Central Bobcats Crush Defending District Champ Frenship 

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Central Bobcats will head into the playoffs with a tidal wave of momentum after a 52-16 win over defending district champion Frenship on Thursday night at San Angelo Stadium.

Central actually trailed 16-10 at halftime before outscoring the Tigers 42-0 in the second half to run away with the game.

Zey Johnson had 16 carries for 129 yards and three touchdown runs, while Colton Hill caught three TD passes from Micah Smith.

The Bobcats’ defense posted a second-half shutout against a team averaging 39 points per game.

"That second half was as good of football as we've played all year," Central head coach Mark Smith said. "I told them, 'If we put it together — offense, defense and kicking game — we have an excellent football team, and that's what we did today. That's great momentum carrying us into the playoffs. We've got to keep building on that and keep this momentum riding into next week."

Central improved to 6-4 overall, clinching its first winning season since 2019. The Bobcats also finished 3-2 in District 2-6A to earn third place. 

Central will now head into the Class 6A Division II playoffs against El Paso Pebble Hills (7-3) at a site and time to be determined.

Central trailed by as much as 16-7 when Frenship scored with 5:58 left in the second quarter, but the Bobcats managed to pull within 16-10 thanks to a 50-yard field goal by Caleb Holbert with 1:07 to go before halftime.

Coach Smith decided to be aggressive and attempt an onside kick to open the second half. It failed, but the Bobcats defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-3 at their 40-yard line.

Three plays later, Johnson broke loose for a 34-yard TD run, and Central never looked back. Hill had three TD catches in a span of about five-and-a-half minutes to give the Bobcats a 38-16 lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

Hill finished with six catches for 100 yards, highlighted by a fingertip TD grab as he was falling out of bounds to put the Bobcats ahead 31-16 late in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Central's defense kept coming up with stop after stop against a dangerous offense. Chris Walker had two fumble recoveries in the fourth quarter, one of which was returned two yards for the game's final touchdown.

"That was a dominant second half against a really good football team," Smith said. "What strong senior leadership we have. For them to get to experience this in their last regular-season game at home, I couldn't be prouder of them."

Overall, Central produced 203 yards on the ground, and the Bobcats had 186 through the air on 14-of-22 passing by Micah Smith.

Frenship had two interceptions in the first quarter, both by Jackson Thomas, but the Tigers were only able to cash those in for three points.

Riley Oines and Davis Darby each had drive-ending sacks for Central's defense.

Frenship actually finished with zero rushing yards. Three fumbles that cost the Tigers 41 yards contributed to that, but it was a dominant defensive performance nonetheless.

Frenship quarterback Quaid Ferris completed his first six passes, but the Bobcats began to lock down more and more as the game went on.

Ferris finished 21-of-39 passing for 175 yards and a TD. He also added a TD run.

By winning this game, Central avoided a first-round playoff matchup at District 1-6A champion El Paso Eastwood (9-1). Frenship, which fell to 4-6 overall and 2-3 in district, will now have to make the long haul to far West Texas to open the playoffs.

San Angelo Central 52, Frenship 16

Frenship   10   6   0   0 — 16

Central   7   3   21   21 — 52

First Quarter

C - Zey Johnson 2 run (Caleb Holbert kick)

F - Quaid Ferris 4 run (Samuel Miller kick)

F - Miller 35 field goal 

Second Quarter

F - Braiden Dunkerson 5 run (kick failed)

C - Holbert 50 field goal

Third Quarter

C - Johnson 34 run (Holbert kick)

C - Colton Hill 16 pass from Micah Smith (Holbert kick)

C - Hill 10 catch from Smith (Holbert kick)

Fourth Quarter

C - Hill 26 pass from Smith (Holbert kick)

C - Johnson 2 run (Holbert kick)

C - Chris Walker 2 fumble return (Holbert kick)