1999: 🏈 Semifinals: Refugio vs Elysian Fields

1999: 🏈 Semifinals: Refugio vs Elysian Fields December 11, 1999: Refugio 13, Elysian Fields 14 Defeat Tough for Refugio Last-Minute Loss in 2A Semifinals Painful for ‘Cats By Mike Forman, Victoria Advocate December 13, 1999 Matt McKinney did his best to maintain his composure as he walked to the Refugio dressing room following Saturday night’s 14-13 Class 2A Division II semifinal loss to Elysian Fields at the Astrodome. But there was no doubt, the Refugio linebacker was hurting inside. “It’s just real hard,” McKinney said. “I remember the last time Refugio played here (a 14-7 semifinal loss to Alto in 1995), my brother (Will) played on the team and I was a manager and it hurt back them. I remember my freshman year when we lost in the fourth round and that hurt too. But this is even worse. This was going to be the year. It just didn’t happen.” The Bobcats’ dream of a state title disappeared when Elysian Fields running back Chris Harris bulled into the end zone from inside the 1-yard line on fourth down with 44 seconds left in the game and Sean Struwe added the decisive extra point. Harris run foiled an outstanding defensive effort by the Bobcats who had limited Elysian Fields quarterback Josh Tiller to a total of 2 yards on three runs from the 3-yard line. “I thought they were going to give it to No. 24 (Harris),” said Refugio coach George Harris. “It’s too bad because that was a great goal line stand.” Refugio, which ends the season with a 13-2 record, had led from the moment Alex Boyd ran 30 yards for a touchdown with 5:35 left in the first quarter until the final moments of the game. Boyd’s touchdown was set up by a McKinney interception and quarterback Zack Edwards scored on a 1-yard run following a fumble recovery by defensive tackle Artemio Hernandez. “We pushed it and pushed it, but I guess we ran out of energy,” said Refugio fullback Trey Williamson, who carried 23 times for 130 yards. “It was just like a battle. The close games are the hardest games to lose.” Refugio lost because it failed to take advantage of three scoring opportunities in the second half. Edwards fumbled an attempted handoff at the Elysian fields 8-yard line and was sacked attempting to pass on a fourth-and two from the Elysian Fields 22. Williamson was also stopped a yard short on a fourth-and-two from the Elysian Fields 22. “We thought coming in that Trey would have a big game,” said Refugio’s Harris. “But we knew their defense was super quick. I think our guys really got tired.” Refugio had to be fatigued from chasing the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Harris, who carried 23 times for 198 yards. “I knew he was fast because I had seen him at the state track meet,” McKinney said of Harris, won a gold medal last spring in the 200-meter dash. “But I have to give him credit. We really smoked him a couple of times and he got up and ran back to the huddle.” Harris did most of his damage on the option, where he had runs of 22, 21, 41 and 40 yards. “We were just trying to find something that would work,” said Elysian Fields coach Chad Morris. “We were begging scratching and crawling.” Harris’ biggest run was only 18 inches, but it was enough to send Elysian Fields (14-1) into a state final rematch against Celina (15-0), which is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Texas Stadium in Irving. “We’ve had a lot of games that have come down to the wire,” Morris said. “We’ll take it any way we can get it.” McKinney and his teammates who return next season will take the memories of Saturday night’s loss into next season and use it as motivation to do even better. “We do have a lot of people coming back and we’re excited about that,” Refugio’s Harris said. “But we’re also losing a lot of good players.” NOTES: Refugio defensive back Ray King, who left the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter, suffered an apparent concussion. He spent the night in a Houston hospital before returning to Refugio on Sunday. Refugio ended the season with three 1,000 yard rushers. Edwards had1,258 yards and 17 touchdowns, Williamson had 1,108 yards and 22 touchdowns and Boyd had 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns.