BASTROP—A young Tiger football team ended the year on a high note Friday evening when they battled with Columbus, Texas Football magazine’s sixth-ranked team in Class 3A-I.
Although the final score was 42-21 in favor of the Cardinals, the Blue-and-Gold kept CHS on their toes, out-gaining ng them 377 to 300 on offense and in both rushing and passing.
“I felt like we moved the ball well all night long and had kind of the same stuff, penalties, and you can’t overcome that against a good football team,” said Jacob Campsey, RHS head football coach and athletic director.
Campsey also said the evening’s performance helps sets the tone for their future, with a roster that had many sophomores starting.
“We’re really not far away,” he said. “We did a lot of good things in the first half, a competitive game and competitive throughout.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group,” Campsey said.
GAME—The Tigers started off hot when Blaydn Barcak found Kobe Mitchell open for an 18-yard TD pass a little more than two minutes into the game. Daniel Romero’s PAT put Rockdale up 7-0.
Columbus answered back with not just one but two touchdowns from J.J. Hurd in the first quarter to take a 14-7 lead.
Rockdale was able to tie it all up at 14 towards the end of the first quarter with a touchdown pass from Mitchell to sophomore Wyatt Windham.
The Big Blue caught a break early in the second when Mitchell intercepted an Adam Schoebel pass near the Columbus red zone. However, the tables turned quickly as Columbus’ Kolten Murray stripped the ball loose from a Tiger offensive player to run back a touchdown, putting CHS up 21-14.
The Cardinals went into halftime up 28-14 on a 25-yard pass from Schoebel to Colton Pitchford. They added to their lead with a touchdown in each the third and the fourth quarter to make it 42-14.
Barcak and Mitchell teamed up one last time for a 34-yard pass but it wasn’t enough as Columbus took the game, 42-21.
Top performers for the Tigers were sophomore Gerren Marrero, who had six catches for 76 yards and Mitchell, who had five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns in his final performance as a Tiger.
Barcak finished the night 14 of 20 with 198 yards and two touchdowns.
SEASON—Barcak ends the season 115 for 296 with a total of 1,735 passing yards. For a comparison, Jace Robinson finished his sophomore season in 2018 with 1,680.
Other season leaders for the Tigers include junior Robert Owens, who led the Tiger receiver core with 789 yards on 41 receptions and eight touchdowns. Wyatt Windham had six passing touchdowns and Mitchell had five.
In terms of rushing, Barcak led the team with 549 yards, while Davioun Scott had 544.
On defense, Cruz San Migel led the Tigers with 107 total tackles including 78 solo tackles. Scott was right behind San Migel with 103 tackles, counting 73 of his solo tackles.
Rockdale ended the season as the fourth-place team in District 11-3A with a record of 3-3 and an overall record of 5-6.
This was the 10th straight season RHS made the playoffs and the 14th time in 15 seasons.
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