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By Richard Bravo
The Pima Roughriders went into last Fridays contest with an undefeated record. Unfortunately, they would leave Dave McFee Memorial field without a loss getting a huge win over the Ray Bearcats 67-20.
The Roughriders jumped on the Bearcats early in the game scoring on their first possession on a 30 yard run to take an early 8-0 lead. The defense of the Roughriders held the Bearcats to a three and out on their first try at offense to force a punt. A bad snap on the punt allowed the Roughriders to get the ball back in Bearcat territory.
Pima took advantage of the turnover getting a quick score on the first play from scrimmage on a 44 yard run taking a 14-0 lead with 8:06 left in the first. On the ensuing kickoff, the Roughriders recovered the ball on the Bearcat 28 yard line when the Bearcats had some miscommunication on who was getting the ball.
The turnover was costly for the Bearcats when the Roughriders found the end zone once again on a quarterback keeper from 28 yards out extending the lead to 22-0. The Roughriders scored two more times in the quarter on a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone and another on a 72 yard run to give them a commanding 36-0 lead at the end of one quarter of play.
The second quarter was a different story as the Bearcats held the Roughriders scoreless. The Bearcats offense came alive on a big fourth down play when quarterback Destry Yocum connected with receiver Dominic Bravo on a 70 yard touchdown pass to put the Cats on the board. Trailing 36-6 with time winding down in the first half the Bearcat offense capped an 85 yard drive with a 20 yard touchdown pass from Yocum to Bravo to give the Bearcats some momentum going into the locker room trailing 36-12 at the half.
The second half of the game was all Roughriders as they score thirty-one points. The Bearcats offense struggled getting their only score of the half on a 54 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Yocum to receiver Jacob Wernett. Although the Bearcats were unable to overcome the high powered offense of the Roughriders, they played a tough physical game all the way down to the final second. The loss brings the Bearcats record to (3-3) overall and (3-2) in conference play.
Offensively for the Bearcats, Yocum completed 13 of 29 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Clarence Baptisto rushed for 19 yards on 7 carries. Receiving, Bravo had six catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns, Wernett had five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively the Bearcats were led by Wernett with eight tackles and two assist, Yocum and Rexx Sosa with 7 tackles and two assist each, and Jacob Pace with five tackles and one assist.
The Bearcats will host the Valley Union Blue Devils Friday at 7:00 pm. Please come out and show your support! Good luck Bearcats!
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