Unfortunately, it wasn’t the return the Bearkats (2-1) were hoping for as the Kingsville King Brahmas rallied to hand the Kats their first loss of the season.
“When we came out I thought we weren’t as sharp as we had been in the previous two games,” said Raymondville head coach Frank Cantu. “I thought it would take a series or two then we’d snap out of it and get our rhythm back, but we just weren’t as sharp and we didn’t play one of our better games.
“But at the same time kudos to the Kingsville defense. They played well.”
It was homecoming for the Brahmas and Texas-sized mums littered with bells rang loud throughout the stadium as fans turned out in big numbers to support their team.
Coming into the game, the Kingsville defense was known for having a nose for the football, forcing at least three turnovers in each of the team’s first three games. That statistic, unfortunately for Raymondville, didn’t change Friday night.
The Brahmas walked away with three interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Raymondville got on the scoreboard first midway through the second quarter when senior David Marroquin took a handoff and went the distance on 47-yard touchdown to put the Bearkats up 7-0 with 5:31 remaining in the half.
However on their next position, sophomore quarterback Daniel Gutierrez pulled back and threw to a receiver down the middle of the field only to find Kingsville’s Hector Cantu, who took the pick-6 30 yards for the touchdown. Kingsville’s kicker failed to convert the extra point and the Brahmas were forced to go in halftime trailing the Bearkats 7-6.
In the fourth, the Brahmas scored the winning touchdown on 16-yard run and converted the two-point conversion.
“We came in really confident and we thought we could play hard-nosed football and come away with a victory, but we were unable to do that,” said Cantu “We just need to concentrate and make fewer mistakes. We made too many mistakes tonight and it cost us the game.
“I’m pleased with the effort and the heart these kids played with and we will learn from this loss.”
The Bearkats will have to recover quickly as they host state-ranked Sinton at home next Friday.