Bobcats' Coach Crane Talks Cooper and Belton Tigers

“There’s no magic pill, no magic formula, just old-fashioned hard work, Crane said. “We have to show up, punch the clock, and keep getting better. That’s what we are doing, and that’s what we are preaching.”

That’s the message to players this week at practice as the ‘Cats try and bounce back from a close loss on homecoming night. Crane said that while the Central played well, there’s still a lot to do.

Defensively, Central’s defense played great in the passing game, as the Bobcats allowed less than 50 yards through the air and even came up with another interception. However, Central’s struggles continue in the run game. Alignment issues and open-field tackling maligned the Bobcats on more than one occasion, leading to long Abilene Cooper touchdowns.

Crane said that is the focus of the defense this week at practice. With that being said, the Bobcats continue to play with a lot of energy on defense. When Central limited Cooper’s explosive plays, the Bobcats successfully made it off the field. Look for Central to play better on defense on Friday.

The ‘Cats continue to show signs of growth on offense as they move through their non-district schedule. Notably, the offensive line. The boys opened up plenty of room in Cooper’s defense for the Bobcats' two backs to run through. Christian English took another step forward with zero interceptions, and his decisions in and out of the pocket continue to improve.

The veteran running backs, Robinson and Brawlee, continue to anchor this offense and make down and distance manageable on almost every drive. The receivers continue to improve weekly as English found a safety net in Carmelo Amigleo and continues to develop the big play ability of both Alex Lindsey and Colton Hill. 

The Bobcats (1-2) travel to Belton on Friday, September 15, to play the Tigers (3-0). Central won last year’s matchup 35-12. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday.