SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Central Bobcats soccer team enters next week's bi-district round after finishing in second place in their district and just one win away from raising a gold ball.
Yet, even with accomplishments like those that have not been reached in their program in over a decade, the Bobcats are fighting for even more.
The team lost a beloved teammate, Jake Carrillo, earlier this month. His death shook the team to its core, and through that pain, they found a new purpose.
"It makes me feel really great actually, just being there for him and for his family. We showed up there for him and for his family whenever times are hard and just being there in the playoffs means a lot for us just representing him and what he has done for us," Goalkeeper David Quiros-Pena said.
Quiros-Pena is one of the leaders of this Bobcats squad, along with Jacob Castro. Castro said through this time of tribulation, he and his teammates are prepared to make history, in Carrillo's honor.
"We are focused on history for this whole program. I mean we have been looking for this (to make history) for the past four years, since I have been here," Castro said.
The team has a shot to do just that should they win next Tuesday against El Paso Montwood. With a victory, it will be Central's first playoff victory in Soccer in over a decade.