MIDLAND, TX — Riding a three-game conference winning streak, the San Angelo Central Bobcats made their way out to Midland to take on the Midland High Bulldogs tonight, Nov. 6, in a must-win matchup to stay in first place in the Little Southwest Conference. Offensive fireworks and a record-breaking performance by Malachi Brown lifted the Bobcats over the Bulldogs, and the ‘Cats clinched a playoff berth in the win. The score was 54-31.
Beginning the first quarter on defense, the Bobcat D that had a dominant showing last week continued their suffocating playstyle and forced a punt after only five plays. Following the punt, the offense took over for their first possession at their own 45-yard line. The Bobcats then drove the ball straight down the field with a balanced combination of running and passing. Bobcat quarterback Malachi Brown connected with WR Seth Levesque on a 6-yard slant in the endzone to give the Bobcats the ball game’s opening points, 7-0.
The Midland High offense went to work through the air on their ensuing drive. Starting at the Bulldog 30-yard line, QB Landry Walls connected with several different receivers, driving the ball to near midfield. However, the defensive front of the Bobcats pinned their ears back and put significant pressure on Walls. A stuffed run, a sack on Walls, and a short scramble later, the ‘Cats D forced their second punt of the night.
The Bobcats relied solely on the arm of Malachi Brown on their second drive. Starting at the Central 35-yard line, Brown and the wide receiving corps took what the Bulldog defense gave them connected on several short passes moving to the Midland 37-yard line. Brown then connected with WR Tyler Hill on a short hook route. A broken tackle and a 37-yard sprint later, the Central offense scored again. A missed extra point made the score 13-0.
Aided by a huge run and a costly penalty on the ensuing possession, Midland High finally got their act together on offense. RB Daniel Garcia opened up the drive as he broke off a long 48-yard run. A play later, the Central defense made up for the mental mistake of missing Garcia when CB Kayden Hameister made an incredible interception from Walls’s deep pass in the end zone. Bobcats stopped the momentum and handed the ball back to the offense.
The ‘Cats managed to capitalize off of the spectacular takeaway. Beginning the possession at the 25-yard line, Central marched the ball 75-yards for a long touchdown drive. Brown ripped off two different scrambles for more than 15 yards apiece to set up a 13-yard pitch and catch to WR Malik Haywood in the endzone. The Bobcats failed the 2-point conversion attempt and only scored six points, but their lead increased again 19-0.
The Bulldogs managed to score their opening points of the night on the next drive. Good runs by RB Tecumseh Williams and a couple of catches by WR JP Phillips put Midland High into the red-zone. Matteo Houston, an outside linebacker, turned running back, then proceeded to pound the ball into the end zone on a 6-yard carry to bring the Bulldogs closer, down 19-7.
Malachi Brown continued to gash the Midland defense following the Bulldog touchdown. Facing a 3rd and five at the Bobcat 30-yard line, Brown gouged the defense for 41 yards down to the Midland High 29-yard line. However, after that run, three straight drops by the ‘Cats and a 4th down sack gave the ball back to Midland High. The Bulldogs rode this momentum, finding the same success they had on their last scoring drive. Willams became the bell cow for the bulldogs, running the ball five consecutive times and setting up a 1st and Goal at the 5-yard line. Once again calling Matteo Houston’s number, Midland High drove the ball into the end zone. The Bulldogs roared back into the game, now only down 19-14.
With time winding down in the second quarter, the Bobcats had one final opportunity to score. Struggling to move the ball through the air with the Bulldogs lining up in a prevent defense, Brown the running backs moved it on the ground. Another two clutch runs by Brown, one on a 4th and 3, drove the ‘Cats to the Midland High 40-yard line. On the next play, Brown chunked up a prayer from 40-yards out in the area of Levesque and three other Midland defenders. What appeared to be a catch by both the defender and Levesque at the same moment turned into a scrum for the football. Levesque showed considerable strength as he wrenched the ball out of the defender’s grasp and scored another Bobcat touchdown. After a successful 2-point conversion, the Bobcats headed to the locker room up by two scores, 27-14.
Adversity riddled the Bobcats’ first drive of the second half. First, WR Tyler Hill ripped off a massive return to the Midland High 30-yard line. However, a holding call knocked off most of the yardage, and the Bobcats started their drive instead at their own 42-yard line. RB Samuel Navarrette saw some action moving the ball on the ground, grinding out some hard-earned yardage but ran into a wall after 3rd down. Facing a 4th and six at the Bulldog 31-yard line, the Bobcats ran a reverse to WR Jalen Leifeste, who took the football 31 yards to the house.
Yet, another penalty canceled out the athletic touchdown, and the Bobcats had to convert again. Malachi Brown managed to get the 5 yards needed on a speed option play, and the drive survived. Two plays later, Brown hooked up with WR Tripp Noble from 10-yards out for another Bobcat touchdown. The ‘Cats overcame the bone-headed penalties and extended their lead again, 33-14.
