Cigarroa Edges Roma 29-28, Clinches Playoff Berth
The Toros' first bi-district playoff trip since 2006 came on Rudy Huerta's late interception in the Laredo matchup.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Football
Cigarroa High School defeated Roma High School 29-28, a result that secured the Toros' first bi-district playoff appearance in 20 years. Former and current players gathered at Aranda Field to celebrate the win.
Why it matters
The victory returns Cigarroa to the postseason for the first time since its 2006 playoff team, a milestone for a program and community that had waited two decades. It also gives Laredo's high school football fans another playoff matchup to follow.
Cigarroa's 29-28 margin over Roma came on a late interception by Rudy Huerta, and the program's last bi-district appearance came in 2006, 20 years before this season.
The players
Cigarroa High School
A public high school in Laredo, Texas, whose Toros football team reached the bi-district playoffs for the first time in 20 years.
Roma High School
A Texas high school whose team lost to Cigarroa 29-28 in the game that decided playoff qualification.
Corpus Christi Ray High School
A high school in Corpus Christi, Texas, whose team will face Cigarroa in the next playoff round.
The details
Cigarroa needed a win over Roma to determine whether it would reach the playoffs, and Rudy Huerta's interception helped hold on to the one-point lead. Former and current players gathered at Aranda Field afterward, where Jonathan Castillo, a member of the 2006 playoff team, was among those celebrating.
Timeline
2006: Cigarroa's last bi-district playoff appearance before this season.
November 11, 2026: Cigarroa defeats Roma 29-28 and clinches its playoff berth.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: Cigarroa faces Corpus Christi Ray High School at Buccaneer Stadium, kickoff at 7 p.m.
Season Trajectory
The win ends a 20-year playoff drought that began after Cigarroa's 2006 bi-district appearance, returning the program to the postseason. Its matchup with Corpus Christi Ray will determine how far this revived season can go in the playoff bracket.
The playoff berth means Cigarroa's next game is a postseason contest, with the Thursday kickoff at Buccaneer Stadium giving local fans a set date to plan around. The result also adds a new playoff opponent to the bracket for anyone following the district.
The takeaway
Cigarroa's win shows how a single late stop can decide a playoff season, and its Thursday game against Corpus Christi Ray is the next test for a program that has waited 20 years to return.
What happens next
Cigarroa High School plays Corpus Christi Ray High School on Thursday, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Buccaneer Stadium.
Further reading
For more on the local high school game, see Laredo Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kgns.
