Bobcats keep crowd on edge

SA Standard Times - Too close for comfort. That was the general consensus in the Bobcats camp in the aftermath of Central High School's 11-7 victory over Big Spring on Friday night at San Angelo Stadium. "It's more a feeling of relief (than celebration)," said Central quarterback Tyler Jones, whose diving 5-yard touchdown run with 3:24 left in the contest proved to be the game-winner.

It was a win, but against a Class 4A Steers team that suited out half as many players as the Bobcats (31 to 62) and lost 41-6 to Odessa last week, the fact that the game came down to a tight fourth quarter left lots of sweat-soaked orange shirts on the Central coaching staff. "I think the kids will enjoy it more than I will," head coach Steve Heryford said. "I think our coaches are frustrated. "It's bittersweet. Yes, we're glad to get out of here with a win. It's sweet because we've worked a long time to get this first win. On the other side, this will keep us hungry because there's nothing about that performance that says, 'Hey, we're a good football team.' "

Except, of course, in the standings, where Friday's win by four points counts as much as a win by 10 times that margin. The victory evens the Bobcats' record at 1-1 heading into next Saturday's contest at Midland High. The bulk of the credit for this victory goes to the Central defense, which limited Big Spring to just 79 total yards and only 17 yards over the course of a scoreless second half. "We just worked as a team, did what we do in practice, did what the coaches said, and it all worked out," said Central junior linebacker Coby Land, who punctuated his first-ever varsity game at San Angelo Stadium by intercepting a Big Spring pass in the second quarter. Big Spring almost pulled off the huge upset, however.

After a 2-yard touchdown run by Monte Anderson midway through the second quarter, the Steers made that 7-0 lead stand until late in the third. "I told the kids we loved the effort but don't love the outcome," Big Spring head coach Mike Ritchey said. "Playing good is not good enough. "We have to learn how to finish."

The Big Spring defense didn't allow Central to get on the board until Camden Steele hit a 29-yard field goal late in the third quarter. That score was set up by Central's longest play of the night, a 33-yard pass from Anthony Castillo to Shea Herron, who made a tumbling catch of a ball tipped by a Steers defender. On a night when defense ruled for both teams (Central tallied just 171 yards of total offense and had just 27 yards at halftime), even Steele got in the action on defense.

Actually, Central's senior kicker might have made the game-winning tackle. Big Spring was clinging to that 7-3 lead late in the third quarter when Darius McCalister returned a kickoff 84 yards. He had broken several tackles and had no one between him and the end zone when Steele made a diving leap. "My adrenaline was pumping," Steele said. "My heart was beating so fast. I was like, 'I've got to catch this guy.' I grabbed his foot and he came down. I was like, 'Thank you, God.' " It was Steele's first tackle in a varsity game in three years as a letterman. "I don't think we've had our kickers in tackling drills all year," Heryford said. "That was huge. A touchdown-saving and possibly game-saving tackle. Camden's a player."

That play began to turn the tide in Central's favor. Even with Steele's touchdown-saving snag, the Steers still had a first-and-goal at the Central 7-yard line. The Bobcats defense held, didn't allow a touchdown, and Big Spring missed a 20-yard field goal. "When we didn't get points off that, it changed the momentum, and then the bad snap really turned the game around," Ritchey said. That snap was one that sailed high over the head of punter Tyler Tannehill early in the fourth quarter and into the end zone. Tannehill smartly kicked the ball out of bounds before any Bobcat pounced on it, saving a potential touchdown but giving Central a two-point safety.

That cut the Big Spring lead to 7-5 and set the stage for Central's final drive - a march that served as a measure of redemption for Jones, who had thrown two first-half interceptions. "It's something I felt like I owed to my team," Jones said. "I came out playing like crap. I came into halftime with my head down. They all helped me up. ... (On that touchdown) I got around that outside, my line was working their butts off. My receivers were knocking people down. I had to give my all." Jones dove for the end zone and stretched just enough to get the ball in.

Just enough - that was the story for the Bobcats.