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Friday, November 12, 1999

Refugio puts its youthful experience on the line

By George Vondracek

Caller-Times

Youth has been served the past two years for Refugio High School's Bobcats. Now, the Bobcats are looking for extra helpings.
   The young talent that was cast before the start of the 1997 season is ready to make George Harris' eighth trip to the playoffs in as many seasons as coach their most successful when the District 31-2A champions face Ben Bolt in a Class 2A Division II playoff game in Robstown.
   "Two years ago we had four freshman starting. Last year we had six sophomores starting," said Harris, 88-15-1 as the Bobcats' coach. "So this thing started taking shape several years ago. So we've got some experience now."
   Tight end-linebacker Matt McKinney, offensive linemen Artemio Hernandez and Trace Claybrook and tailback-defensive back-return specialist Alex Boyd were the freshman starters two years ago. Fullback-defensive lineman Kenneth Mumford and two-way lineman Dave Scott joined the mix as sophomores.
   Now the 9-1 Bobcats are a powerful mix of offensive explosiveness and defensive stinginess. They've outscored opponents by an average of 42-6. Refugio has six shutouts and hasn't been scored upon in the last 20 quarters.
   "We've been playing pretty good," said Harris, who has guided the Bobcats to at least the regional semifinals in five of the past eight postseason trips. "We've got good speed, good size. We're probably playing a few more kids both ways than we had been but we have some kids who've been spelling 'em. So I think we've got a little better depth."
   All of that helps Ben Bolt coach Joe A. Gonzalez realize what it will take for the 6-4 Badgers to advance to the area round against either Brackettville or Blanco.
   "A perfect ballgame. A picture-perfect ballgame," Gonzalez said. "We can't afford any mistakes, no breakdowns, no injuries, no nothing. We're going to have to play as good and much better than we have all year."
   Rogelio Gonzalez has rushed for 874 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games, and Ben Bolt has played stern defense throughout the season. But the Badgers' coach said they haven't gained the consistency on offense.
   Plus, the Badgers haven't the offensive weapons Refugio boasts. Boyd, who has returned three punts and two interceptions for scores, has 748 rushing yards and 11 TDs, and he also has 266 yards in receptions for three scores. Quarterback Zack Edwards has rushed for 710 yards and 10 scores and has thrown five TD passes. Trey Williamson has 647 yards rushing and 14 TDs. That could make for a long night for the Badgers.
   "I just know what Buster Gilbreath at Cuero used to tell me," Harris said, referring to the longtime successful high school coach. "I'd rather be lucky than good."
   A KENEDY VS. BANQUETE AT BEEVILLE: With a week off thanks to the forfeit by Santa Maria, Banquete went back to the basics while it celebrated its first unbeaten regular season and first district title in 25 years.
   "It felt kind of strange not playing," Banquete coach Butch Porter said. "I don't think it hurt us any. You can't simulate a ballgame, but we just went back and worked on some things."
   The 10-0 and 32-2A champion Bulldogs have followed the lead of senior Jason Busch, who has gained 1,096 yards and 14 scores. Junior quarterback Charlie Otahal has thrown for 295 yards and three TDs. If it is to advance to face either Dilley or Poth in the Division II area round, the Bulldogs defense must continue its consistency. With the exception of the 31-30 win over Freer, no team has scored more than 19.
   Kenedy (7-3) will counter with Jacob DeLeon, who rushed for 1,375 yards and 13 TDs in nine games. He injured an ankle Oct. 29 against Skidmore-Tynan and was held out of last week's 14-6 win at Three Rivers in the 31-2A finale. He is expected to play tonight.
   "Anytime you go into the playoffs you're going to face a good football team. They've got a good running attack. Of course the have the DeLeon kid," said Porter, whose Bulldogs are making their fourth straight postseason appearance. "We're going to have to play great defense to slow down their offense."
   A KARNES CITY VS. FREER AT FLOUR BLUFF: As if battling a round of intestinal flu the last two weeks isn't enough, the 9-1 Buckaroos are coming off a lackluster, 21-16 win over Riviera to close the 32-2A season. The Bucks already had their Division I pass punched but needed a late score from Lee Salinas - it was set up by a reception by Daniel Cantu for a first down - to seal the win.
   "Three teams in the playoffs is great," Freer coach Bob Ford said. "You shoot for that and once you get it, it's hard to motivate. It's kind of like you have the cake already. We didn't play that well against Riviera last week and I wasn't surprised. But every team goes through it."
   With its string of nine straight district titles snapped, Freer turns its attention to the Badgers, who slipped past Woodsboro, 13-12, last week for the final 31-2A playoff spot. Quarterback Bobby Radle (1,323 passing yards, 12 TDs) has successfully stepped into the role of guiding the offense and Salinas (689 rushing yards, 17 TDs) has helped bolster the running attack while Mario Gonzalez (532 yards, 11 TDs) nurses a recurring ankle sprain.
   The Bucks will be facing a 6-4 Karnes City crew that has been up and down all season. Sophomore Jason Foley, who scored his seventh TD last week on a 157-yard effort, has been the workhorse. Tonight's winner faces either San Antonio Cole or Comfort in the regional round.



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

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