Spring Break is a week that all students and teachers look forward to each year when the calendar turns over to Jan. 1.
It couldn’t have come at a less opportune time for the Permian boys soccer team.
The Panthers were on a roll heading into the down time, winning three straight games to finish second in District 2-6A.
That included a 2-1 victory against previously undefeated Midland High on the final day of the regular season, a result that resulted in Permian earning a home game to open the 2023 Class 6A playoffs.
The Panthers will host El Paso Pebble Hills at 5 p.m. Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.
Carmona has a bit of concern about how his squad will start the contest.
“One of the good things was we came out pretty banged up against Midland High,” Carmona said during Tuesday’s practice. “Kind of a double-edged sword at that moment.
“But we’ll see if we can pick up where we left off at the end of district. The best thing is that we have a home game and we haven’t had that, on the boys side, for a long time.”
Permian and the Spartans both come into the contest with 15-7-2 records.
Johnny Cuellar is the offensive catalyst for the Panthers, often times drawing defenders close and then using his speed to get past them and create scoring opportunities.
He is one of three captains, joined by Jayden Rubio and Aiden Rodriguez.
That trio has been coaches on the pitch for Carmona.
“They have made my life so much easier,” he said. “They get the guys together and have done a great job of getting players in the right spot during the game and making the adjustments.
The Panthers are going to be challenged by the Spartans and playmaker Dylan Martinez, a midfielder that, like Cuellar, is capable of creating his own chances in the blink of an eye.
Carmona knows his squad needs to be ready from the first whistle.
“El Paso Pebble Hills has a very solid midfield and a lot of their offense goes through him (Martinez),” he said. ‘They move the ball well and they are solid defensively.
“I think whoever wins the midfield and makes the pace for the game is going to come out victorious.”
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