Friday night saw a thrilling battle between the top two teams in 4A District One, as undefeated Celina faced off against Alvarado. Celina has been unstoppable this season, but Alvarado came in ready to challenge the reigning powerhouse.
Alvarado struck first, taking an early 7-0 lead. Celina wasted no time responding, tying the game at 7-7. The first half turned into a back-and-forth offensive showcase, with both teams trading scores. By halftime, Celina held a slim 27-21 advantage.
However, the second half was all Celina. The Bobcats showcased why they’re ranked number one in the state, transforming into an unstoppable force. Their defense shut down Alvarado’s offense at every turn, while Celina’s punishing ground game took center stage. Four unanswered touchdowns in the second half sealed a dominant 55-21 victory for Celina.
With this emphatic win over the number two team in 4A, Celina moves on to the state semifinals, further cementing their reputation as the favorites to claim the championship. Their relentless performance begs the question: can anyone stop this team?
Next week, Celina faces West Plains, who are riding high after a stunning upset against Stephenville. Celina will need to dig deep and continue their all-around excellence to take down this rising West Plains squad.
Game Recap: Celina vs. Alvarado – Regional Final
Final Score:
Celina Bobcats: 55
Alvarado Indians: 21
Date: December 6, 2024
Location: Regional Final
| Quarter | Celina | Alvarado |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | 20 | 14 |
| 3 | 14 | 0 |
| 4 | 14 | 0 |
| Final | 55 | 21 |
Team Stats
| Stat | Celina | Alvarado |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 18 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 561 | 420 |
| Passing Yards | 259 | 339 |
| Completion Attempts | 12-14 | 31-59 |
| Yards Per Pass | 18.5 | 5.75 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 0 | 3 |
| Rushing Yards | 302 | 81 |
| Rushing Attempts | 35 | 27 |
| Yards Per Rush | 8.63 | 3 |
| Penalties | 7-51 | 8-59 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
Celina Player Stats
Passing:
- Bowe Bentley: 12/14, 259 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT
Rushing:
- Bowe Bentley: 9 carries, 118 yards, 13.11 YPC, 1 TD
- Harrison Williams: 9 carries, 81 yards, 9 YPC, 2 TDs
- Logan Gutierrez: 12 carries, 59 yards, 4.92 YPC, 2 TDs
- Preston Chartier: 3 carries, 38 yards, 12.67 YPC
- Carter Place: 2 carries, 6 yards, 3 YPC
Receiving:
- Ethan Rucker: 3 receptions, 104 yards, 34.67 YPC, 1 TD
- Wyatt Villarreal: 3 receptions, 79 yards, 26.33 YPC, 1 TD
- Colton Rodriguez: 3 receptions, 48 yards, 16 YPC
- Erick Salinas: 2 receptions, 27 yards, 13.5 YPC
- Logan Gutierrez: 1 reception, 1 yard, 1 YPC
Alvarado Player Stats
Passing:
- Cardea Collier: 31/59, 339 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing:
- Demarcus Belton: 9 carries, 45 yards, 5 YPC
- Cardea Collier: 16 carries, 38 yards, 2.38 YPC, 1 TD
- Schyler Dethorne: 1 carry, 1 yard, 1 YPC
- Lance Sansom: 1 carry, -3 yards
Receiving:
- Logan Bjork: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 12.82 YPC
- Lance Sansom: 6 receptions, 91 yards, 15.17 YPC
- Demarcus Belton: 7 receptions, 44 yards, 6.29 YPC, 1 TD
- Hunter Byerley: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 13.33 YPC, 1 TD
- Javion Johnson: 3 receptions, 24 yards, 8 YPC
- Schyler Dethorne: 1 reception, -1 yard
