Brahmas run out of time in 21-14 playoff loss to Refugio
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

Photo by Terrell Jessen.Jessen East Bernard quarterback Mike Hayes runs for yardage in Friday's Region IV playoff game against Refugio. The Bobcats held on a for a 21-14 win over the Brahmas.

SAN MARCOS - Refugio relied on three long scoring drives in the first half to eliminate East Bernard from the Class 2A playoffs Friday night at Jim Wacker Stadium on the Texas State University campus.

The Bobcats scored on their first three possessions of the game en route to a 21-14 victory over the Brahmas in a Region IV quarterfinal matchup.

"I couldn't be more proud of our kids," said EB coach Jerry Long after the game. " I told our seniors that they raised the expectation level of this town and this community.

"We expect to be back here and playing these guys again."

Refugio will now play Rice Consolidated, a 29-28 winner over Stockdale, next week for the regional championship.

Down 21-6 at halftime, Brahma Mike Hayes scored on a 12-yard run with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. He added the 2-point conversion to bring the score to 21-14. He finished with 65 yards on 17 carries.

Photo by Terrell Jessen East Bernard quarterback Matt Stelzel picks up yardage in Friday's game.

The Brahmas couldn't convert on two third down possessions in the fourth quarter. Refugio took over with under a minute remaining and ran out the clock.

Refugio took the opening kickoff and started at its on eight-yard line. The Bobcats drove the ball to the Brahma 27 on runs by Carl Swain and Collin Avery.

Swain later then ran to the Brahma 12. Avery picked up three yards to the nine. Then on a third and two, Swain made it to the two to set up a first and goal.

Swain scored on the next play with 3:23 remaining to cap off the 18-play, 92-yard drive. Eric Martinez booted the extra point to put the Bobcats up 7-0.

EB took the ensuing kickoff and the Brahmas took over at their own 46 yard line.

Mike Hayes picked up eight yards to the Refugio 46 on the first play. Then he picked up four yards to the 42.

A five yard procedure penalty moved the ball back to the 47. Refugio was then flagged for offsides to move the ball back to the 42. On a third and eight, the Bobcats were flagged for another offsides to set up a third and two from the 32.

Hayes then picked up five yards to the Bobcat 27. The quarter ended after Hayes picked up two yards to the 25.

Then on a third down and three from the 20, Randy Perkins picked up two yards to the 19 to set up a fourth and two from the 18.

Plunkett then missed a 35-yard field goal with under 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Swain picked up 21 yards to the 41 on the first play as the clocked ticked to under 10 minutes.

Ricky Lewis then caught a five-yard pass to the 48 to set up a third and two. Whitmire kept the ball and ran to the Brahma 39. Swain picked up six yards to the 33. Then on a third and two from the 31, Whitmire kept the ball and ran to the 25-yard line with under six minutes remaining.

He kept the ball again and made it to the 12. Barnaby Cornado ran two yards to the 10.

On a third down and four from the seven, the Brahmas called time out with 4:32 remaining.

Swain then made it to the two to set up a first and goal. Then on third and goal from inside the one, Bobcat C.J. Amaro recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown.

Martinez's kick put the Bobcats up 14-0 with only 2:35 remaining until halftime.

The Brahmas took the ensuing kickoff and started at their own 20 yard line. Plunkett picked up 11 yards to the 36-yard line. Two plays later, Plunkett ran to the Bobcats 48 and the Brahmas called time out.

Crump then ran to the Bobcats 26. On a second down and 10 with 44 seconds left, Matt Stelzel connected with Plunkett in the endzone for a touchdown with only 36 ticks left.

Plunkett's extra point kick was blocked by Bobby Arcand and it left the Bobcats with a 14-6 lead with only 36 seconds left.

Refugio took over at its own 20-yard line after the ensuing kickoff with 28 seconds left. Whitmire connected with Lewis at the Brahma 45-yard line and the Bobcats called time out with 12 ticks left.

Whitmire then connected with Swain at the 25 yard line and he took it in for a touchdown on the last play of the half. Martinez then booted the extra point kick to put the Bobcats up 21-6.

The Brahmas took the second half kickoff and started at their own 40 yard line. Hayes picked up five yards on the first play. Plunkett recovered his fumble on the second play and lost six yards back to the 46.

The Brahmas failed to pick up first down and punted. Swain returned it 70 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a block nullified it and the Bobcats took over at their own 36 yard line with 10:19 remaining.

Two plays later, Avery took over as quarterback and ran 45 yards to the Brahma 28 yard line. Whitmire took over at quarterback again.

Three plays later, Brahma Barnaby Cornado recovered a Refugio fumble at the 22 with under eight minutes remaining.

Two plays later Lance Crump ran to the 49. Then on a third and three from the Bobcat 42, Hayes made it to the 35 as the clocked ticked to under five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Stelzel then connected with Plunkett at the 16 yard line. Crump picked up three yards to the 12. Hayes scored with 4:34 remaining.

On a 2-point conversion try, Plunkett was grabbed by the face mask to put the ball inside the 2 yard line. Hayes added the 2-point conversion to bring the score to 21-14 with 4:39 remaining.

Refugio took over at its own 27 yard line after the ensuing kickoff. The Bobcats drove to the 38. Swain then raced 62 yards for an apparent touchdown but a holding penalty moved it back to the 29 yard line.

Then on a fourth down and 13, Refugio called time out with 1:13 remaining. The Bobcats punted and the Brahmas took over at their 26 yard line.

The quarter ended two plays later with the Brahmas facing a third and eight. Refugio was flagged for pass interference and EB got a first down at the 41.

Two plays later, the Brahmas were flagged for holding and it pushed the ball back to the 32. Then on a third and 18, Hayes failed to pick up a first down.

The Brahmas punted and the Bobcats took over at their own 32-yard line with 9:30 remaining in the game.

EB's defense held on a third and seven and forced a punt. The Brahmas took over at their own 15 yard line with 8:06 remaining in the game.

Hayes then picked up a first down to the 31. He lost three yards on the next play as the clocked ticked to under six minutes. The Brahmas punted three plays later.

Refugio took over at its own 28 yard line with 4:04 remaining. On a fourth down and two from the 37, the Bobcats called time out with 1:51 remaining in the game.

The Brahmas were drawn offsides and Refugio picked up a first down at the 35 yard line. The Bobcats took over and ran out the clock.

Crump finished the game with 58 yards on seven carries and Plunkett had 38 yards on eight carries.

Stelzel completed two of five passes for 54 yards.

For Refugio, Swain rushed for 120 yards on 29 carries and Avery picked up 90 yards on eight carries.