KARNES CITY – After defeating Nixon-Smiley in convincing fashion the week before, the Karnes City Badgers looked to keep their momentum going on their Homecoming game on Friday night. The Bloomington Bobcats, with a winless record, stood in their way. Utilizing their running game and defense to great effect, the Badgers shut out the Bobcats by the score of 34-0.

“Our defense has been playing good and very aggressive,” said Karnes City head coach Jim Wood. “That’s our trademark on our team. It’s fun to watch.”

The first quarter’s line score came with 7:36 on the clock as K.D. Glenn scored on an 8-yard run, with John Garcia’s extra point putting the score at 7-0. The Badgers scored twice in the second quarter, and in quick succession. With 2:45 to go, Dylan Wright capped a Karnes City drive with a 1-yard run, though the kick failed. On the ensuing Bobcats possession, with 1:42 left, Wright managed to scoop up a Bloomington fumble and take it into the end zone on a 28-yard return. Wright’s ensuing two-point conversion run put the lead at 21-0 at halftime.

In the second half, the Badgers scored once in each quarter. The third quarter’s score came with 7:56 on the clock as Wright scored on a 10-yard run, with Garcia’s kick putting the lead at 28-0. The final score of the game came in the fourth quarter, with 5:51 to go, as Dylan Lopez punched it in on a 1-yard run. Despite the missed extra point, the 34-0 shutout stood as time expired.

Statistically, the Badgers gained 301 yards of total offense, with 265 yard rushing over 49 carries and 36 yards passing over two completions. The Karnes City defense held Bloomington to 24 yards of total offense, giving up 21 yards rushing over 24 carries and just three passing yards over two completions. In terms of penalties, the Bobcats committed four penalties for 45 total yards and the Badgers were flagged twice for 30 total yards throughout the contest.

“That’s something we’ve done the past few weeks,” said Wood. “We’ve focused on running the ball and playing ball control.”

This week, the Badgers will travel to Cotulla to take on the Cowboys in a crucial district matchup.

“It’s a big game,” said Wood. “We’ve got to make sure we’re focused on the game. We’ve just got to play defense and execute on offense. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”

Kickoff in Cotulla is set for Friday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m.