By KEVIN NARRO
Staff Writer
CORPUS CHRISTI — The fifth-ranked Cuero Gobblers scored on their first six possessions of the first half of a 56-0 Class 4A Division II area-round win over Rio Hondo on Friday night at Calallen’s Phil Danaher Field.
Running back Keiran Grant ran for two scores during the first half and, on the third play of the night, Jordan Whittington hauled in a score to lead the Gobblers, who next play West Oso in the regional round.
“I’m proud of the kids and how they fought all year,” Rio Hondo coach Rocky James said. “We ran into a very tough Cuero team and they were as good as advertised, but overall we had a successful season on getting to the area round.”
While the Gobblers’ offense was clicking on all cylinders, the Cuero defense also forced three first-half turnovers and took advantage of Rio Hondo miscues.
“It is tough to play a team like Cuero, and we used to play them in the first round and it was tough then getting out of the first round,” James said. “The Valley has it tough when we start playing teams from outside of the Valley, and with that speed and caliber of athletes it changes from what we do down south. We take nothing away from our kids. The further we go in the playoffs the tougher it gets.”
Deandre Lang also chipped in for the Gobblers. After catching a 22-yard touchdown, Lang intercepted a pass and ran it to the Rio Hondo 5-yard line.
The Gobblers ran for 184 yards on 31 carries as a team, and picked up 357 yards of offense. Rio Hondo finished the game with 91 rushing yards on 28 attempts.
The Bobcats will graduate 26 seniors this year and look to new faces on both sides of the ball next fall.
Rio Hondo’s senior class won 26 games — winning nine games for a second straight year — along with two district titles and two bi-district titles. Household names like Danny Vasquez, Frank Hernandez, Troy Macias, Cross Gonzalez, Josiah Ortega and Gabriel Martinez will graduate this summer.
“After all these years, Rio Hondo has made a name for themselves, and in the playoffs, too,” Vasquez said. “Like coach mentioned, it’s normal for us now to play on Thanksgiving, and before we weren’t able to do that.”
Vasquez made an emotional return to Calallen. Last year as a junior against Aransas Pass in the bi-district round, Vasquez broke his collarbone for a second time that season, ultimately ending it.
Vasquez returned his senior year and finished as the district’s leading rusher, wrapping up a strong career in a Bobcats uniform.
“I tried not to think about it at all,” Vasquez said. “As soon as the game started, I was able to get going and I completely forgot about it. I gave it my best tonight. I just want to thank Coach James for giving me the chance to come in as a sophomore and start for him, and I’m truly blessed to be a part of this program.”