The Rockdale Tigers faced their toughest test to date last Friday as the 4A No.6 ranked Bellville Brahmas came to town. However, the test ended up being too much for the Tigers as they lost the contest 42-14.
“Overall, we did not stop the run like we should have,” RHS Head Coach Jacob Campsey said. “Due to some guys not playing much before, we didn’t move the ball much on the offensive side.”
Due to disciplinary actions, a few Tiger starters did not play in the first half of the game. As a result, Robert Owens started at quarterback, Drayton Castaneda at running back and Enrique Rivera at wide receiver.
The Tigers received the ball to begin the game. They showed promise in their first drive with a few screen passes and strong runs by Castaneda to move the chains down the field. Unfortunately, the promising drive did not produce any points as the Tigers were stopped on fourth and one in the red zone for a turnover on downs.
Later in the quarter, Bellville running back Richard Reese scored the first touchdown of the evening with a 36-yard run. The score was 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Brahmas began to make big plays and extended the lead. Bellville quarterback Jake Lischka dialed up a 57-yard touchdown pass to running back Robert Briggs to make the score 14-0.
As the clock wound down in the second quarter, the Brahmas entered the red zone with under a minute left in the half. With their offense rolling down the field, the Brahmas decided to go for it on 4th and 10. A Tiger stop would be key to keeping the game close going into halftime. However, the stop would be unsuccessful as Lischka found a wide-open Briggs in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown. The score was 21-0 at the half.
As the starters came back in the second half, there was a new sense of energy back in the stadium. Everyone knew the Tigers still had a chance to win. Running back Cam’ron Valdez came out with force as the Tigers marched down the field in their opening drive. Valdez capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked making the score 21-6.
Unfortunately for Rockdale, the high-powered offense of Bellville would not let up as Kyle Peschel scored another touchdown for the Brahmas on an 18-yard run.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers would get on the board again as quarterback Kobe Mitchell used his speed to scramble for a 19-yard touchdown. Christian Briggs snagged the catch for the two-point conversion making the score 35-14. The last score of the night came with Lischka throwing his third touchdown pass to Brant Okonski for five yards.
Despite playing for only one half, Valdez registered 90 rushing yards on only seven carries and snagged one catch for 15 yards. Mitchell acquired 64 yards passing, 36 yards rushing and a touchdown. Anthony Dansby led the team in receiving with four catches for 49 yards.
For the defense, linebacker Christian Briggs led the Tigers with 13 tackles. Kesean Raven had a great showing with nine tackles from the cornerback position.
Even with the loss, Coach Campsey said that he feels that the score of this game did not tell the whole story and he likes where the team is right now.
“This team has been battle tested,” Campsey said. “I’d much rather play two tough teams and learn from a loss rather than play four easy games and not have a real test before district play begins. Even though the score may not show it, I feel really good about where we’re at right now.”
The Tigers expect to get back in the win column as they face the 2-2 McGregor Bulldogs on Friday.
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