Watch: Bobcats' Coach Kevin Crane Talks About Playoffs

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo Central Bobcats Head Coach Kevin Crane held a press conference Monday afternoon, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. at San Angelo Stadium. The San Angelo Central Bobcats (5-5)(2-3) travel to El Paso to play the El Paso Eastwood Troopers (8-2)(7-1) for the first round of the 2022 UIL Football State Championships 6A Division II. The game is on Friday, Nov. 11, and starts at 6:30 p.m. MST at Trooper Stadium.

After the tough loss last Friday in Lubbock, Coach Crane had some encouraging words for his team.

“We did some good things in the first half. We played well. Obviously, having the lead going into halftime was a good thing,” Crane said. 

On Friday's playoff matchup against El Paso Eastwood, Crane said, “It’s a new season; it's the third season. You kind of have a non-district season, a district season, and, if you are lucky, a playoff season. That’s been the message. It’s a fresh start. Going into the playoffs, everyone is 0-0. Anything can happen.” 

Coach Crane and the ‘Cats are familiar with this El Paso trip as they have made the trek several times over the past several seasons. However, El Paso Eastwood is not one of the teams that Crane has faced in his tenure as coach.

“They are a good football team. We have seen them in the summer for 7-on-7 but have not played them up to this point,” he said.

This year’s playoff berth marks the 13th straight for the Central Bobcats, and Coach Crane says it's important to the community of San Angelo. “Any time you can play in the playoffs, it’s a good thing. It brings excitement to the community and your school. It’s one of our goals at the beginning of each year,” he said.

The Troopers have a talented team on both sides of the ball this year. They average 36.7 points per game. Starting quarterback Evan Minjarez has thrown for 2205 yards on 126/223 attempts, 27 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 801 yards on 127 carries with nine touchdowns. In addition, WR Curtis Murillo leads the team in receiving with 53 catches for 1046 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Troopers dominated most of their district this year, only dropping their first game to El Paso Pebble Hills. This performance earned them 2nd place in the district and a higher seed in the playoff bracket. The Bobcats may be the lower seed coming into the game, but the 'Cats have always played close with any competition they have faced this year.

El Paso Eastwood matches up well with the Bobcats, with both teams achieving similar numbers on offense. Tyler Hill and the rest of the offense will have their work cut out for them, but if the Bobcats can make some of the plays go right for them and minimize mistakes, they have a chance to come home as Bi-district champions.

Watch parts of the press conference below: