(San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO—A Coastal Bend team now knows firsthand what the Rio Grande Valley has known for weeks: the Bobcat Varsity Football Team is in a class of its own, having beaten the Bishop Badgers 63-25 last Friday.
The victory improved the Bobcats’ District 16-3A Division I record to 2-0. They now play at St. Gertrudis Academy (0-3 in district play, 1-6 overall) tonight at 7 p.m.
Rio Hondo Head Coach Rocky James said his Bobcats are solely focused on the team they’re scheduled to face.
“Again, anyone can have a good game and a bad game, and the outcome can change,” Coach James said. “We take our district games one at a time; we’re not looking ahead to anyone.”
Last week’s win was RH’s third time scoring at least 56 points, and RH was in the 30s twice against RGV teams.
Quarterback Matthew Lopez threw for four touchdowns. He completed 20 of 32 passes for 363 yards.
Receivers Manny Perez (seven receptions, 156 yards), Sebastian Gonzalez (seven receptions, 137 yards), and Michael Lopez, along with running back Mario Lopez, each caught a TD.
Lopez led his team in rushing with 96 yards on 18 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns.
The Badgers are struggling this season, as evidenced by their 0-3 district record. They are 2-5 on the year.
The Bobcats exploited those struggles by wreaking havoc. Six Bobcats defenders recorded tackles for losses and had seven hurries on the Bishop quarterback.
Ty Alaniz and Sebastian Gonzalez each recovered a fumble, and Kameron Briones and Rolando Pastrana each recorded an interception.
Kicker Hector Vargas made all nine extra points.
VOLLEYBALL
For the first time since August, when the Rio Hondo Lady ’Cats played a non-district schedule, they earned set wins even though they were recorded as losses.
RHHS has struggled in 13 games, including three in District 32-3A competition.
Against IDEA Frontier College Prep, the Lady ’Cats fell, 3-1. They prevented a sweep after their third set.
Against the Santa Rosa Lady Warriors, they fell in five sets. The Lady ’Cats battled as they once again prevented a sweep.
This time, they won the third and fourth sets, 25-18 and 25-23. Santa Rosa slipped past RHHS, 10-15, in the final set.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Bobcats and Lady ’Cats competed Wednesday morning at the District 32-3A Meet at Harlingen Sports Complex. Results were not available at press time.
Last Saturday night, according to RHISD, Lorenzo Padron, one of the boys’ runners, competed in the annual McAllen ISD 5K Fright Night Run. He placed first in his school’s division and third overall among 850 runners.
