By CARL BARNHART

Special to the County Press

Games between Hallettsville and Refugio have always been hard-played and last Friday night’s game in Bobcat Stadium was no exception. In the end, Refugio claimed a 27-13 win over a decent Brahma team and remained undefeated at 2-0 in the early part of the season.

Once again, however; the No. 6 Class 2A ranked Cats had to overcome several mistakes to ensure their victory. Two blocked punts, two blocked extra point attempts, one interception, a lost fumble, and 115 yards in penalties all prevented Refugio from winning by a wider margin.

Refugio took the opening kickoff and started at its 24-yard line. The first play was a negative three yards on a running play but on the third play quarterback Kyle Hendley found Jourdan Ortiz with a pass out in the left flat, and Ortiz was immediately swarmed only to come out of the maze all the way to the Brahma 15-yard line.

On the next play, Charlie Henderson raced into the end zone for a touchdown. Jhoston Padron kicked the PAT and with 10:07 showing on the clock, the Cats led 7-0.

Hallettsville took the ensuing kickoff to its 18. On its first play a pass was completed for 30 yards to their 48-yard line. There the Cat defense stiffened and forced a Brahma punt to the Refugio 24-yard line.

The Cat offense cranked up again and moved to its 49. Hendley then hit Ortiz with screen pass and he raced to the Brahma 3-yard line. Henderson did his thing on a run and Padron set up for his PAT try.

His attempt was blocked but the Cats appeared on their way to rout with an 13-0 lead early in the first quarter.

The Brahmas second possession went for naught and Refugio’s next possession was stalled at the Hallettsville 23 but Refugio appeared to be firmly in control. Then the mistakes started coming.

The Refugio defense had just stopped a Brahma drive that was ended with Cory Brown intercepting a Brahma pass and returning it to the 31. A penalty set the Cats back to their 21 but they couldn’t move and set up to punt from their 12.

There Ortiz’s punt was blocked and the Brahmas took over at the Cat 18. Two plays later Camp Dozier passed to Dante Haynes 18 yards for the TD. Braden Kahanek kicked the extra point to narrow the score to 13-7 midway through the second period.

The Cats set up after the following kickoff at their 29 and started what looked like another promising TD march. Fourteen plays later, though, the drive ended with the Brahmas intercepting a pass at the 4-yard line and the half ended.

Coming out the second half, the Brahmas took the ball to the Refugio 45 before punting it away. Refugio took over at its 16 and on the second play Terrence Smith broke on an 18-yard run only to lose the ball on a fumble at the Cat 39.

Three plays later Hallettsville scored on a 26-yard option play by Darnell Brown. The point after was wide but now the score was tied midway through the third quarter at 13-13.

The pressure was now on Refugio as it took the following kickoff to its 34. However, the Cats responded with a lengthy drive of 10 plays with Marquise Brown tallying from 3-yards out to cap the drive.

But again the extra point was blocked and Refugio held a precarious 19-13 lead going into the final period.

Refugio kicked off and got a 15-yard penalty giving the Brahmas good field position at their 38. Hallettsville moved up to the Refugio 43 and there, facing fourth down, set up to punt. Instead, it was a fake punt but Bryan Castellano nailed the runner short and the Cats took over at the 43.

A 5-yard run by Smith and a 22-yard run by Farrell Flowers moved the Cat offense to the Brahma 22. There Daigon Silvas broke loose and bowled over defenders to score a TD. Silvas then tacked on a two-point conversion with a brilliant cut-back run to give Refugio a 27-13 lead with 9:56 left in the game.

Hallettsville’s next possession ended with a punt to Refugio’s 25. The Cats failed to move and punted. But again the punt was blocked and the Brahmas took over at the Bobcat 13.

The Refugio defense shored up and after four plays took over on downs at their 7. The Cats then controlled the ball for the remainder of the game.

Refugio pretty well dominated the game. The Cats totaled up 514 yards offense while holding the Brahmas to 195 yards offense.

The Cats had 26 first downs to Hallettsville’s 12. Hendley had a good night passing as he hit on 19 of 26 passes, good for 209 yards.

Ortiz caught 10 of those passes for 159 yards. Smith was again the leading rusher for Refugio with 95 yards followed by Henderson with 82 yards and Silvas with 73 yards.

Again, the score should have been bigger for Refugio had it not been for all the mistakes. Some of the penalties were questionable but then that happens occasionally.

The Refugio offense is becoming very potent. The passing is there and the running is coming around very well. The Refugio defense is also beginning to look pretty tough. Eliminate the mistakes and a state crown could be very possible.

Refugio continues its non-district schedule as it travels to Poth this Friday night to take on the Pirates.

These two teams have tangled six times in the past with Refugio winning all but one game.

Last year’s game with the Pirates was cancelled due to a hurricane threat. Refugio played Poth the previous years with the Cats winning 35-19.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.