RIO HONDO — On their homecoming night, Rio Hondo wasn’t going to let Hidalgo spoil the festivities. Tyler Bush and Erik Pizarro made sure of that.
Bush and Pizarro dominated the first half en route to a 59-0 win Friday night at Bobcat Stadium.
“When they (Hidalgo) came out, they picked up three first downs,” said Rio Hondo coach Rocky James. “They ran eight minutes off the clock in the first quarter. That’s Coach (Monty) Stumbaugh’s style and I was a little worried at the beginning. Once we got going and hit our stride, I knew we’re going to be OK.”
The Bobcats (2-1) have now won two in a row and their offense continues to roll as it has scored 30 or more points in all three of the Cats’ games this season.
Rio Hondo will now prepare for their Week Five matchup at Grulla, which beat Lyford 34-21 on Friday.
“They’re a very good football team,” said James of Grulla. “Last year we got the best of them here in Rio Hondo and now we go to Grulla and I know they are going to be ready. Offensively, they like to run the ball, but I know we will be ready for the challenge.”
Junior running back Jesus Garay had quite the second half for Rio Hondo as he scored four touchdowns highlighted by a 50-yard and 26-yard score.
BUSH TO PIZARRO: After a defensive stop in the second quarter, Pizarro made it 14-0 on a 55-yard punt return. Pizarro finished with three scores in the first half.
The Cats didn’t just get the job done through the air as Bush displayed his ground game with a 46-yard touchdown run to open up the scoring. Bush later escaped for a 53-yard scamper that set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Troy Macias that gave Rio Hondo a 21-0 lead with 5:20 left in the second quarter.
“We came out strong tonight and carried last week’s momentum into this week,” said Bush. “Our offensive line did a great job blocking up front and opened holes for us. My chemistry with (Pizarro) is great. We have been playing together since we were little and it has just grown as we’ve gotten older, and it’s picked up even more this season.”
The senior combo lit up the Friday night lights and made it look easy. Bush hit Pizarro for 7- and 16-yard touchdowns in the second quarter. The 16-yard score was Pizarro’s third of the night and extended the lead to 28-0.
“I feel this is what our offense is capable of doing. Hopefully, with some luck and God’s prayers we will be OK this season,” James said.
