By FREDDY GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
The Raymondville Bearkats did something six other teams failed to do this season: beat the Rio Hondo Bobcats.
In a classic offense-vs.-defense type of game, it was Raymondville that flexed its offensive prowess and defeated the Bobcats 27-14 on Friday night at Burnett Stadium.
The Bearkats’ defense held Rio Hondo’s potent offense to just 124 yards and, in the process, snapped a four-year losing skid to the Bobcats.
“I just want to give all honor and glory to Christ my savior because this was a big win for this community, and to these kids who turned the tide around and got this win,” Raymondville coach Frank Cantu said. “These guys have been scoring 50 points a game but at the end of the day our staff did a good job because we came back in that second half, and (Rio Hondo) made some adjustments and we made some adjustments, but at the end of the night we did enough to win.”
From the get-go, momentum was on Rio Hondo’s corner as the Bobcats got an early interception. However, it almost turned out to be the highlight of the first half for Rio Hondo as Raymondville shook off the early turnover and came back swinging.
The Bearkats found two touchdowns and a field goal to take a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter before the Bobcats’ Danny Vasquez took matters into his own hands and returned a kickoff 95 yards just before the half.
“We had to finish,” Cantu said. We felt like we had done a great job defensively and (Rio Hondo’s) only score came on a kickoff. All props to that young man, because he had a heck of a run. I just told the kids, ‘Hey, remember, they get the ball back,’ that’s when they scored.
“But our offense stepped up, they got weapons but we’ve got weapons, too, and tonight I think we showed a little bit of everything in the win. This was a big win for us.”
Down 17-7 at halftime, Rio Hondo didn’t take long to cut Raymondville’s lead to three points as Vasquez again made his presence felt. The Rio Hondo running back made a 15-yard dash to the end zone to cut the deficit to 17-14.
But the night belonged to Raymondville’s Jacob Posas, who took the snap and went 47 yards to give the Bearkats a 24-14 lead and some room to breathe.
The senior finished the night with 157 yards and two touchdowns.
With the win, the Bearkats improve to 6-1 on the season with another big game around the corner.
Cantu’s message for next week’s game against Port Isabel is simple, “We just have to believe.”
“We’re doing something incredible,” Cantu said. “We just beat a really good Rio Hondo team that has a high octane-offense, and we just put together a good game plan and I’m just so proud these guys right now.”
GAME NOTES: Raymondville Saul Garcia hit two crucial field goals in the game, one from 37 yards out and another from 27 yards. … The Bearkats’ Zaraivion Armendarez had another night to remember, as the sophomore rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown.