Advosports

REFUGIO - Refugio has spent the past two weeks trying to stop teams from running the ball right at its defense.

The Bobcats (12-0) will face a new challenge in their Class 2A, Division II quarterfinal game against Sonora (12-0).

The Broncos will attempt to go over and around Refugio when the teams meet Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

"There is nobody else like that," said Refugio coach Jason Herring. "There's a lot of spread teams, this isn't spread. This is crazy spread. There's no back in the backfield. Most of the time there's no back, there's just the quarterback standing back there and they've got them spread everywhere and they're just slinging it to them.

"What they do - coach (David) Sine is doing a great job - is what he's forcing you to do is tackle his good skill people in open space. It's really a great scheme."

Sine installed the scheme when he came to Sonora from Flatonia in 2009.

The Broncos were 2-8 in 2008, but went 7-4 in Sine's first season and 9-2 last year. Sonora advanced to the quarterfinals with a 28-27 regional win over East Bernard.

"We used the strength program we put in at Flatonia," Sine said. "We got a lot stronger. We also have a good track program, which has really helped. We went to the state 7-on-7 tournament the last two years and that's helped complement what we do on offense."

Sonora quarterback Clayton Parks has broken the school record by throwing for 2,785 yards and 27 touchdowns, with 54 of those passes going to Word Hudson for 940 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"They're going to throw tons of little fast screens and scissors and throwbacks almost like gadget plays," Herring said. "They have lots of trick plays. It's almost like Coach Sine watched Boise State the last four or five years and put in their top 10 plays because it's everything from throwback to the quarterback, to a reverse pass, to statue of liberty."

Refugio switched gears this week from its preparation for Three Rivers and Poth.

"They'll be a completely different animal than we've ever dealt with," said senior Lynx Hawthorne. "They spread the ball to everybody. Everybody gets a piece of it. It's going to come down to stopping whatever they throw at us."

Refugio continued its offensive success in last week's 41-7 regional win over Poth.

The Bobcats set a school record for points in a season, bringing their total to 751.

"I think we're on top of the world right now," Hawthorne said, "but I really think we've got a lot more work to do."

Refugio won't lack for motivation against Sonora. Not only will the Bobcats be seeking to advance to the semifinals for the third straight year, they'll attempt to do it against a team Herring coached for seven seasons and led to the 2000 Class 2A, Division I state championship.

"They know the situation and want to win it bad for me," Herring said. "I would be shocked if we don't show up and play lights out."

• Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• Comment