By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
LYFORD — Rio Hondo’s defense showed its mettle and then some in a strong performance in their final scrimmage against Lyford Friday.
The visiting Bobcats surrendered just two first downs ⸺ one of which resulted from a roughing the passer penalty ⸺ in a 20-7 win over the Bulldogs. It was Rio Hondo’s last tune-up before it opens the regular season at home against Juarez-Lincoln at 7:30 p.m. next Friday night.
“Defensively, I thought we did a great job,” said Rio Hondo head coach Rocky James. “Overall, the defense played very well. (Lyford) is a very good team and they’re very well coached, they’ve got some great coaches over there. I know they’ve got a great quarterback over there also, and so I was happy with the way we played.”
The Bobcats largely contained and consistently pressured Lyford starting quarterback Cayleb Klostermann, except for a 30-yard touchdown that came late in the third quarter after Klostermann scrambled outside the pocket and found an open man to salvage a broken play.
Rio Hondo cornerback Isaac Rodriguez came up with an interception on Lyford’s first offensive series. Defensive lineman Chris Atkinson tipped a pass that was nearly a strip-sack, and defensive back J.R. Barajas also recorded a sack as the clock ran out to conclude the first half.
Barajas also spent time at quarterback along with starter Zechariah Rios, a sophomore taking the reins of the Bobcats’ offense.
Rios marched Rio Hondo down the field and set up sophomore Ismael Rodriguez, a sophomore who took a snap out of the Wildcat formation at the goal line and walked into the end zone standing up for the game’s first score at the 5:16 mark of the first quarter.
Ethan Reyna hauled in a touchdown catch on a bullet pass from Rios on a 2-yard slant in the closing seconds of the first quarter to put the Bobcats ahead 13-0.
Another development from Friday’s scrimmage was Jonah Ortega’s emergence as a big-play threat. Ortega caught a deep ball from Rios in the third quarter and juked his way past Lyford secondary for 20 additional yards after the catch.
At the start of the fourth quarter, he showed his speed and evasiveness again with another 20-yard gain on a screen pass.
The big play set up running back Fabian Torres, who had a 10-yard rushing touchdown on the next play to bring Rio Hondo’s lead to 20-0 with just under four and a half minutes to go in the third quarter.
Klostermann and the Bulldogs’ offense did show flashes of life against a stout Bobcats front seven. He connected with a Lyford wideout for a 39-yard gain to set up the Bulldogs at midfield.
Lyford on the board finally after Klostermann threw a 30-yard touchdown pass that, following the point after, made it 20-7 Rio Hondo with 3:18 to go in the third quarter.
James said the defense was well on its way to being where he and his staff would like it to be to allow Rios and the five other sophomores starting alongside him to mature on offense.
Rios did throw two interceptions, one into heavy traffic, which James said is part of the growing pains of learning football’s toughest position.
“I don’t think the moment is too big for them,” James said. “We were wanting to find out in these scrimmages if these guys were going to be as good as they were as freshmen. (But) Friday nights are completely different. Those kids have all stepped up for us and done a tremendous job.”
James attributes this to the summer work put in by the players under the supervision of offensive coordinator Victor Sauceda, who has been the top signal-caller after 10 years as a defensive coach.
“I think we’re ahead of where we were last year at this point,” James said.
COUGARS SHARP IN FINAL SCRIMMAGE
The Santa Maria Cougars came away feeling good after their final scrimmage Friday night at Premont.
Santa Maria won the controlled portion 7-0 and the two live quarters 14-7.
The Cougars’ ground game led the way, as sophomore Erick Castellanos found the end zone twice. Santa Maria also scored through the air on a pass from Jesse Ortiz to Giovani Diaz.
Santa Maria allowed just one score on the night. Coach Israel Gracia was pleased with the performances from linebackers Marco and Gus Sandoval, as well as the pressure brought from defensive ends Rudy Flores and Nathaniel Rodriguez.
Santa Maria opens the regular season at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at home against Marine Military Academy.