RIO HONDO — What was suppose to be a game to remember quickly became a game to forget for the Raymondville Bearkats as the Rio Hondo Bobcats hit the offensive gas pedal and never looked back.
After a defensive first quarter where both teams traded field goals, the Tyler Bush and Erik Pizarro tandem came alive and led Rio Hondo to a 45-24 victory over previously undefeated Raymondville on Friday in the Valley Morning Star’s Game of the Week.
“I think we performed awesome the whole night,” said Rio Hondo head coach Rocky James. “I knew they weren’t going to expect a defense as stout as the one we played tonight. But the last three weeks we’ve been playing some really solid defense and we held them (Raymondville) to about 93 yards of offense in the first half, which is phenomenal.
“It just took us awhile to get warmed up offensively and when we did, we were able to get it going. I know this offense was going to be tough to stop with Tyler (Bush) making things happen.”
Bush came alive in the second quarter throwing two touchdowns to his most prolific weapon Erik Pizarro, who finished the night with 117 yards receiving with two touchdowns, moving his TD tally up from 11 to 13 on the season.
Bush had a phenomenal showing against the district’s leading defense, throwing the ball for 246 yards and rushing for another 135 yards on 12 carries. The senior quarterback has now passed for more than 1,650 yards on the season.
“The two were able to connect even when he was triple covered a couple of times,” said James. “They work on this everyday and when they find the spot like over the shoulder or somewhere and Tyler can get it to him. They’re just tremendous athletes.”
With the win, the Bobcats improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in District 16-4A DII with just Orange Grove and Progreso remaining on the regular season schedule.
For Raymondville (7-1, 2-1) it was a night to forget.
After giving up under 200 yards a game, the Kats defense was picked apart for 508 yards on Friday.
Offensively, Bearkats quarterback Daniel Gutierrez went 0-7 in the first half and finished the night with two receptions for 30 yards and one INT as receivers continually dropped routine passes all game.
However, Gutierrez sparked some offensive magic in the second on a 62-yard quarterback scramble that led to a 5-yard touchdown by Justin Cantu.
Next week the Bearkats host Port Isabel at home before finishing the season at Orange Grove.
