WOLFFORTH, TX —- The San Angelo Central Bobcats (5-4)(2-2) lost their regular season finale in Wolfforth to the Frenship Tigers (7-2)(3-1) 30-21 Friday at Peoples Bank Stadium.
The game kicked off at 7 p.m. and the two high-octane offenses clashed for the entire game but the tide turned during the second half when the Bobcats' offense slowed down. The ‘Cats’ defense played admirably throughout the game, but in the end, the Tigers were victorious.
Frenship won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half. The Tigers showed trickery on the opening kickoff when they both kicked and recovered an onside kick. As a result, Frenship started the game on offense and took no time to score a touchdown. Accurate passing by QB Hudson Hutcheson gave the Tigers an early lead, 7-0.
The Cats recovered an onside kick and began their first drive at Central’s 47-yard line. Tyler Hill and Tyree Brawley kept the ball on the ground on several carries as the Bobcats steadily pushed the ball down the field. Faced with a 2nd down on the Tigers’ 13-yard line. Hill sliced up the defense for a touchdown. The Bobcats tied the game midway through the 1st quarter, 7-7.
The Tigers took less than two minutes off the clock to answer with their second touchdown. QB Hudson Hutcheson hit two deep routes on 3rd down to close in on the goal line. Two plays later, Frenship scored on a 14-yard scamper into the end zone. Frenship retook the lead 14-7.
Keevon Rice got involved on special teams when he returned the ensuing kickoff to Central’s 46-yard line. The Bobcats made another explosive play when Hill connected with WR Carmelo Amigleo for 51 yards. At Frenship’s 9-yard line, Hill carried the ball into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown. The ‘Cats matched what the Tigers threw at them 14-14.
The track meet continued when Frenship’s offense retook the field. The cousins Hudson and Landon Hutcheson continued to torch the Bobcats’ defense. The two, quarterback and receiver, linked up several times on the drive to put the Tigers in a position to score. The ‘Cats held fast near the goal line, but a costly penalty on 3rd down reset the sticks and moved the Tigers to the 3-yard line. Landon Hutcheson scored the next play but missed the extra point. The Tigers led 20-14.
The ‘Cats punted the ball for the first time on their ensuing drive. They managed to push the ball to Central’s 45-yard line but stalled. Hill kicked the ball away, and the Tigers took over at Frenship’s 23-yard line. Then the Bobcats' defense stepped up and forced the Tigers to punt for the first time. Central took over at the ‘Cats’ 32-yard line with 4:30 to go in the 2nd quarter.
The ‘Cats went on a march to end the half. They pushed the ball on the ground to Frenship’s 26-yard line. Faced with a 4th down and four yards to go, Head Coach Kevin Crane gambled to get the first down. Hill kept the ball and delivered. With just 17 seconds to go before halftime, Hill connected with WR Cedric Fuentes for an 18-yard touchdown. The Bobcats headed to the locker room with the lead, 21-20.
The 3rd quarter belonged to both teams’ defenses. They took turns stopping each other as both offenses went stone cold. The Bobcats stopped the Tigers twice on 4th down in the red zone. The Tigers forced the Bobcats to fumble at midfield and then forced them to punt deep in Central’s territory.
The next points from either team came in the 4th quarter when Frenship kicked a 20-yard field goal to take the lead, 23-21. After the Tigers forced a punt, the Bobcats’ defense stalled the Frenship’s offense inside the 10-yard line for the 3rd drive in a row. The Tiger’s field goal try succeeded, but whatever adjustments the Bobcats made on defense at halftime continued to work.
The ‘Cats’ best drive in the 2nd half started at Central’s 16-yard line. After failing to get a first down three plays in a row, Hill converted a 4th and long to midfield. HIll then connected with Ben Imler for 19 yards to Frenship’s 30-yard line. Then Bobcats stalled once again. A holding penalty and a sack dashed the ‘Cats' chances of an easy conversion. Tyler Hill failed to get the first down on 4th down, and the Bobcats turned the ball over.
The Tigers added one more touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21, and the Bobcats never threatened again. San Angelo Central lost an excellent football game 30-21.
The Bobcats made the playoffs with wins over Odessa High and Midland High. The playoff games are still to be determined, but the ‘Cats expect to play an El Paso school in the first round of the playoffs. The location and time are also to be determined.
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