SAN ANGELO, TX — In just a matter of weeks, the Central Bobcats have completely flipped the script with their program.
Central won its third straight game Friday and delivered another dominant defensive performance with a 37-6 win over Waco on homecoming night at San Angelo Stadium.
The Bobcats held Waco to only 106 yards of offense, and they gave up just one first down in the second half.
Central's 10-game losing streak and defensive struggles suddenly seem like a distant memory.
The Bobcats have won their last two games by a combined score of 70-14.
"Ever since Coach (Mark) Smith got here, it's just been a big change," said Central wide receiver Jimmy Edwards, who caught his seventh touchdown pass of the year Friday. "We all hang out outside of football. We have team dinners every week. The chemistry is just completely different.
"And the defense has stepped up tremendously. They're playing their butts off, and I want to give a shout out to them. Last year, that was a low point for us, and this year they've really stepped up."
The Central Bobcats run onto the field before their homecoming game against Waco on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at San Angelo Stadium.
Central's defense allowed 46 points per game last year, and the Bobcats began this season with high-scoring losses to Abilene High (60-36) and Amarillo High (48-45).
Since then, Central has allowed 13.7 points per game during its three-game winning streak.
"Those guys have invested a lot. And the more you invest, the harder it is to surrender," Smith said. "The guys have just never given up. They made some mistakes earlier in the season, and we'll make some more as the season goes on. But I'm so proud of that unit. They're playing with a confidence they didn't have at the beginning of the year, and that's going to go a long way in district."
Central will take a 3-2 record into its bye next week before beginning District 2-6A play on the road at Midland Legacy on Oct. 11.
"I feel like we have a good district, but with the way we're playing right now I think we can definitely compete," Edwards said. "We're not scared of anybody heading in. I think we have a bright future."
San Angelo Central wide receiver Jimmy Edwards has seven touchdown catches in the Bobcats' first five games of 2024.
Waco fell to 2-3 and will begin play in its district at Brenham on Oct. 11.
Central scored on its opening drive of the game Friday, capped by a 5-yard TD pass from Christian English to Edwards.
The Bobcats turned the ball over on two of their next three possessions, however, and Waco capitalized with an 8-yard TD run by Mason Smith to tie the game at 6-6 with 8:30 left in the second quarter.
It was all Central after that.
Waco only managed one first down the rest of the game, and the Bobcats scored the next five times they touched the ball.
San Angelo Central football players and coaches watch from the sideline during the Bobcats' homecoming game against Waco on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at San Angelo Stadium.
English threw for 199 yards and a TD on 18-of-27 passing, and he added two TD runs.
Central scored twice in the final 2:17 of the first half — including a 43-yard field goal by Evan Vaughn on the last play of the half — to take a 16-6 lead into halftime.
A big return by Gavin Johnson on the opening kickoff of the second half set up Central near midfield, and the Bobcats slowly marched 52 yards in 14 plays to take a 23-6 lead on English's 1-yard TD run.
A 5-yard TD run by Darius Huitt extended Central's lead to 30-6 late in the third quarter.
English put the game away with a highlight-reel 22-yard TD scramble early in the fourth quarter.
Central's next home game will be Friday, Oct. 18, against Odessa Permian in the second game of district play.
The Bobcats open 2-6A play against the defending district champion Legacy Rebels in Midland.
"We have a lot going positive in our program," Smith said. "Now we have a chance to get healed up and make a district run."
The Central Bobcats and Waco Lions meet at midfield for the coin toss before Friday's homecoming game at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 27, 2024.
San Angelo Central 37, Waco 6
Waco 0 6 0 0 — 6
Central 6 10 14 7 — 37
First Quarter
C — Jimmy Edwards 5 pass from Christian English (kick failed), 5:18
Second Quarter
W — Mason Smith 8 run (kick failed), 8:30
C — Ricardo Perrusquia 5 run (Evan Vaughn kick), 2:17
C — Vaughn 43 field goal, :00
Third Quarter
C — English 1 run (Vaughn kick), 5:41
C — Darius Hunt 5 run (Vaughn kick), 2:47
Fourth Quarter
C — English 22 run (Vaughn kick), 10:08
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