A playoff rematch is a rare thing, but La Vega coach Don Hyde doesn't want a repeat performance against Argyle.
"We didn't get a first down in the fourth quarter. If we get a first down or two we might have won the game."
Hyde's pirates had two chances to ice the game in the fourth and ended up short both times.
Recently, the Pirates haven't finished short of anything. Mainly because they've outscored their opponents by a combined 126 points in the playoffs.
"We have to control the trenches. We have to do a great job blocking," explained senior lineman Jaelyn Maladdie, "It's just one of our three keys to success. So as long as we block well will be successful."
We saw what argyle can do in their five touchdown thrashing of China Spring, but coach Hyde is quick to remind folks that first match up was early.
"What you try to figure out is who has gotten better over the course of the last 11 games. Certainly they've gotten better and we've gotten better. The difference is, we had a lot more room for improvement than they had because they had a lot of older kids on the field and we had a lot of younger kids on the field. So, I think that's the biggest factor."
The players say they will be better prepared this go around.
"We're starting to click. Well, we've been clicking for some time now," said senior linebacker Jared Rogers. "Defensively we've done nothing but get better. So, confidence is through the roof."
La Vega will play Argyle Friday Dec 7 at 7 p.m. in Midlothian.
Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.
