WOLFFORTH, TX — The San Angelo Central Bobcats traveled to Lubbock on Friday night for their final game of the 2024 season. Matched up with the 8-1 Frenship Tigers, Central met the tough test like they have all season. A determined Bobcats’ team fell behind early but battled back to take the lead in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, Frenship scored with 16 seconds remaining to down Central, 51-44.
Frenship jumped out to an early lead with three straight touchdowns in the 1st quarter. Holden Phillips connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to future Red Raider Leyton Stone before Hayden Wilson and Chase Campbell added a touchdown to put Frenship up 21-0 at the end of the first period.
The Bobcats finally woke up on offense in the 2nd quarter. Down 21, Christian English led the Bobcats on a drive that he capped off with a 12-yard touchdown run on 4th down. After another Tigers touchdown, Elijah Allen made his presence felt on the ground. He churned out several tough runs on a drive that he finished with a 6-yard touchdown run. Central scored a 2-point conversion to narrow Frenship’s advantage to 28-15 heading into the half.
Central Bobcats Football
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
After the two teams traded touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, the Bobcats’ came alive on both sides of the ball. Central’s defense stuffed the Tigers on a 4th down attempt to give the ball back to the offense, and a rally began. Christian English converted another 4th down attempt for a score to pull the Bobcats within six points.
After the defense forced Frenship to punt, Elijah Allen and John Paul Nombrano went to work on the ground to put the football just outside the goal line. Allen punched the football in from one yard out to give the Bobcats their first lead of the ballgame with 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, 37-36.
Frenship responded with a touchdown to Chase Campbell and a 2-point conversion to take a 44-37 lead with eight minutes to play. The English then connected with Jimmy Edwards and Gavin Johnson to set up another explosive touchdown run by Elijah Allen. The Bobcats tied the game at 44-44, but there was still five minutes to play.
The Tigers are usually known as a spread offense, score quick kind of offense, but with time winding down in the 4th quarter, they ran out the remaining time on the clock. Inside the 10-yard line with less than a minute to go, the Bobcats valiantly held the Tigers at bay for five plays in a row. An untimely defensive holding call gave the Tigers a first down, and Chase Campbell scored his third touchdown of the night. He gave Frenship the go-ahead score they needed to win the game.
Central fell in the end 51-44.
An incredibly proud Head Coach, Mark Smith, gave his thoughts on his team’s performance after the game. Watch that interview below:
The Bobcats end their 2024 campaign with a 4-6 overall record. While that’s not enough to get the ‘Cats in the playoffs, this team proved they are a world better than where they were a season ago. The seniors played hard and deserve all the respect in the world for giving the fans an exciting season to remember.
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