The Smyer Bobcats couldn’t recover from a 12-0 first quarter deficit on the way to a 45-20 loss to the Cross Plains Buffaloes in UIL high school 11-man football action last Friday in Snyder. “Wecompetedextremelywell after going down a couple of scores,” said Smyer Head Football Coach Scott Funke. The Bobcats were down 25-0 with less than two minutes left in the first half, but matched Cross Plains 20-20 for the remainder of the game. “They didn’t put any reserves in (the second half),” said Funke. “Hopefully, playing good nondistrict competition only raises our level of play as we head into district play.” Smyer had 219 yards in the air, but could only manage 11 on the ground. Four interceptions and a lost fumble also hurt the Bobcats. Smyer’s first score came on a four yard pass from Peyton Casillas to Cameron Gutierrez with 1:41 left in the first half. Cody Armes set up the second score when he intercepted a Cross Plains pass at the Buffaloes 41 yard line. Casillas found Drew Overstreet open for another Bobcat touchdown to make the half-time score 25-12 in favor of Cross Plains. The Buffaloes scored twice in the third frame for a 38-12 lead going into the fourth quarter.
They made the score 45-12 just 17 seconds into the last period. Casillas found Overstreet open with 9:53 left for the last score of the game, a nine yard pass. Preston Moore ran the twopoint conversion in.
Casillas went 17-for-32 with 219 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Shawn Barrett had four carries for 43 yards. Christian Charles had five carries for three yards. Gutierrez had two carries for minus one yard. Moore had eight carries for 12 yards. Casillas had eight carries for -22 yards. Armes had three catches for 88 yards. Overstreet had three catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Landon Polk had six catches for 61 yards. Barret had a single two yard catch. Gutierrez had two catches for four yards and a touchdown. Armes had two punt returns for 45 yards. Gutierrez had a single fair catch. The Bobcats are off this week. They will start district play by hosting the Ropes Eagles on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.