Rockdale has open week before heading into District 11-3A play
Big Blue played before a quiet crowd on Friday night. This home game was played at a neutral site in Llano at Yellowjacket Stadium against Texas Football’s eighth-ranked, 3-0 Jim Ned High School Indians out of Tuscola. The final score was Jim Ned 38, Rockdale 12.
The Indians took a 14-0 lead over the Tigers by scoring both rushing and passing touchdowns. They continued adding to this lead by kicking a field goal in the second quarter making the score Indians 17, Tigers 0. The bully beatdown continued with Jim Ned running and passing their way into the end zone in the second quarter. The Indians scored two more times before the first half ended.
The Tigers offense did create some rhythm in the second quarter with senior Tiger signal caller Blaydn Barcak doing what he does so well—Barcak exploded out of the backfield and ran the ball 36 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. The Tigers tried and failed to make a two-point conversion. At half time the score was Jim Ned 31, Rockdale 6.
The Tigers held Jim Ned to just one touchdown in the second half. The Indians scored on a rushing touchdown in the third quarter making the score, 38-6.
Rockdale scored their second touchdown in the fourth quarter on a Barcak pass completed to freshman wide receiver Rachaid Wilson. The two-point conversion failed, making the final score Indians 38, Tigers 12.
STANDOUTS— Highlights of this game included quarterback Barcak passing for 209 yards, and rushing for 63 yards. This was his second week of 200-plus passing yards. Senior lineman Mason Willard was back on the field after being out with an injury and special teams standout senior Gerren Marrero-Carter had six catches for 105 yards.
You have to love these T iger s. T he y a r e wel l coached and they play hard all four quarters. They have talent and are poised but still they struggle to put it all together and get some wins.
Some of that is injuries, it’s kids out with sickness and a lack of consistency. Those aren’t excuses, they are facts.
For example the Tigers have yet to start the same five linemen on the offensive line in four games.
That’s tough on a quarterback. Despite these things they continue to improve and play with what they’ve got.
The schedule is not getting easier for the Tigers but it does look like some victories are around the corner against district foes.
COMING UP— The Tigers are off this week and Coach Hamrick looks forward to pressing reset. He will give this team a little time to rest, some time to get caught up on their school work and to create some “up-tempo” practices so they are ready to face the two-time state champion Franklin Lions in a week.
The 1-3 Tigers will not play again until Friday night, Sept. 29, in Franklin at 7:30 p.m. This is the start of district play. The Franklin Lions are currently 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state by Texas Football magazine. Let’s go Tigers!
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