KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
RIO HONDO—For a second straight year, the Rio Hondo Bobcats will be enjoying their Thanksgiving along with preparing for their class 4A DII area round match up.
While the order is tall, Rio Hondo will square off against the number five ranked team in the state in the Cuero Gobblers today at 7:30 at Phil Danaher Field at Wildcat Stadium in Calallen.
“I feel this has been one of our better practices we have had, said senior running back Danny Vasquez. “Not just today, but this week has been good for us, especially with our next challenge in Cuero. They are a great team and our focus has been there all week.”
Cuero took down Wimberly 73-14 in the bi-district round last week, while Rio Hondo won their second straight bi-district title with a 37-20 win over Ingleside.
“We are all working hard and going through certain game plans and schemes on defense,” said senior Troy Macias. “They have a tough offense and we feel we have prepared and are ready for the challenge. It is a different offense for sure, last year we played Navarro and this year is another tough offense.”
Vasquez has had a strong senior season and continues to run harder as the season goes on. After leading the district in rushing yards with 1,430 yards on 155 carries and 12 touchdowns, the Bobcats will need Vasquez to keep the train rolling heading into their match up with the Gobblers.
The hard-nosed runner did not slow down against Ingleside as Vasquez helped spark the offense with 230 yards on 25 carries and found pay dirt four times. The 25 carries was a season high for Vasquez.
“We have been working on our game plan and we together are executing and preparing,” said Vasquez. “We have made some adjustments, so come game time we will be ready.”
This year’s senior group is made up of 26 players after bidding farewell to household names like Tyler Bush and Erick Pizarro, this year’s class has carried the torch in 2018.
“It is special for us to continue what they started,” Vasquez said. “It is a cool thing, I was able to be a part of that team and us being seniors it is great for us to carry that torch and it is great for this program and it shows that there is plenty of talent here in Rio Hondo.”