By KEVIN LEE LARA 
EDITOR
EDITOR@SBNEWSPAPER.COM
In what looked to be a great matchup, on paper, the Bobcats turned this game completely into a one-sided affair. Rio Hondo kicked off Parent’s Night in high fashion and proved to be the better team as they crushed Hidalgo, 30-0.
The near sold out Bobcat Stadium had plenty to celebrate on Friday night as Head coach Rocky James led his team to a 2-1 start as district play nears.
Rio Hondo’s rushing attack was not to be reckoned with as quarterback Daniel Flores and running back Matthew Atkinson ran for 105 and 84 yards on 35 combined carries. With Atkinson as the featured back, this unstoppable force ran all over the Hidalgo defense and gave the team great field position all night.
On its opening drive, the Bobcats got an early 7-0 lead off of a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Josue Garza, his first of two touchdown receptions. After a Hidalgo punt on its next series, running back Mathew Cuellar ran a spectacular 44-yard touchdown run, only to be negated back by an illegal block in the back.
Missed opportunities and dropped passes killed Hidalgo in this game as they looked to the air frequently. In the end, the front seven of Rio Hondo, headlined by defensive end Albert Magallanes, put pressure on the quarterback all night forcing him to scramble, which led to many tackles for loss for the Bobcats. Hidalgo quarterback Pedro Quiroz ended the night having not completed a single pass for positive gain.
In the second quarter, off of a Hidalgo fumble, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize with great field position, but luck was in their favor as Rio Hondo attempted a 34-yard field goal which was missed, only to come away with a safety after a Hidalgo defender caught the ball and was tackled in the end zone.
Just minutes later, backup quarterback Jesse Atkinson threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Santiago Mendoza. Rio Hondo used some trickery on a 4th and 1 as they lined up in wildcat formation and ended the half up 23-0.
In the fourth quarter, Flores delivered a 40-yard bomb to Garza for his second touchdown grab of the day and to secure the victory for the Bobcats, 30-0.
Flores ended the night with 143 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Rio Hondo travels to Rio Grande City on Thursday, Sept. 24 to take on the Grulla Gators (2-2) in its last non-district game of the season.
1 comment
It’s Matthew Cuellar not Mathew