SOCCER PLAYOFF TIME | Kilgore, Henderson teams both in 4A postseason
The Texas high school soccer playoffs are no longer around the corner. They’re here.
And for both girls and boys programs at Kilgore High School and at Henderson High School, it’s time to shift into an even higher gear.
Kilgore
Last year, the Kilgore High School Bulldogs made it to the University Interscholastic League State Tournament, at Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown. The Bulldogs’ goal is to return to Georgetown on April 10.
That’s the date of the Class 4A state championship games, both boys and girls.
And coach Hector Peralez and his team aren’t alone: all of the soccer teams in the state have that goal, of course.
That includes the Kilgore High girls, now coached by Daniel Garcia, who ran through district play like a hot knife through butter. Kilgore’s Lady Bulldogs are on a 14-game winning streak and have potential history in the making, as senior Phenix Rivers has her sights set on something in addition to a title: the KHS girls career scoring record.
Rivers would break it with eight more goals.
Both Kilgore teams know where their playoff runs will begin.
Kilgore’s girls and boys will both face Lufkin Hudson in the first, or bi-district, round of the UIL Class 4A, Division I playoffs, next Thursday, March 20, at the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville. The Lady ‘Dogs will face Hudson at 5:30 p.m., the Bulldogs to follow, likely around 7.
Kilgore is the home team for both games.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for students with ID, and TASCO, Texas High School Coaches Association, administrator and district passes will all be accepted.
Both Kilgore programs have long been among the best in the state, and both won the District 15-4A championships again this season – the Bulldogs have won it a decade and a half running.
Peralez, in his second season as head coach, is a former Bulldog himself, and was an assistant under former coach Tom Wait before moving into the driver’s seat. “All” Peralez and assistant coach Mason McCormack did in their first season heading the program was get Kilgore back to the state tournament, where they lost in the semifinals to Boerne, 1-0, last year. Kilgore won the state championship in 2017.
Kilgore is 18-2-1 this season and 12-1-1 in district play. The Bulldogs have won three straight games.
They’ll face a Hudson team that is 12-6-1, and comes off a 4-1 win over Crockett.
Kilgore beat Hudson, 3-0, in a first-round game last year.
Coach Garcia is in his first season as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs, but that’s not apparent by looking at numbers. Much like Peralez last season, Garcia has the Lady ‘Dogs in their best position in years to return to the state tournament.
Kilgore has won its last two games by a combined 25-0 score.
The Lady ‘Dogs are 16-3-2 as the postseason starts, after going 14-0 in district play.
The Hudson Lady Hornets are 7-7-3 overall and went 3-4-2 in district.
They also opened the playoffs last year with a win over Hudson (8-1), although Kilgore in 2024 was upset by Bullard in the second round.
Henderson
Also headed to the playoffs from 15-4A, and in the ETBlitz.com coverage area are both Henderson High School teams.
The Lady Lions (6-10-1 overall) finished fourth in district play, behind Kilgore, Spring Hill and Pine Tree, but are in the 4A playoffs. Each classification is now divided in two, like football, with the two schools from each district that have larger enrollments going to the Division I playoffs and the two smaller schools going Division II.
Henderson’s Lady Lions will meet Madisonville (21-2) next Friday at (coincidentally) Lufkin Hudson High School, a 6:30 p.m. start.
Madisonville has a 13-game winning streak coming into the matchup.
Henderson girls soccer is coached by Oscar Guevara.
Sabine’s girls almost made the playoffs, rallying from the midseason point, but just missed, finishing fifth.
Henderson’s Lions, coached by Jorge Cardenas, are also going into the playoffs, 4A Division II, after going 10-4 in district play and they are hot: the Lions have won their last four games, and also have a win over district champion Kilgore to their credit this season.
Henderson is waiting on District 16-4A to play out; it’s close. So they’re waiting on an opponent. When we determine playoff arrangements for the Lions, we’ll have it here on ETBlitz.com, likely later today.
The other two playoff spots from boys District 15-4A went to Pine Tree and Center; Sabine just missed out on a postseason spot, finishing fifth.
