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Friday, December 3, 1999

Diversity Bobcats' biggest weapon in playoff run
Semifinal opponent Mason concerned with Refugio's multitude of weapons
By George Vondracek
Caller-Times

The surprise isn't in the fact Refugio High School remains alive in the Class 2A playoffs, nor is it the fact that quality athletes grow like mesquite in the town of 3,100.
   The surprise will be when - or if - the Bobcats have a bad game.
   "I thought we'd be this far. I really did," eighth-year Refugio coach George Harris said. "I knew we'd have a good team if we came together. How far we could go, it's just week by week. At this time of year, you just can't have a bad game."
   That hasn't happened in months. As the 12-1 Bobcats prepare for tonight's Region IV-2A Division II final against Mason (12-1), they proved last week against Ganado how much variety they have in the offensive backfield - and how difficult they are to defend.
   With leading rusher Trey Williamson bottled up, Refugio turned to its other offensive weapons - quarterback Zack Edwards, slotback Alex Boyd and a deep stable of reserves - as well as its defense. As fullback Williamson joined Refugio's front six as blockers, Edwards ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns. Boyd added 66 yards rushing and a TD, two other reserves ran for scores, Stephen Meza recovered a fumble for a TD and Anthony Guerra kicked two field goals.
   All told, Refugio never punted, amassed 348 yards - all on the ground - and the defense limited Ganado to 106 yards in a 54-7 rout at Victoria's Memorial Stadium.
   "We blocked the best we've blocked, we faked the best we've faked. Our line came off the ball well. Trey came out and blocked well," Harris said. "They basically took him out of the game so he came up and made some great blocks."
   Variety prevails
   The multifaceted offense is a concern for Mason coach Joey McQueen, who said it is difficult to concentrate on one Refugio player.
   "I could pick about 25 of 'em," McQueen said. "If I had to pick one, their quarterback, Zack Edwards, is outstanding. Their fullback, Trey Williamson, is outstanding. They're all-around good. We're just hoping we can hit 'em and make 'em stop where they're at."
   Ganado neutralized Williamson, who slipped to third on Refugio's rushing chart at 943 yards behind Edwards (1,066) and Boyd (962) after gaining 17 yards. But the Indians had no answer for the other Bobcats.
   "It's fine, because if one play isn't working, we can go to another," Edwards said. "If we fake well and block well, we can always go to another play. Having Trey and Alex there has worked out fine. They know the offense."
   Harris smiles when he recalls the blocking and the play fakes in the game against Ganado, which beat Refugio, 6-0, in 1996.
   "We were running the middle-line option and those guys were diving for Trey and Zack would pull it out," Harris said. "There wasn't anybody around."
   Quick opponents
   McQueen's Punchers haven't exactly lucked their way to the regional final. Picked fifth in the preseason District 25-2A poll, they have held nine opponents to nine points or fewer, including last week's 48-7 thumping of Poth. Mason, too, has a little offensive diversity. Quarterback Jason McMillan has rushed for 721 yards and thrown for 1,041. Halfbacks Cody Schuessler and Cade Smith have 702 and 660 rushing yards, respectively, and fullback Matt Schmidt has added 641 rushing yards.
   McMillan and Smith also are the defending state tennis doubles champions.
   "We have no speed at all. It's like five-, six-yard chunks at a time," said McQueen, in his seventh season as Mason's coach. "We kind of have a rule here. If you break one for 30 yards, we just put the ball down 'cause they're gonna catch us."
   Harris, however, isn't unimpressed with the Punchers, who haven't allowed more than one score since Goldthwaite earned a 13-9 win in the third district game. Last week, Poth managed only 169 yards of offense. The Punchers' defense played well enough to allow the offense to run 63 plays, about what Mason has averaged per game since the loss to Goldthwaite.
   "They play dang-good defense," Harris said. "They're quick and the run a defense we really haven't run against. They design some things where you have to be careful with your blocking scheme."
   Strong defense
   Of course, Refugio's defense has been solid all season. Only three offensive touchdowns have been scored on the Bobcats in the last 40 quarters, and they shut out the five other District 31-2A teams en route to their sixth straight district championship. They have forced 37 turnovers this season, seven of which were converted into touchdowns. Conversely, Mason has forced 29 turnovers.
   "Refugio is by far the best team we've played all year," McQueen said. "We're hoping they're saying that we're the best team they've seen, too, but they're probably laughing at us after looking at our films."
   That isn't quite the case, however. The Bobcats still are stinging about last year's loss to Poth in the area round and losses to Rogers and Ganado the previous two years in the regional round.
   "This junior class and senior class grew up together," Boyd said. "We've always talked about going to state. I think we have a chance."



Staff writer George Vondracek can be reached at 886-3731 or by e-mail at vondracekg@caller.com

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