Fast Start, Tough Finish: McKinney Falls One Win Short of Ranger Division Title

For much of the summer, McKinney Chupacabras FC looked like the team to beat in the Ranger Division.

The Chupacabras opened the season unbeaten through their first seven matches, winning six and spending much of the year atop the standings. However, after dropping points in four of its final five matches, McKinney’s title hopes came down to a winner-take-all regular-season finale against Texoma FC.

A 2-1 defeat ended the club’s inaugural Ranger Division campaign one victory short of a USL League Two playoff berth. The Chupacabras finished 7-3-2 with 23 points, placing third in the division.

The late-season slide proved costly. McKinney lost three of its final five matches and collected just four points during that stretch, a stark contrast to the consistency that defined the opening half of the season.

A frustrating 1-1 draw at Lubbock on June 24, despite playing more than 30 minutes against 10 men, and a 2-0 home defeat to Texoma FC on July 4 erased the cushion McKinney had built during its fast start. Those results turned the July 11 regular-season finale into a winner-take-all matchup for the Ranger Division title.

Still, McKinney showed throughout the season that it could grind out results. The Chupacabras finished 5-1 in one-goal matches and 4-2 at Ron Poe Stadium, repeatedly finding ways to win close contests before momentum shifted late in the year.

Like every USL League Two club, McKinney dealt with players arriving and departing throughout the summer. That turnover forced frequent lineup changes just as the team appeared to be hitting its stride.

“That’s the league, though. That’s what we have to deal with,” head coach Frank Yallop said.

Despite the disappointing finish, Yallop believes the Chupacabras accomplished more than their final position suggests, particularly given the constant roster turnover that accompanies a USL League Two season.

“I think with the group that we had, we did a pretty good job of finishing where we did,” Yallop said. “I think that some of the games we maybe could’ve done better, but some disjointed lineups with guys not being here and going away really hurt us.

“Everybody’s got the same thing on every team. I get all that. But it felt like right when we were getting momentum, we lost a couple of key guys. I’m not trying to make excuses, but it’d be nice to have the whole group for the whole season.”

Looking beyond the final result, Yallop viewed the club’s second season as a success despite falling one victory short of the playoffs.

“If you think about it, it was a good year all around,” Yallop said. “It was very exciting for the season to come down to the last game.”

While injuries and player departures tested McKinney’s depth throughout the summer, Yallop said the players who remained never stopped competing.

“The group we finished with, I’ll stick up for them all day long,” Yallop said. “They were wonderful. I thought that they really stuck to the task well.”

Whether Yallop returns for another season remains uncertain.

“I’ll talk to ownership and see if it’s what we both want to do. I’ve really enjoyed it. The players, fans and staff have been wonderful. I couldn’t wish for more. If there’s a chance for me to come back, I’d love to, definitely.”

The Chupacabras ultimately fell one victory short of a division title. However, after spending much of the summer in first place and pushing the race to the final night of the regular season, they established themselves as one of the Ranger Division’s leading contenders during its inaugural season.

The disappointment of July 11 will sting, but the foundation for future success is already in place.

Written by Grayson Pitts.

Edited by Elliott Stockdale.