Central Bobcats' Comeback Falls Just Short Against Eastwood

EL PASO, TX — Trailing by 22 points on the road, the Central Bobcats fought back and nearly sent their playoff opener to overtime before coming up a yard short in a 35-33 loss to El Paso Eastwood on Friday.

Central scored the game's final touchdown with 3:44 remaining, but Zey Johnson was stopped just shy of the goal-line on the two-point conversion try.

The Bobcats' defense — which had four interceptions, including three in the second half — made one last stop to give their offense a chance for a miracle from its own 36-yard line with 15 seconds remaining.

But Central's desperation pass was intercepted, and Eastwood finally escaped with the win.

Central's season ended with a record of 5-6, while Eastwood improved to 9-2 and advances to play Aledo next week in the area round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs.

The game was delayed for more than two hours midway through the third quarter by a lightning delay.

Johnson had 169 rushing yards and four TDs against Eastwood to finish his junior season with 1,922 yards and 25 TDs. He shattered the program's previous season record of 1,701 yards, which was set by Daven Manning in 2016.

Troy Ceballos led Central's defense with two interceptions, including a game-changing pick early in the fourth quarter with Eastwood threatening to extend its lead back to 22 points.

Ceballos returned it 70 yards to Eastwood's 10-yard line, and Johnson scored on the next play to pull Central within 35-27 with 9:55 remaining.

When Eastwood fumbled a punt return with about six minutes to play, the Bobcats capitalized and scored on Johnson's 1-yard TD run to nearly pull off the comeback.

This story will be updated.

El Paso Eastwood 35, San Angelo Central 33

Central   6   7   7   13 — 33

Eastwood   14   14   7   0 — 35

First Quarter

E - Matthew Ramirez 2 run (kick good), 8:23 remaining

C - Zey Johnson 7 run (run failed), 5:53

E - Jordan Nava 51 pass from Kingston Jeffries (kick good), :10

Second Quarter

E - Logan Bedwell 20 pass from Jeffries (kick good), 8:21

C - Johnson 51 run (kick good), 5:40

E - Bentley De Vries 5 pass from Jeffries (kick good), 3:52

Third Quarter

E - Bedwell 36 interception return (kick good), 11:47

C - Tucker Beaty 14 pass from Micah Smith (kick good), 7:27

Fourth Quarter

C - Johnson 10 run (kick good), 9:55

C - Johnson 1 run (run failed), 3:44

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FINAL: El Paso Eastwood 35, San Angelo Central 33 ... Heck of a comeback for Central that falls just short. Zey Johnson finished with 1,922 rushing yards in 11 games.

12:19 a.m. Central's desperation pass is intercepted by Zacary Adams, and that's the game.

12:18 a.m. A long pass falls incomplete. Central still has another shot with 8 seconds left.

12:17 a.m. Eastwood is stuffed, and the Bobcats will get a chance for a miracle with 15 seconds remaining. They're at their own 36.

12:16 a.m. We have 19 seconds remaining. Let's see what Eastwood does. Looks like they'll go for it.

12:15 a.m. Eastwood is stopped short of the first-down marker. It's fourth-and-2 for the Troopers. They'll let the clock tick down to about 20 seconds or so.

12:13 a.m. Eastwood stopped at the 40-yard line. So it's now third-and-5. Bobcats spend their final timeout with 1:04 to go. 

12:11 a.m. Central burns its second timeout. Eastwood has a second-and-7 at the Bobcats' 42-yard line with a little over a minute left.

12:09 a.m. Oh no, Eastwood with a big run by QB Kingston Jeffries to the Bobcats' 45-yard line. And that might be it.

12:08 a.m. Central makes the first stop for no gain. Timeout. Second and 10 with 1:56 left.

12:07 a.m. Central has all of its timeouts, so it's not over yet. If the Bobcats can make a stop, they could have enough time for a game-winning field goal — though that could be tricky in these wet conditions.

12:06 a.m. The Troopers just barely pick up the first down, and we're now at the two-minute warning.

12:05 a.m. Eastwood has a third-and-1. Bobcats could really use a stop here. Only 2:40 remaining.

12:00 a.m. Zey Johnson is stopped on the two-point conversion try. Bobcats trail 35-33 with 3:44 remaining.

11:59 p.m. Zey Johnson with a 1-yard TD run! Bobcats can tie it with a two-point conversion.

11:59 p.m. Gavin Johnson takes a shovel pass to the 1-yard line. Bobcats knocking on the door.

11:58 p.m. Zey Johnson gets the first down. Bobcats now have a first-and-goal.

