Jesus Ramirez uses a bicycle kick to block a pass earlier this season. The Rebels begin the playoff season Friday at Manor beginning at 8 p.m. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
If you think the Hays High boys soccer team might be due for a letdown after two weeks off heading into the playoffs, all you need to do is look at the back of their T-shirts.
The shirts have the motto, “Who’s next?” on them, which seems appropriate for a squad that went 21-1-1 in the regular season, including 12-0 in district play.
Hays’ only loss was to Georgetown, a Class 5A team ranked in the top 30 in the nation.
The Rebels play at Manor in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs Friday night, beginning at 6 p.m.
“The shirts mean we know we’re prepared going into every game,” said Hays senior Jared Herselman. “It sends a positive message that we are excited for what the playoffs have in store.”
Hays head coach Jason Burnett said he sees no signs that his team is slowing down.
“I think some teams over the course of a season that dates back to November get tired or start settling for something less than their best,” Burnett said. “I told them last week that the team that’s going to win state is out on the practice field before their coaches get there. We had a practice scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday morning. I got there at 7:45 a.m. and by the time I got on the field our team had already warmed up and were into an 8-on-8 drill. So I definitely would say this team is still motivated.”
Burnett said he actually thinks the long break between games will help the Rebels.
“I think the break rejuvenated them,” he said. “And I believe we’re going to do very well in the postseason.”
Burnett said he believes Hays has a solid chance to not only advance past the regional quarterfinals, a feat no other Rebel team has accomplished, but to win state.
Hays High hasn’t had a state champion in a team sport since opening in 1968.
“I’ve been watching Class 4A and Class 5A soccer for a long time, and I’m not sure if anyone in Class 4A can play with them,” Burnett said. “The back of our T-shirts, that’s our mentality.”
If Hays wins Friday night the team will play the winner of the Travis-Vista Ridge in the area round of the playoffs on Tuesday at a site to be determined.
