Refugio’s Jarvis Edwards is a threat running or passing the ball.
Most high school football coaches downplay the success of their
team at any chance.
When tradition is involved, as such is the case at Refugio, success
is sometimes just too hard to ignore.
The Bobcats enter the 2002 season with a streak of 48 consecutive
victories in District 31-2A since 1993, a Class 2A state record. Refugio's run
has led to eight straight district championships, and the team isn't quite ready
to let go.
"If we can keep the streak going it means we're still winning the
district," said second-year Refugio coach Rick Keese, who in his first season
guided Refugio to its 23rd playoff appearance in the last 24 years.
"That's pretty important to us, and even more important to the kids,"
Keese said. "Eventually the streak is going to end, and it's pretty hard to get
another one going. We'd like to keep it going, and these kids sure don't want
to be the ones to let it end."
Some thought that it might happen last season with a new head coach
and the loss of four four-year starters and three three-year starters. But yet
again, Refugio survived district play unblemished and cruised through the playoffs
until losing to Ganado, 7-0, in the Division II Region IV championship.
This season, the Bobcats return 11 total starters (two more than
last year), but some still see them as vulnerable.
"Refugio stands alone. Their tradition goes a long way," said Graig
Hesseltine, head coach at Skidmore-Tynan, new to the district after moving from
32-2A. "We played them in 7-on-7 and our kids proved they were just as talented
and athletic. We even beat them once, so who knows?"
Hesseltine definitely has Nov. 8 circled on his calendar - the night
Refugio travels to Skidmore in the last week of district play.
"I'll go out on a limb and say the last ballgame could be for the
district championship," Hesseltine said.
Yorktown coach Rusty Buzzard's thinking on Refugio hasn't changed.
"Obviously, Refugio is the team to beat. They always are," Buzzard
said. "They have the tradition and excellent athletes. A down year for them is
not rebuilding, just reloading."
Reloading has meant replacing last season's 31-2A MVP, Ray King,
but the Bobcats also return several players capable of leading the offense.
Of the six offensive starters back, the most notable is quarterback
Jarvis Edwards, who last year led the area with 1,346 total yards in the regular
season. Some coaches said it really doesn't matter who is on the field.
"There's no approach you can take when you play Refugio," said Oscar
Muniz, in his first year at Kenedy after leaving Class A Agua Dulce. "All you
can do is just go out and play the best you can. We'll do what we do the best
and hopefully it'll be enough."
What Keese is most concerned with is the work involved in preparing
for three district teams with new coaches, as well as move-in S-T.
Scott Milkowart is now at Bloomington, Tom Warlick at Karnes City
and Muniz at Kenedy. Refugio last played S-T in the 2000 playoffs, and though
Refugio eliminated S-T, 58-0, in the bi-district round, "we really don't know
what to expect," Keese said.
"In the past we knew what teams were running offensively and defensively,"
Keese said.
To ease his worries, all Keese did was look at his opponents' non-district
schedule.
"When we come into district, we know where our strengths and weaknesses
are," Keese said. "They don't play the people we play. We're tested for seven
weeks in a row before district, and they're not as prepared."
For the last 48 games, it hasn't been any different.
