By ALLISON LAMBRIGHT
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO – There’s excitement in the air as the Rio Hondo Bobcat varsity football squad takes the field once again on Friday.
The Bobcats are set to face the Santa Rosa Warriors in the first game of the 2012 football season. Last year, the Bobcats won the 32-3A district title last year and are expected to compete for another championship.
The Warriors, meanwhile, went 6-4 last year and 3-2 in 2A district play.
Starting for the Bobcats this year will be Mr. Friday Night himself, Juan Puga, the senior quarterback who lit up offenses last year in the air and as a ground threat.
In a recent scrimmage against Brownsville St. Joseph, Puga reportedly threw for one touchdown and ran for a couple more. After such a performance, it’s clear that Puga may be up to his old tricks again in 2012.
According to Bobcats Head Coach Rocky James, the team is preparing to take on what appears to be a good Warriors running game.
“They’re a running team, so basically we’re going to prepare for that and force them to pass and do something they’re not as good at doing,” James said. “They’re big, they’re strong. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
On the defensive side, James is also pleased with how his team is looking.
“Defensively, I never thought we would not be good,” he said. “I did lose a couple of guys, defensive ends. They were two really good ones that were here since sophomore year. Those two guys were with us forever it seems like. So having to put in two new guys was really going to be a challenge for us this year.”
In reference to their last scrimmage against the Valley View Tigers, James added, “We’re pretty stout and tough. The secondary is really coming along. The first scrimmage we did not play extraordinarily well, but we put a lot of practice in and did better. We were pretty happy with the outcome being able to stop an offense like Valley View’s.”
Check out these Bobcats take on Santa Rosa on Friday at Bobcat Stadium in Rio Hondo. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.
To read the story in print, pick up a copy of the August 29 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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