2013: 🏈 Quarterfinals: Refugio vs East Bernard

2013: 🏈 Quarterfinals: Refugio vs East Bernard December 7, 2013: Refugio 40, East Bernard 34 Bobcats Taste Sweet Victory By Billy Swinney, Refugio County Press December 13, 2013 If one were to look up the word “perseverance” in the dictionary, this might be what they find: perseverance n. \per•se•ver•ance\ continued effort to achieve something despite difficulties or opposition, see also the Refugio Bobcats. Despite everything being thrown at them but the kitchen sink, the Bobcats have plowed their way to the state semi-finals. The Bobcats proved the cliche that revenge is a dish best served cold, and, oh, was it cold, by beating the East Bernard Brahmas – the very team that beat them in the same match-up last year. The Refugio defense was up to the task stopping short the No. 1 team in the state to a heart stopping 40-34 win. East Bernard jumped onto an early lead scoring a touchdown off of a rare Travis Quintanilla interception. It didn't take too much longer for Quintanilla to even the score with a 5-yard touchdown run of his own to make it a 7-7 ball game. To finish off the first quarter, Dana Franklin hauled in a 21-yard TD reception from Quintanilla to put the ’Cats ahead, 13-7. In the second period, the Brahmas ripped off three touchdowns to take back the lead, 27-13. But Quintanilla closed the gap just before the half with another touchdown pass to Franklin from 8 yards out. With the Brahmas leading 27-19, Head Coach Jason Herring and the rest of the coaching staff installed just the right adjustments needed into the Bobcat defense. In the third period, the defense held the Brahmas to just 28 yards – all of it rushing yardage. Then, Quintanilla connected with Tyler Castellano on a 15-yard TD pass for the quarter’s only points to make it 27-25. To start the fourth quarter, East Bernard churned out another touchdown to make the score 34-25. That's when the Bobcat defense vowed “no more.” As Jim LaFond, Alex Coronado and Shane Jochetz stifled the Brahmas offense, Quintanilla targeted Franklin once again on a beautiful 19-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-32. Refugio running back Isaiah Perez made the decisive score with a 2 -yard run into the end zone and finished the game off with a rushing 2-point conversion to seal the win 40-34. The Brahmas drove to the Bobcat 31-yard line in hopes of regaining the lead, but the defense stood its ground and propelled the Bobcats into a semi-final match-up with the Waskom Wildcats. The Bobcats will face the Wildcats Thursday, Dec. 12 in Houston’ Reliant Stadium for the right to advance to their second State Championship game in three years. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Reliant Stadium.