only the second time in the school’s history, the Patriots are heading to the playoffs.
“We’re having a good time with it right now. A lot of hugs, a lot of smiles,” Gilpin said. “A lot of things I’ve talked about over the course of the season has paid off here.”
The Patriots’ win sets up a matchup with Flour Bluff, with the time and date yet to be determined. The Patriots (6-3, 4-2) will advance to the postseason along with Mission High, Mercedes and Weslaco East.
Roma falls to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in District 32-4A.
Last season, the Patriots needed to win their final game against Weslaco East to clinch a playoff berth but fell in overtime. They made sure that scenario wouldn’t play out this time, assuring themselves a winning record and, more importantly, a spot in the postseason one week before their season-ending game against the Wildcats.
In his first season after replacing Carlos Longoria as coach, Gilpin spoke often about changing the expectations at Mission Veterans. Expected to finish out of the postseason this year, Gilpin’s Patriots spent much of the season looking for what he called a “signature” win and got it by shutting out Edcouch-Elsa 12-0.
La Joya Juarez-Lincoln could still finish tied with the Patriots if the Huskies win their final two games and Mission Veterans loses their finale at Weslaco East. The Patriots, however, own the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to their 34-15 win over Juarez-Lincoln.