11:57 p.m. We have 5:00 remaining, and the Bobcats are facing a third-and-1 at Eastwood's 13-yard line.

11:55 p.m. Eastwood fumbles the punt return! Ellis Johnson recovers it for Central, though he appears to have been injured on the play.

11:54 p.m. Central is stopped and will have to punt the ball back. So the Bobcats' defense will have to come through one more time to give their offense a chance.

11:53 p.m. There's 6:50 remaining in the game, and Central has a critical third-and-long near midfield.

11:51 p.m. Central's Gio Walker with an interception! The Bobcats now have a chance to drive and tie the game.

11:45 p.m. Zey Johnson with a 10-yard TD run, and the Bobcats are back in the game, trailing 35-27!

11:43 p.m. Wow! Central's Troy Ceballos with an interception, and he returns it 70 yards to Eastwood's 10-yard line. The Bobcats with new life with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: El Paso Eastwood 35, San Angelo Central 20

11:39 p.m. Eastwood's Logan Bedwell with his third interception of the night at Central's 20-yard line. He returns it to the 39 and ends another Bobcats' scoring chance. 

11:36 p.m. Central's Landon Smith with an interception to get the Bobcats right back at midfield. There's 2:40 left in the third quarter.

11:29 p.m. The game has finally resumed! Central went three-and-out at midfield, and the Bobcats had to punt the ball. We have about four minutes left in the third quarter.

11:16 p.m. We have had the game delayed yet again by lightning. The players are set to take the field at 11:38 p.m.

10:51 p.m. The lightning won't stop. The game is now scheduled to start at 11:18 p.m.

10:28 p.m. The game's restart has been pushed back once again, this time to 10:50 p.m.

10:09 p.m. The lightning delay was reset until 10:25 p.m.

10:00 p.m. The teams are set to take the field again at 10:12 p.m.

9:22 p.m. We have a lightning delay, and Central's momentum is suddenly stopped now. Hopefully this doesn't drag out too long. We will be on at least a 30-minute break.

9:21 p.m. Central gets a favorable bounce on the punt, and the Bobcats will take over at the 50-yard line with 5:24 to go in the third quarter. Offense can make this game really interesting right now with a score.

9:20 p.m. Central defense immediately holds Eastwood to a three-and-out. Big-time defensive stop there.

9:14 p.m. Impressive response there by the Bobcats after that gut-punch start to the second half. They're trailing 35-20 and still have time to save this game. Defense needs a stop.

9:12 p.m. Central isn't going away just yet. The Bobcats respond with a TD drive (69 yards in 10 plays) capped by a 14-yard pass from Micah Smith to Tucker Beaty. Central trails 35-19 with 7:27 left in the third quarter. Beaty was slow to get up, however. PAT coming up.

9:05 p.m. Central was just a few yards away from getting to within 28-20 in the final minute of the second quarter. But a fumble on the Bobcats' last play of the first half, followed by this pick-six to start the second half has this game quickly spiraling out of control.

9:02 p.m. We're back to start the second half, and it could not have started any worse for the Central Bobcats. The very first play from scrimmage is an interception that's returned for a touchdown, and Eastwood takes a 35-13 lead with 11:47 left in the third quarter.

HALFTIME: El Paso Eastwood 28, San Angelo Central 13

8:39 p.m. Eastwood content to run out the clock and go into halftime with a 15-point lead.

8:37 p.m. Oh no, the Bobcats toss the ball to Zey Johnson, who drops the ball, and Eastwood recovers the fumble. Devastating turn of events for Central.

8:36 p.m. A 4-yard run by Zey Johnson, and now it's second-and-goal at the 5 with 50 seconds left in the first half.

8:35 p.m. Micah Smith is picking Eastwood's defense apart with one pass after another. Central with a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line.

8:33 p.m. Central with a couple passes to Jesse Smith, and the Bobcats have reached Eastwood's 37-yard line. A catch by Gavin Johnson now has Central to the 25-yard line.

8:31 p.m. Central at midfield as we hit the two-minute warning.

8:30 p.m. Central with a couple first downs, and the Bobcats are at their own 46-yard line.

8:27 p.m. Kingston Jeffries finds Bentley De Vries for a 5-yard TD catch on third-and-goal, and the Troopers extend their lead to 28-13 with 3:52 remaining in the second quarter.

8:25 p.m. Logan Bedwell with a huge catch for Eastwood, and the Troopers have a first-and-goal at Central's 10-yard line.

8:21 p.m. Central's Zey Johnson breaks loose for a 51-yard TD run! That's exactly what the Bobcats needed. Central pulls within 21-13 with 5:40 left in the second quarter.

