If you come to San Angelo by way of 277, it’s going to seem innocuous until you hit it. You’re driving through what seems like the hill country, moving through farms and picket fences, and then all of a sudden you’re in a relatively metropolitan area. You drive for another 5 minutes, and there’s San Angelo Stadium, nestled in a bowl between two hills.
The stadium and town sneak up on you, much like the Angry Orange do. They’re a lethal combination of fast and quick, and before you know it you’re down 14 points and in major trouble. Senior quarterback Cal Vincent leads to Bobcat attack, and he’s the most wily of the bunch.
Tonight, the Bobcats are taking on the Midland Bulldogs, who’ve snuck up on people this season as well. They’re 7-1, a surprising record considering that they were 4-7 last year, and snuck into the playoffs where they were demolished by Martin.
The scene at the stadium is par for the course for any good West Texas team. There’s all sorts of tailgating going on, the stadium begins filling up around an hour before kickoff, there’s middle schoolers wearing the jerseys of their various teams to the game, and everyone is decked in either purple or orange.
The Bobcats struck first on a Cal Vincent pass. The San Angelo Central offense has been humming all year, routinely scoring ridiculous amounts of points on even the toughest opponents. Midland’s defense would give early, but stiffened up severely towards the end of the half.
Central would go up 14-0 on a Dedrick Howard pick six, extending the Central lead to 14-0. Midland was looking desperate. This is what Central does, they jump on you early, pummel you, and don’t let up until you can’t score enough points to make up the difference.
Central made the first of a series of mistakes late in the first, when Cal Vincent fumbled and Midland recovered in Bobcat territory. They were back in the game when Jalen Childress took a wide receiver reverse in for six, and back in business again on a second Cal Vincent fumble.
Central is tough on defense though, and held strong. Another Dedrick Howard interception made the fumble a moot point, and Central was back in business. A tough Bulldog defensive front led by Joseph Barron and Dillon Springer locked the potent combination of Cal Vincent and Daven Manning down, and a Jackson Anuszkiewicz pass on the subsequent drive tied the game up.
Midland would threaten one more time, but another Central interception would silence that threat. The game headed to halftime tied at 14.
The fireworks continued early, as Midland’s Holt Wood picked off a Cal Vincent pass to delete a Bobcat scoring attempt. Donnie Bowers would sack Anuszkiewicz less than 15 seconds of gametime later, and Central was back on offense.
The drive quickly stalled at midfield, but a tricky Central fake punt gave the Bobcats new life. Cal Vincent would eventually punch it in the end zone, and Central lead 21-14 with around 4 minutes left in the 3rd. Midland would fail to convert a 4th and long, and Central would make them pay for the mistake, converting a 4th and goal of their own to extend the lead to 27-14 following a botched two point attempt.
Gage Smith picked off Jackson Anuszkiewicz, and Central began to blow the game wide open. A Midland defense that had held strong against the run was gashed by Daven Manning for a long touchdown on the first play of the 4th quarter, and Central was in complete control. Midland added a late score, but the onside kick went wide, and Central ran out the clock for the win.
San Angelo Central’s defense was impressive all night, sacking Anuszkiewicz twice and forcing him into 5 picks. Central is just that good, they’re a top ten team by anyone’s standards in 6A.
San Angelo Central head coach Brent Davis was very complimentary of the Bulldogs, saying, “What a great ballgame, those are the kinds you have a lot of fun in, against a great Midland team”
“That’s a great team we’re playing, you’re not gonna blow them out. I can’t say enough about the defense, they played lights out all night long.”
San Angelo Central now has 21 consecutive victories at home, and is looking to make some serious waves in the playoffs.
