Broncos Crush Bearcats
By Ray Glasscock
It is highly likely that the Sonora Broncos set an all time record this week against the Ballinger Bearcats by scoring 54 points in the first half. Everything that the Sonora coaches called worked, and nothing the Ballinger coaches called succeeded.
The Broncos had nine opportunities to score and they scored eight touchdowns! Clayton Parks completed 19 of 29 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Word Hudson caught six passes for 95 yards while Zach Badeaux snagged six passes for 67 yards. Edward Garza was the leading rusher with 57 yards on 13 carries followed by Erik Santana with 50 yards on eight carries. There were 19 Broncos who made tackles with Damon Evans leading the way with two solo tackles and ten assists. Badeaux, Sam Powers, Evans and Dallas Payne had sacks.
On defense, the Broncos held the Bearcats to 48 yards of passing offense. The Ballinger quarterback completed four passes out of 16 attempts with one pick six interception. Their leading rusher carried the ball 12 times and gained 21 yards. With the Broncos making four sacks, the Bearcats finished the game with 18 carries for a negative four yards!
The only time that the Broncos failed to score in the first half was on the opening drive. On the second drive, Parks hit Payne with a 50 yard completion, followed by a 21 yard completion to Badeaux. Badeaux scored on a one yard touchdown run through a HUGE hole opened by 800 pounds of Bronco blocking provided by Evans, Kade Wimberley, Kyle Patlin, and Cadesman Pope. The Broncos tried to run for the two point conversion, but it was stopped.
The second scoring drive started at the Bearcats 38 yard line setup by a 12 yard punt return by Imoni Cross. After three incomplete passes, the Broncos lined up in punt formation. Parks threw to Payne for a 22 yard gain to the Bearcats 16 yard line. Badeaux covered the remaining yardage on an eleven yard catch and a five yard touchdown run. Garza added two points on a run up the middle.
Hudson scored the next touchdown on a leaping catch in the end zone. Wimberley kicked the PAT making the score 21 to 0 with two seconds left in the first quarter.
In the next drive, Garza made up for a sack with a big gain on a draw play, Cross caught a pass for a first down, Pope’s reception moved the ball into the red zone, and Hudson duplicated his first touchdown catch with another leaping reception in the end zone. Wimberley kicked and the score keeper updated the scoreboard to show Broncos 28 and Visitor 0 with 9:25 left in the second quarter.
Payne stopped Hudson’s two game streak for the hardest hit of the game. Payne hit a Bearcat defender just as the ball arrived causing the incompletion forcing the Bearcats to punt.
Parks opened the next drive with two long passes to the leaping Hudson. Parks tossed his third touchdown pass to Pope. The Ballinger crowd cheered when a Bearcat blocked the PAT kick and the Broncos led by 34 points with 6:51 left in the first half.
Blake Esparza recovered a Bearcat fumble. Three plays later, Garza got his second touchdown on a one yard run. The PAT kick was wide making the score 40 to 0 with 4:40 left in the second quarter.
Ballinger’s sophomore quarterback overthrew his receiver and Cross started his interception return at the Bronco 29 yard line. The elusive Cross took it 71 yards for a touchdown. After Wimberley’s kick, the scoreboard read 47 to 0 with 3:29 left in the first half.
Jorge Villanueva recovered a fumble. Santana ran the sweep for the last touchdown of the game. Wimberley scored the 54th point of the half with a perfect kick. I can’t tell for sure, but I think the Bearcat band played the old Hee Haw song “if it weren’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all.”
The Broncos are now 3 and 0 for the season. This week is homecoming and the Broncos will be hosting the Bracket Tigers.