LA VERNIA, Texas – La Vernia will host Navarro on Friday night at Bear Stadium in a Week 4 matchup featuring two programs looking for a full four-quarter test before the season moves deeper into the fall.
The Bears enter the game at 2-1 and are looking to extend their four-game non-district winning streak in the series against Navarro. La Vernia is also using the matchup as its final tune-up before opening District 14-4A Division I play next week.
Weather has been a factor early in the season, with storms disrupting parts of the first three weeks. La Vernia is hoping Friday brings a complete game before district competition begins.
“I think it’s made us wanna push harder,” said La Vernia senior receiver Wyatt Frank. ”Since we haven’t finished these games, it’s made us wanna finish the game off and get the win.”
“I feel like the lightning delays don’t really affect us,” said Bears senior defensive lineman and outside linebacker Colton Awbrey. “We spend a lot of time together. We still get game time together. I feel like we trust each other a lot, and I feel like it’s going to take us far.”
Navarro enters the matchup at 2-0, but the Panthers are also still looking to play a full 48 minutes. The program has had its own frustrating start because of interruptions and is hoping Week 4 provides a clearer measure of where it stands.
“Last week was just awkward, the game got delayed, and then we played a quarter and then we kind of all sat around for an hour and a half or two hours, and it’s just frustrating,” said Navarro football head coach Glenn Hill. “You put all that work into playing a game and don’t get to finish it, but we’re on the next thing.”
“Kids came in the next morning, we watched the film that we did have, we lifted, we ran and now we’re on to La Vernia,” Hill continued.
It is also a significant season for Navarro as the Panthers continue to grow as a program. They have changed districts and are now facing more San Antonio-area schools. The Panthers are also nearing the debut of their new stadium.
“It just shows how much we’ve grown here, going from a really small Class 4A, and we’re starting to grow in numbers by a lot,” said Navarro senior center and defensive end Tyler Riske. “It just shows the growth that we’ve had.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday at Bear Stadium. The KSAT 12 Sports team will have extended coverage of the ball game on the Nightbeat and on the BGC Highlights Show.
Read more reporting and watch highlights and full games on the Big Game Coverage page.