8:20 p.m. Central's defense with a big stand here with about 6 minutes left in the second quarter. The Troopers have to punt, and the Bobcats' Troy Ceballos returns it all the way to near midfield.

8:16 p.m. Eastwood's Logan Bedwell intercepts Central QB Micah Smith. The Troopers will take over at the Bobcats' 46-yard line.

8:14 p.m. Another big QB draw by Micah Smith. That play seems to be working well with Eastwood keying on Zey Johnson. Bobcats near midfield.

8:13 p.m. This is a critical drive facing the Bobcats. They need to respond here to keep this game from getting away from them.

8:12 p.m. Eastwood's Kingston Jeffries throws a 20-yard TD pass to Logan Bedwell, and the Troopers now lead 21-6 with 8:21 left in the second quarter.

8:11 p.m. Eastwood driving again, and the Troopers are at Central's 20-yard line.

8:05 p.m. Central goes nowhere, and the Bobcats will have to quickly punt again.

END OF THE 1ST QUARTER: El Paso Eastwood 14, San Angelo Central 6

8:03 p.m. We have reached the end of the first quarter with Central facing a second-and-9 from its 41 when we come back.

8:02 p.m. Central's Gavin Johnson returns the kickoff to the Bobcats' 40-yard line. 

8:00 p.m. Eastwood's Jordan Nava turns a short pass into a 51-yard TD catch. The Troopers take a 14-6 lead with 10 seconds left in the first quarter.

7:56 p.m. Central offense with a three-and-out, and the Bobcats will have to punt it right back.

7:55 p.m. Zey Johnson stuffed on back-to-back runs, which is not easy. Eastwood is loading up the box to stop the Bobcats' standout back.

7:54 p.m. Interception by Central's Troy Ceballos! And the Bobcats will take over at their own 20-yard line with 2:53 left in the first quarter.

7:52 p.m. Central stops Eastwood on a fourth-and-6, but a late flag is thrown, and a pass interference call gives the Troopers a first down to keep their drive alive.

7:49 p.m. Eastwood with another fourth-and-1, and the Troopers convert again, just barely.

7:48 p.m. Central's offense flew down the field in 75 yards on six plays on its opening drive, so that was encouraging.

7:47 p.m. Central tied the game at 7-7 on the extra point, but an offsides penalty prompted Mark Smith to take the point off the board and go for the two-point conversion with the ball at the 1-yard line. Zey Johnson slipped in the backfield, however, and the Bobcats now trail 7-6.

7:45 p.m. Zey Johnson runs it in from 7 yards out! And the Bobcats have pulled within 7-6 with 5:53 left in the first quarter.

7:44 p.m. Greyson Patrick with a 7-yard catch to set up Central with a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line.

7:43 p.m. Micah Smith rolls out and finds Jesse Smith for a catch, and the Bobcats are at the 22-yard line.

7:42 p.m. Micah Smith with a 41-yard run on the Bobcats' first play. Great start for Central's offense.

7:41 p.m. Central's Gavin Johnson with a return across midfield, but a holding penalty will bring it back.

7:40 p.m. Eastwood is averaging nearly 47 points per game, so Central's offense needs to respond here.

7:39 p.m. Eastwood is on the scoreboard first on a 1-yard TD run by Matthew Ramirez. The Troopers lead 7-0 with 8:23 left in the first quarter. That was an 11-play, 56-yard drive.

7:36 p.m. A penalty pushes Eastwood back to a second-and-16 in Troopers' territory, but a couple big pass plays have them inside the 20-yard line.

7:35 p.m. Eastwood faces a fourth-and-1 but picks it up on a 2-yard run by QB Kingston Jeffries. The Troopers are now in Bobcats' territory.

7:33 p.m. Eastwood takes the kickoff to its own 44-yard line to start the game.

7:33 p.m. We're set for kickoff now. Central will be kicking to Eastwood.

7:32 p.m. Rain is in the forecast in El Paso tonight, which may not be a bad thing for Central, which would love to control the game with its rushing attack.

7:31 p.m. The top player for Eastwood is wide receiver Jordan Nava, who has 58 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. Central's top player is running back Zey Johnson, who has rushed for a school-record 1,753 yards and 21 TDs.

7:27 p.m. The Central Bobcats enter this game with a 5-5 record, while Eastwood is 8-2. This is the second meeting between the programs. They also met in the first round of the playoffs in 2022 with Eastwood winning a 61-49 shootout.

7:23 p.m. We are minutes from kickoff at Trooper Stadium in El Paso as the national anthem is being played.