KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
LA JOYA — Rio Hondo trailed 21-14 at the half against La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and needed a spark, a little something to get the team going.
Well, the Bobcats’ defense forced four second-half turnovers and pitched a second-half shutout, and the offense took full advantage with a 41-21 win at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in their season opener.
Josiah Ortega hit Frank Hernandez for a pair of scores during the fourth quarter that tied the game and, on the second TD, Hernandez gave the ’Cats a 27-21 lead with 5:22 they did not give up.
The Bobcats avenged last year’s loss.
“We went in and made adjustments at the half, we ran some stuff that wasn’t working, and the kids adjusted to what we went with and we pitched a shutout in the second half,” Bobcats coach Rocky James said.
The Bobcats’ offense caught fire during the final frame thanks to their stout defense. Rio Hondo outscored the Huskies 27-0 during the second half.
“We picked up our intensity in the second half,” linebacker Joey Ortega said. “We made plays defensively, and it helped get our offense going. It’s big for us to pick up a win on the road, last year we barely lost to (Juarez-Lincoln), so it’s great to come on the road and win.”
Midway through the third quarter, Justin Flores recovered a fumble and set the table for the offense.
The fumble was the momentum the Bobcats needed.
Ortega later hit Hernandez to tie the game at 21. After a botched punt, the Bobcats recovered at the Huskies’ 19-yard line and took the lead.
“The kids were unfazed, we went down early and I knew we were going to play good defense, that is what we do here in Rio Hondo,” James said. “On offense, we were able to score after our defense forced a turnover, and those are the things you want.”
Joey Ortega and Christopher Garza each collected an interception during the final minutes of the fourth quarter with the Bobcats leading 34-21.
A 14-yard touchdown from Cross Gonzalez and a 22-yard scamper from Danny Vasquez helped put the icing on the cake.
Hernandez finished the night with three scores.
“Josiah and I are close friends,” Hernandez said. He’s my weight-room partner and our chemistry is there. We knew what we had to do and we talked about it in the second half, and we came out and did what we needed to do offensively.”