Game of the week — In the battle of two undefeated teams, the Raymondville Bearkats secured a convincing victory over the Rio Hondo Bobcats, who had been on a winning streak, having tallied impressive wins over their rivals throughout the season. The ’Cats, however, hit a wall against their district rivals, falling 48-21. (Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RAYMONDVILLE, TX—The Rio Hondo Bobcats lost their first game of the season and essentially lost their right to claim an outright District 32-3A title when they lost to the Raymondville Bearkats last Friday, 48-21.
The Bobcats are already qualified for the postseason. Still, a win over the district’s other undefeated team would have been a great way for the Bobcats to finish the regular season undefeated.
Instead, Rio Hondo (7-1 overall) goes into its bye week with a 4-1 district record, tied with the Bishop Badgers.
Raymondville (5-0 district, 8-0 season) is atop the district standings, but will tangle at Bishop (4-4 season) this Friday.
Rio Hondo’s district finale will be at home against the Progreso Red Ants (0-5, 1-7) on Friday, Nov. 7.
Against Raymondville, the Bobcats had their troubles containing their foe from the beginning.
The Bearkats’ no-huddle offense was unstoppable with a balanced running and passing attack. They scored on their first two drives, taking a 14-0 lead by the time the first-quarter game clock showed 5:14.
Rio Hondo got within a touchdown score twice in the first half.
The Bobcats closed the gap before the first quarter ended on a Mario Lopez run and an Albert Villalovos point after attempt, trailing 14-7.
Then with 7:05 remaining in the second quarter, Rio Hondo’s Sebastian Gonzalez picked up an offensive fumble near the end zone and trotted in for a TD. Villalovos’ PAT gave the Bobcats a 21-14 score to work with.
Raymondville, however, continued to put the offensive pressure on, scoring once again in the second quarter and twice more after halftime.
As the fourth quarter began, the Bobcats were working with a 41-14 deficit they never recovered from.
The Bobcats had three offensive turnovers that sometimes, to the defense’s credit, didn’t always result in Bearkat scores. But it did result in crucial game clock taken away that the Rio Hondo offense needed to get into the end zone.
The Bobcats’ top offensive performer was running back Lopez, who had a season high 26 carries. He finished with 189 yards.
Quarterback Matthew Lopez had 26 passing attempts, completing 14 of them. One went to Gonzalez in the final quarter.
Gonzalez had nine receptions for 106 yards.
The defense was led in tackles by Ty Alaniz (14), followed by Matthew Sanchez (13), and Noe Leos (9).
Marcus Flores had Rio Hondo’s lone quarterback sack.