SAN ANGELO, TX — After snapping a 10-game losing streak, the San Angelo Central football team grabbed momentum and ran with it.
The Bobcats turned that first win — a 31-27 thriller against Abilene Cooper — into a three-game winning streak after back-to-back blowouts over Belton (33-8) and Waco (37-6).
It was exactly what Central’s program needed.
Keeping that momentum, however, will be no easy task this week with a road trip to play defending District 2-6A champion Midland Legacy at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Rebels have won four straight matchups against Central, and none of them have been closer than 21 points, including last year’s 66-24 rout.
We’ll learn more about how much this Bobcats team has progressed after Friday night's district opener.
“I love the challenge,” Central head coach Mark Smith said. “Legacy has kind of been the standard team of this district for many years, and rightfully so. They’ve had a lot of good football teams. … That’s kind of who everyone in this league has been gunning for, so I love it. Let’s open with that as we start district play.”
While Central brings a 3-2 record into the matchup, Legacy is off to a 1-4 start.
It’s no surprise considering the Rebels’ crazy schedule.
Legacy’s only win, 62-42 over Abilene High, was also its only game against a team anywhere close to Midland.
The Rebels lost to state powers Allen (61-0), Euless Trinity (63-45) and Lake Travis (41-20), along with Ruston from Louisiana (38-6).
“When you look at their record, 1-4, it’s not indicative of the caliber of team they are,” Smith said. “If anything, it really sets them up well. They’ve played really excellent competition through the first five weeks, and it’ll benefit them in district play.
“On the flip side of that, there’s a lot of confidence our guys have right now. We’ve beaten some good teams as well, and we’re playing good football. The level of confidence our team has and believing in what we’re doing is high right now, so I think it’ll be a great matchup. I’m excited for Friday.”
Midland Legacy Rebels
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Aiden Serrano is the team’s top playmaker with 25 catches for 431 yards and six TDs.
Legacy has played two quarterbacks, Jaden Rogers and JP Reyes. They have similar stats and have combined for 1,089 yards and 11 TDs.
McKenzie Rogers’ 229 rushing yards lead a crowded backfield.
The last time Central faced a challenge like this, the Bobcats were overtaken in a 60-36 loss to Abilene High.
That was back in Week 1, and a lot has changed since then.
The Bobcats have allowed an average of 13.7 points per game during their three-game winning streak.
“Really from the second half of (Week 2 against Amarillo High), we really kind of turned a page defensively,” Smith said.
Central’s offense has also shown the ability to put together long drives that chew up clock.
“Through the first five games of the season, I don’t know if I’ve been a head coach of a team that’s had more 10-plus play drives than this team,” Smith said. “We’ve had a couple big-play touchdowns, but a lot of the drives we’ve worked it down the field and put it in the end zone. We’ve shown the ability to do both those things, and that creates a dangerous offense.”
Central quarterback Christian English has thrown for 1,017 yards and 10 TDs, and he’s added nine rushing TDs.
San Angelo Central wide receiver Jimmy Edwards hauls in a 34-yard catch against Abilene High on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at San Angelo Stadium.
Jimmy Edwards has emerged as English’s go-to receiver with seven TD catches. Edwards’ play has been all the more important after a Week 2 injury to Colton Hill, who still hasn’t returned.
“Jimmy’s played great. He’s become kind of the pseudo leader of that group,” Smith said. “Losing Colton was difficult. We hope to have him back in the weeks ahead, but Jimmy’s really filled that void.
“He’s made big plays for us in the passing game. He blocks well. He does a really good job without the football in his hands. And because of that, he’s providing an element for us offensively where somebody’s got to have an answer for him. And whenever you have to plan for one particular person on offense, it opens up things for other guys.”
Smith said he’s been happy with the improvement he has seen from his team through the halfway point of the regular season.
“I’ve just seen a steady climb within the team. It’s a team that has an attitude to just kind of keep my head down, my nose to the grindstone, keep chopping wood, keep working to improve every day. As a coach, you just love that, to have a team that has that kind of mentality and that kind of attitude,” Smith said. “It was a rough start to begin the season, but we’ve just progressed.”
Central will return home next week to play Odessa Permian at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at San Angelo Stadium.
More football coverage
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: