On Thursday, the Thorndale Bulldogs will be playing Center Point in the bi-district round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
“You always worry about playing someone two years in a row,” said Scott Hawkins, Thorndale High School head football coach and athletic director. “They know us better and we have to prepare differently at times.”
The Pirates finished third in 14-2A-I after beating Junction 58-48 on Friday to see who got the third seed.
Like THS, Center Point has most of their 2018 squad on the field this season with eight back on offense and seven returning on D. This includes the running tandem of Cody Daily and Kolten Kitchens, who now plays quarterback for the Pirates.
In last year’s matchup at Marble Falls High School, Thorndale built an early lead with two rushing TD’s by graduate Luke Leschber and Jagger Rubio.
Center Point kept it close with a Hail Mary touchdown at the close of the half to make it 27-12 and keeping with the Bulldogs in reach going into the fourth down only 34-18.
The Milam County team outscored CPHS 21-6 in the fourth to advance on.
“We are just trying to polish what we normally do,” Hawkins said. “Center Point has improved since last year.
“It’s important we stay focused and play a game with as little mistakes as possible.”
Both teams play Thursday, at Llano Yellowjacket Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
If the Bulldogs win, they are to likely face Refugio, the top-ranked team in Class 2A-I.
MARLIN–The Bulldogs won their final regular season game 55-20 over Marlin on the road Friday.
THS built an early lead in the first thanks to an 83-yard TD pass from Kyle Northcott to Michael Herzog in the first 30 seconds of the game.
Although Marlin’s Sir Charleston Lee scored a minute later, Herzog put the Bulldogs back ahead with a 75-yard kickoff return in the next minute.
Colt Cauble and Stryker Leschber also scored later in the quarter to give Thorn-dale a 28-7 at the close of the fi rst.
THS led 42-13 at halftime and scored another two in the third to hold on to win the game 55-20.
Jagger Rubio led THS for 164 yards on six carries.
Cain Brymer, who leads THS in rushing this year, was injured on the first play of the game and won’t be available in next week’s bi-district game against Center Point.
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