’Cats stumped in district opener

SA Times - Coming into Friday’s game, it had been two full weeks since either the Central or Amarillo high school football teams had played a game. Apparently, both teams had changed quite a bit in that span. That proved to be better development for Amarillo than Central as the Sandies upset the Bobcats 24-10 Friday in the district opener for both teams. Amarillo (3-3 overall) looked nothing like a team that had been outscored 76-7 in its two previous games.

The time off appeared to have transformed Central, too—in some ways good (the Bobcats passed for a season-high 211 yards, in the first half alone) but in others bad (the usually stout Central defense allowed the most points it had since the season opener). “They coached better, they played better, they executed better, and they have a win to show for it,” Central head coach Steve Heryford said. The reason for that win might center around the dominating play of the AHS offensive line more than anything else. Behind that beefy line, the Sandies rushed for 190 yards, and maybe most importantly went on an almost eight-minute, 78-yard scoring march in the fourth quarter that killed Central’s hopes of a comeback. “Their offensive line was one of the best we’ve played,” Heryford said. “They had a scheme that they hadn’t run all year that was challenging. “They ran the ball on us better than anybody had this year. I guess that was the biggest thing. We’ve been able to stuff the running game and force people into passing and force people into mistakes in passing situations.” Amarillo, which had been so victimized by interceptions this year, didn’t have to go the passing route much Friday. “Going into the year we felt like our offensive line had the chance to be pretty good and we kinda got away from what we did well, and we went back to some straight in your face stuff, and it worked out for us,” Amarillo High head coach Brad Thiessen said.

By contrast, Central (3-3 overall, 0-1 in district) came out firing in the passing game. On the fourth play of the game, Anthony Castillo found a streaking Taylor Patton with a pass over the middle, and the speedy junior turned it into an 80-yard touchdown. Castillo ended up with 123 yards passing. Tyler Jones, who alternated with Castillo under center, threw for 93. Receiver Marc Campos caught four passes for 89 yards including a couple of highlight reel snags, but the Bobcats could never fully duplicate that early offensive success the rest of the game. “I want to say we had it after that (first touchdown),” Patton said. “Things just happened, and it didn’t work the way we wanted it to.” The only other points the Bobcats scored came via a 41-yard field goal by Camden Steele, which cut the Sandies’ lead to 14-10 heading into the halftime locker room. They never finished that comeback, however, as miscues of all sorts hurt the Bobcats. Central’s two fumbles both led to Amarillo scores. Amarillo converted a fake field goal that led to a touchdown, but Central tried a pair of fake field goals that worked to gain yardage, but neither were enough to get a first down. Central penalties kept Sandies drives alive.

There were some other good things for Central, including fumble recoveries by Josh Guajardo and Zach Jones, but the Bobcats couldn’t convert either opportunity into points. In all, it was a forgettable district debut for the Bobcats, one they don’t have long to dwell on with Lubbock High coming to town next week for a Thursday night game at San Angelo Stadium. “We’ve still got four more games left in district,” said Central defensive end Jared Williams, who recorded a pair of sacks. “I think we can still come back and make the playoffs.” Only now, it’s an uphill battle.