“From the start of the season to where we finished, the growth the team showed makes me so proud, they improved so much and I couldn’t be happier,” Ganado Head Football Coach Josh Ervin with high praise for his young Indian squad, who bowed out of the playoffs in the regional semifinal round in a 40-13 loss to the Refugio Bobcats.
Ganado kicked the game off on offense first and drove the ball quickly into Refugio territory, but were forced into a long fourth down, one they would fail to convert and turn it over to the Bobcats.
Refugio found the endzone a couple of plays into their possession on a 45-yard touchdown pass, giving them the 6-0 lead. Ganado would answer on the following possession after a long run by Logan Bures set them up in the redzone. Bures then found the endzone on a short rushing touchdown to knot the game up at 6 points near the end of the first quarter.
Refugio took the field for their second offensive possession and found a lot of success on the ground, with both the quarterback and running back contributing to five first downs before setting themselves up just inside the Indian 10-yard line. The Bobcats capped off the drive with a short rushing touchdown to put themselves in front again at 12-6.
Ganado and Refugio would exchange possessions right before the end of the half, but the Bobcats attempted a fake punt, one that Austen Pena snuffed out and gave the Indians great field position with seconds left in the first half. Ganado’s offense capitalized on the field position with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Landyn Arriaga to Austen Pena to put the Indians back in front 13-12 as time expired in the first half.
Ganado had momentum going into halftime, but coming out of it, the Bobcats quickly silenced the crowd. Refugio would return the ensuing kickoff and successfully convert the two-point attempt to again put themselves ahead.
Ganado’s offense had the opportunity to respond but Refugio’s defense stepped up and got another stop for their offense. Refugio’s rushing attack continued to over Ganado’s defense, finding chunk yardage every other play, and quickly moving into Indian territory. Refugio scored again on another quarterback run, extending their lead to two scores through the middle of the third quarter.
Ganado’s offense took the ball and moved it well into Bobcat territory, but Landyn Arriaga’s pass was intercepted by a Bobcat defender. However, the Indians would respond with a turnover of their own, with a fumble forced by Sean Willis. Ganado again moved well into the Bobcats’ side of the field, but the Bobcat defense continued to get the stops they needed and forced Ganado’s third turnover on downs on their side of the field. The Bobcats followed the turnover with a long drive that took up nearly all of the fourth quarter, punching in another rushing touchdown and converting a two-point conversion attempt with less than four minutes remaining in the game.
The Indians took over and moved to midfield, but another turnover for Refugio would put the final nail in the coffin. Refugio made a statement, punching in another touchdown to make it a 40-13 game in their favor as the clock expired.
After the game, Landyn Arriaga spoke of his outlook on season and approaching next year, “We have to look past this and reset, we have to get ready for next year and put our minds to what we have and what we can accomplish next season.”
Seniors Austen Pena and John Utley spoke on stepping into a larger role with the team, “We came a long way with a brand new team, we kept getting better every week, and the young guys are great, every week learning and picking things up along the way.”
Utley added, “These guys have a really bright future ahead of them, they adjusted really well when we moved some pieces around, and I believe that these guys are going to be really good.”
