By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO—The Bobcat Varsity Football Team ripped the St. Joseph Academy Bloodhounds on their new stadium turf, securing a 60-21 victory in grand homecoming fashion.
The stadium’s new turf, which received as much hype as the talented Bobcat football team, forced Rio Hondo to play the first three weeks on the road because the turf wasn’t ready.
RHHS marching band members were the first to set foot on the stadium turf a few days earlier during practice.
The football Bobcats then used it leading up to the non-district game, which helped them improve to 4-0. They have beaten Brownsville Pace (56-0), Port Isabel (26-21), and Edcouch-Elsa (36-26).
The overwhelming victory allowed Head Coach Rocky James to bring in backup players. The familiar Bobcats that fans have grown accustomed to once again posted impressive individual stats.
Quarterback Matthew Lopez threw for 263 yards and five touchdowns on 15 completions. His backup, Ty Alaniz, was two-for-four on pass attempts.
They completed passes to seven different receivers. Manny Perez, Matthew Perez, and Gonzales each scored on a pass reception. Running back Mario Lopez scored two TDs and rushed for 176 yards on 15 carries.
Other runners, including Alaniz, Lopez, and Sebastian Gonzalez, gained 56 yards combined, and quarterback Lopez scored.
On defense, it was a sack fest. Defenders who recorded sacks included Noe Leos (one), Ramsey Gonzalez (one), Freddy Garza (1.5), and Alaniz (1.5). Matthew Sanchez, Joshua De La Cruz, and Greg Soto each recorded half sacks.
Sanchez led the Bobcats with 12 tackles.
Three players recorded nine tackles each: Rollie Pastrana, Kameron Briones, and Garza.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Bobcats now enter District 32-3A play with confidence, as their undefeated record shows. But they face a Lyford Bulldogs team that is their equal. Lyford is riding a 4-0 record from non-district play.
They defeated Falfurrius (47-14), La Villa (33-28), Santa Rosa (19-14), and Brownsville Porter last week (48-0).
Their home crowd will rally behind a Bulldogs team led by junior quarterback John Reyna, who has thrown for 669 yards and completed 66 percent of his passes. In four games, he has eight TDs and no interceptions.
He’s had four primary receivers, with senior captain Randall Chavez leading in receptions (11), receiving yards (304), and touchdowns (four).
Lyford’s rushing attack is a committee effort, with five different players scoring TDs, including their signal caller, Reyna.
He leads in rushing yards. However, senior running back Derek Rosas is equally effective, with a team-high 218 yards on 33 carries.
Four games into the year, nearly a dozen defenders have recorded at least 10 tackles, led by junior middle linebacker Sean Gamez, who also leads in sacks (two).
The Bulldogs have feasted on turnovers, intercepting their foes four times and recovering nine fumbles.
Kickoff is Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.