Broncos Shutout Tigers
By Ray Glasscock
Never before have the Sonora Broncos recorded consecutive SHUTOUTS AND scored more than 50 POINTS per game! It was no surprise to anyone that the Broncos were going to beat the outmatched Brackettville Tigers. As usual, the Tigers were well coached, played sound football, and were tough as nails. I don’t think that I have ever seen a Tiger leave the field with an injury that was short of a compound fracture or a severed artery.
The explosive Bronco offense is compiling some very confusing statistics. The Broncos managed only 12 first downs while scoring 56 points. Clayton Parks threw for 255 yards on 14 of 23 passes which is an 18.21 yards per catch average. The Broncos rushed 25 times for 128 yards. It is not uncommon to read box scores where a losing team will have many more first downs and more rushing yardage. Edward Garza led all rushers with 56 yards on eight carries. Seven Broncos carried the pigskin during the game. Erik Santana, Zach Badeaux, and Garza averaged over seven yards per carry. Parks completed passes to nine different receivers. Cadesman Pope was the leading receiver with three catches for 95 yards and one 62 yard touchdown. Word Hudson caught two passes for 61 yards and both of them were for touchdowns. Dallas Payne caught one pass for 12 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, the Broncos’ speed, size, and strength completely dominated the Tiger offense. The Tigers gained 42 yards passing by completing 3 of 8 passes. They ran the ball 32 times for a MINUS 23 yards. They managed two first downs and 19 yards of total offense. Their leading rusher gained seven yards on two carries. Nineteen Broncos recorded tackles. Damon Evans led with 12 tackles followed by Badeaux with 11. Five of Evans’ tackles were for losses, and Kyle Patlan had four for losses. Kade Wimberley had the only sack, and Badeaux had an interception.
The first Bronco scoring drive used nine plays highlighted by pass receptions by Pope, Cross, and Davis Jimenez. Hudson got the touchdown on a five yard reception. Wimberley missed his PAT kick and the score was 6 to 0 with 8:47 left in the first quarter.
It took only two plays for the next Bronco score. Pope scored on a 62 yard catch and run. Wimberley made up for his miss when he smashed through the Tigers for the two point conversion. 14 to 0 with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
The next Bronco score was setup when Badeaux blocked a Tiger punt giving the ball to the Broncos on the Tiger’s eleven yard line. Payne caught his first touchdown pass of the season on third down. Parks threw the ball where Payne had to leap to catch it in the back corner of the end zone. Wimberley’s kick made the score 21 to 0 with 8:46 left in the second quarter.
Imoni Cross returned a punt for an apparent touchdown, but it was called back on a penalty. Four plays later, Hudson scored his second touchdown on a 54 yard reception for Parks. The kick was good and the score moved to 28 to 0 with 5:10 left in the half.
In the second half, Braxton Snyder caught a 15 yard pass on fourth down to keep a drive alive. Garza scored on a 25 yard run. With 6:35 left in the third, the score was 35 to 0.
Jimenez scored on a fumble recovery. When the Tiger center centered the ball over his quarterback’s head, Santana hit the quarterback as he was trying to pick up the ball allowing Jimenez to scoop it up and score. After a five yard penalty, Wimberley had to kick from further back, and he still boomed it through. 42 to 0 with 5:28 left in the third.
The next drive and score belonged to Badeaux. He intercepted, took an excellent option pitch from Cross to the Tigers’ eleven yard line, ran the sweep to the two, and scored on a dive. 49 to 0 with 2:50 left in the third.
The last score of the game was setup by an outstanding broken field run by Santana. Wimberley got the score on an eleven yard run. After the touchdown, Cross kicked the PAT making the final score 56 to 0.
This week the Broncos travel to Blanco for the rubber match with the Panthers as the modern era series is tied at two apiece. Take a road trip and support the Broncos in their last non-district game.