Midland High’s offense had to answer back to stay alive in this game. Following a 29-yard pass to WR Brian’zai Perez that set the Bulldogs up in the red-zone, the ‘Cats defense stepped up again. Stuffing the Midland running game that shredded Central for much of the second quarter, the Bobcats front seven stepped up and forced Midland High to kick a short field goal. Central still led by three scores, 33-17.
The Bobcats entered the 4th quarter with the lead, while the game’s fate depended on the Bobcats’ ability to stop Midland High once more. The Central defense did exactly what they needed to do to put this game away. With Midland High driving successfully down the field again, building momentum by moving the ball, S Jacob O’dell picked off Midland QB Walls to kill the drive and seal the game for San Angelo. Had the Bobcats failed to stop the Bulldogs at this time, the outcome of the game could have changed.
Starting at the 17-yard line after the takeaway, the Bobcats consumed three plays to put the ball into the end zone. After two minimal gains, Brown connected with Leifeste on a 12-yard post route for the touchdown. This touchdown pass from Malachi Brown put him in the school record books with six touchdown passes on the night. The Bobcats put this game to bed, up 40-17.
Although they were losing this game by a mile, the Bulldogs did not give up the fight. Behind another big run on the ground, this time a 45-yard run by RB Daniel Garcia, Matteo Houston scored his 3rd touchdown of the night from 1-yard out. A failed 2-point conversion later left the game at 40-23.
The spectacular plays by the Bobcats just kept coming, and the Bulldogs just could not catch a break. Receiving the ensuing kickoff at the Bobcats’ 9-yard line, S Kente Nichols sprinted 91 yards down the field for a dagger of a touchdown. That killed any momentum Midland achieved on their previous drive and the Bobcats led 48-23.
San Angelo Central’s defensive front continued to shine in the later stages of the 4th quarter. Both DE Monte’Vious Dobbins and DT Elijah Salinas recorded a sack, pushing the Bulldogs back deep behind the sticks. Faced with a 4th and 22, Midland High had no choice but to punt the football.
Midland High’s offense managed to score another touchdown, a 5-yard run by Houston, his 4th of the night, but the garbage time touchdown did not happen soon enough for it to matter for the Bulldogs.
The Bobcats also scored one more touchdown off a 10-yard run from Leifeste, set up by a 49-yard run by RB Samuel Navarrette. San Angelo Central’s offense dominated the competition and at the end, the ‘Cats remained undefeated in conference play. The Bobcats also clinched a playoff berth and a home playoff game with this 54-31 win.
Analysis
Offensively, the Bobcats put on a show Friday night. Central did whatever they wanted to the Midland defense, and they did it easily. Not only did the offense punt just once on the night, they effectively ran and passed the ball at will. The offensive line played their best game of the season, opening up running lanes and keeping Brown clean for the entire contest. The skill positions had a few dropped balls and the lone fumble, but those mechanical issues can and most likely will be addressed during the bye next week.
The first offensive drive of the second half proved to be the most impressive accomplishment of the night. Penalties killed two explosive plays that went for long yardage and a touchdown, respectively. On both of those occasions, the ‘Cats stepped up and executed. This toughness in the face of adversity is an excellent sign for games to come when the going gets tough against stronger teams that lie ahead on the Bobcats’ schedule.
Malachi Brown has cemented himself as the team’s leader and has now put up three straight weeks with at least five touchdown passes. Head Coach Brent Davis reiterated Brown’s importance to the Bobcats’ continued success.
“He’s the leader of our team. He is a three-year starter and how he plays is usually how our football team goes. He’s valuable to us. He is having a heck of a senior year. He is everything you want in a football player. He’s a leader, he’s got the attitude, he’s got everything,” Davis said after the game.
LIVE! congratulates Brown for breaking the single-game passing touchdown school record Friday night with six touchdown passes in a single game. He now gets his name in the school’s record books with the rest of the Bobcat greats. Brown seemed to be ecstatic after the game.
“It feels great. I’ve been working hard these past weeks. This is my third game with five TD’s. I had to get it this time after I checked (the record) last week,” he said.
The Bobcat defense played hot and cold for much of this contest. Midland High gashed the defense on multiple occasions for runs of 25+ yards. Over pursuit by the defense led to many backdoor cuts and big runs. Broken tackles also plagued the Bobcats on certain drives, but as with the skill positions, these issues will most likely be addressed during the off week next week. Coach Davis echoed this after the game.
“I thought our defense played pretty good. We did not stop the run as well as I wanted us to, but we will get that fixed,” he said.
On a positive note, the defense played great when it mattered the most. When the defense records multiple takeaways and 5+ sacks, the outcome of the game is not hard to guess. Especially with an offense like the one the Bobcats have, they will win most of these games.
The Bobcats take a break next week. Then, San Angelo Central faces the Odessa Permian Panthers on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m., at San Angelo Stadium.
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