Up for grabs: Bobcat cornerback Rene Farias was put to the test Friday night as Rio Hondo battled rivals, the Raymondville Bearkats, and rose to the occasion on a number of memorable plays including this no-catch for the Raymondville offense as Farias stuck to his assignment like glue. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO, TX—The Bobcat varsity football players scored three times in the second quarter, including special teams and defense, to earn a 37-0 victory against the Raymondville Bearkats, last Friday at Bobcat Stadium.
The victory enabled the Bobcats (6-2 on the season) to be in first place in the District 16-3A Division I standings with a 4-1 district record. Rio Hondo is ahead of Bishop, which was defeated by San Diego, 48-10, the same night. By comparison, Rio Hondo in September, also trounced San Diego, 42-29.
The shutout against the Bearkats (2-3 district, 3-5 overall) gave the Bobcats defenders a second consecutive game in which they blanked a district opponent (beat Lyford 20-0).
Against Raymondville, the Bobcats only led by a Leo Quezada field goal after one quarter, but exploded for three touchdowns before halftime.
Following the senior kicker’s 44-yard field goal in the opening quarter, the offense got on the scoreboard courtesy of a 16-yard pass from senior quarterback Ruben Atkinson to senior wide receiver Nathaniel Sosa.
Quezada booted his second of three field goals in the game 40 seconds before halftime.
The Bobcats defense, on the ensuing Bearkats’ offensive drive, then forced a turnover seconds later with senior cornerback Rene Farias making good on a 15-yard fumble return for a score.
“Things really started rolling our way after we got a big defensive touchdown before halftime; it really shifted the momentum our way,” Rio Hondo Coach Rocky James said. “We knew we were going to get the ball (offense) to open the third quarter, and when we scored, it put the dagger into Raymondville.”
The Bobcats didn’t struggle to score in the third quarter. They needed six plays on the opening drive to find the end zone again through an Atkinson-to-Sosa pass connection for eight yards. The scoring play at the 9:03 mark was highlighted by junior Joel Medina’s second half opening kickoff return to midfield.
Rio Hondo’s defense was relentless, forcing Raymondville to punt several times in the second half. The biggest stance was with three minutes left in the third quarter. Facing a fourth and goal at their own one-yard line, the Bobcats forced a turnover on downs, paving the way for the shutout.
“We love to play defense and having plays at our own one-yard line is like a gut check for us,” Coach James said. “It was awesome for our team to have two stances in the red zone during the game.”
The Bobcats finished the scoring frenzy with a Mario Lopez run and a Quezada 28-yard field goal.
Rio Hondo on Friday hosts the Saint Gertrudis Academy Lions (1-4 district, 3-5 season). Bobcats will close the district portion of their schedule at Progreso, which enters this week with one win in the season.
Recent Comments