SAN ANGELO, TX-- The Central Bobcats (7-3) are well aware that it’s do-or-die time ahead of their bi-district playoff game with the Arlington Lamar Vikings (9-1).
It’s familiar territory for most of the Bobcats. They’ve made it to the playoffs in nine straight seasons now and they haven't lost a bi-district game since 2007.
However, Central will get their greatest bi-district test in head coach Brent Davis’ tenure. Lamar is riddled with weapons across their offense.
“They’re extremely athletic all over the offense,” Davis said of Lamar. “They’ve got two really good receivers. They’ve got a really good running back. They’re quarterback, he’s just a junior, but he played as a sophomore for them… They’re a formidable opponent.”
Junior QB Jack Dawson has thrown for 1,809 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has also rushed for an extra 183 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’m super impressed with him,” Davis added. “He’s a dual threat guy that’s gonna be tough to stop. I think, as far as passing quarterbacks, [he] may be one of the best we’ve seen all year.”
Senior running back Jordan Williams adds another weapon in their backfield after rushing for 1,416 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Coming off a 50-33 loss to Haltom where Central allowed 701 yards of total offense, the defense will have to refocus.
“We didn’t play good defense,” Davis stated simply. “We just didn’t play well. We didn’t hustle. It wasn’t us. I’m at a loss as to why.”
Going into that game, Central’s defense was riding high after not allowing Hurst Bell to score any offensive points two weeks earlier. That’s what made the offensive track meet more perplexing to Davis.
“We played so well against L.D. Bell that I was expecting us to carry that over and we didn’t do it,” Davis added. “We’ve gotta fix that this week and we’re the road to doing that.”
The Haltom game brought a big silver lining for the Bobcats, though. Their offense enjoyed their biggest offensive production this season with 545 yards of total offense. Sophomore Malachi Brown threw for a season-high 283 yards and rushed for 152 in the loss.
“We played really good offense,” Davis said. “When you watch film, you see a lot of really good things. We blocked well. Malachi had a great night… He had three touchdowns, he ran the ball well. I thought he played exceptionally well and against a great defense.”
Since senior QB Maverick McIvor went down injured, Central has been waiting for their pass game to catch up with their three headed backfield of Brown, Bobby Pena and Sam Goodloe.
With Brown finding more confidence in the passing game, Central is turning back into the dual threat team they were with McIvor.
“He’s just getting better every week. He really is” Davis praised of Brown. “I know that’s a cliche, but he really is. He’s getting more confidence, he understands the offense better, he understands the reads better. He’s always been a really good runner and now he’s starting to put the passing game in there to make him a dual threat quarterback.”
While Davis hopes the Bobcats can make another run in the playoffs, he’s excited to get Brown into a full offseason regimen.
“When [the season’s] over, we’ve still got that guy for two more years,” he said. “I think after he goes through an offseason and a spring and a summer and all that you’re gonna see him go up leaps and bounds.”
During Davis’ time at Central, the Bobcats have never faced Arlington Lamar. Coming into the season, the Central staff didn’t know much about the Vikings. That’s changed since they were put on a collision course after the Bobcats’ loss to Euless Trinity.
“It seems like we’ve always been in different sides of the bracket,” Davis said. “Both of us have an enrollment where we could go either direction [Division I or II] all the time, so we just haven’t met up. But we’re familiar with ‘em.”
Davis added Lamar is like the other Arlington teams he’s coached against in previous years. That will likely be a benefit in a game plan against Lamar.
Central will face Lamar at 7:00 p.m. from Cravens Field in Arlington on Friday night.
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