Devin Lehnert carries the ball on a reverse. He ran for a touchdown, threw for a touchdown and had several receptions. [ NOTE: click photo to enlarge ]

photos by Mark Lube

SAN ANTONIO — Both teams made explosive plays; both teams made big plays.

In the end, the Refugio Bobcats made a couple more huge plays than Shiner as they bested the Comanches 56-41 Friday evening ( November 30, 2018 ) at Dub Farris Stadium (in San Antonio) in the Class 2A-DI regional playoff game.

“We never quit. We battled to the end. We just could not keep up on the scoreboard with them,” Comanches head coach Steven Cerny said.

Shiner battled back from several two-touchdown deficits. The Comanches ran for 258 and three scores, had 123 yards through the air and two more scores, and scored a touchdown on a kickoff return, the defense forced and recovered two fumbles.

The ‘Cats out-produced on offense with over 600 yards. “It will be a tough one for us. We worked real hard for this. I know Refugio has too; you have to give them credit. They played a little better than us tonight,” Cerny said.

Shiner finishes 2018 at 11-2, district champions, championships in the bi district and area round, and regional finals The game is the final for seniors Tyler Mikes, Lane Nevlud, Caleb Neal, Justin Redfern, Hunter Kloesel, Collin Bujnoch, Kason Landman, Cody Rainosek, Michael Rodriguez, Brendan Yoakum and Chris Reyes.

“It’s been a great season and I’m very proud of the team. This one hurts, no doubt,” he said. “These kids worked very hard and for them to have to lose like this is tough but I could not be more proud of this bunch.”

The Comanches got 18 yards and one first down on their first drive but had to punt. Refugio crossed the 50 but lost a fumble that Shiner returned to the ‘Cat 49. Doug Brooks got an 11-yard gain on the first play and Refugio helped out with a defensiveholding call. Later, Shiner had fourth down at the 19 and Mikes found Cole Patek for a touchdown pass with nine seconds left in the quarter for a 7-0 Shiner lead.

For the Refugio drive, quarterback Austin Ochoa, on land or through the air, made 15 or more yards on the first three plays. The ‘Cats capped the drive with a 4-yard run by Ysidro Mascorro 90 seconds into the second quarter.

The ‘Cats then went ahead 14-7 after driving 86 yards. Ochoa had 20-yard pass to Jake Tinsmans on a 2rd-and-21 down to the Refugio 44. DJ Campbell picked up 9 on a jet sweep and a 32-yard pass from Ochoa to Tinsman capped the drive.

Collin Bujnoch (second from left) and Cole Patek (second from right) celebrate one of Patek’s two receiving touchdowns. [ NOTE: click photo to enlarge ]

Refugio’s next drive started at the their 26. Ochoa hit Michael Perez for 73 yards and two plays later, Ochoa called his own number on a 4-yard run for 21-7 Refugio lead with 2:13 left in the second.

Shiner answered with a speedy 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Donyai Taylor.

Refugio came right back on a 65-yard run by Ochoa for a 28-14 lead which was the halftime score after Shiner drove past the 50 before time ran out.

The ‘Cats opened the third quarter with a 14- play, 72-yard drive in over six minutes, concluded on a 2-yard run by Ochoa.

The Comanches struck back with 73-yard drive in six plays. Shiner got a first down at the ‘Cat 41 as Mikes hit Devin Lehnert for 7 yards and he lateraled to Taylor for 18 more. Doug Brooks capped the drive with a 31-yard run up the middle to get Shiner within 35-21.

The ‘Cats fumbled the ball away at their own 43 late in the quarter and Shiner drove close to the 30. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Lehnert took a jet sweep handoff before stopping and lofting a pass for Patek for 31 yards to close the gap to 35-28.

Refugio had a short field following a kickoff return to the Comanche 49 and scored on a 13-yard by Ochoa. It was Shiner’s turn for a one-play drive that was explosive as Brooks ripped off a 67- yard run with 8:49 left in the game.

The ‘Cats went up 49- 35 with two plays and 67 yards, capped by Ochoa’s 52-yard run.

Shiner continued to work and got within 49-41 as a 29-yard reverse by Lehnert pulled Shiner within 49-41 but missed a two-point pass following a boggled snap.

Refugio scored once more on a 64-yard Ochoa run; the Comanches got back into ‘Cat territory on the next drive but stalled out and a pass on a 4th-and-13 play from the ‘Cat 38 yard-line fell incomplete, leaving Refugio to run out the clock for the win.

GAME STATISTICS

   Refugio 56, Shiner 41
     Third Round (Regional) Playoff Game
     November 30, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
     Dub Farris Athletic Complex, San Antonio


  SCORING SUMMARY

                  1    2    3    4      F
  Shiner          7    7    7   20  -- 41
  Refugio         0   28    7   21  -- 56


  SCORING DETAILS:

    First Quarter
      S - Cole Patek 19 pass from Tyler Mikes (Connor Winkenwerder kick), 0:07 1Q.

    Second Quarter
      R - Ysido Mascorro 4 run (Diego Gonzales kick), 10:31 2Q.
      R - Jake Tinsman 32 pass from Austin Ochoa (Gonzales kick), 5:33 2Q.
      R - Ochoa 4 run (Gonzales kick), 2:13 2Q.
      S - Donyai Taylor 83 kickoff return (Winkenwerder kick), 2:00 2Q.
      R - Ochoa 65 run (Gonzales kick), 1:38 2Q.

    Third Quarter
      R - Ochoa 2 run (Gonzales kick), 5:43 3Q.
      S - Doug Brooks 31 run (Winkenwerder kick), 3:58 3Q.

    Fourth Quarter
      S - Patek 31 pass from Devin Lehnert (Winkenwerder kick), 11:52 4Q.
      R - Ochoa 13 run (Gonzales kick), 9:23 4Q.
      S - Brooks 67 run (Winkenwerder kick), 9:02 4Q.
      R - Ochoa 52 run (Gonzales kick), 8:30 4Q.
      S - Lehnert 29 run (pass failed), 4:12 4Q.
      R - Ochoa 64 run (Gonzales kick), 3:57 4Q.


  TEAM STATISTICS:

                       Shiner      Refugio
      First downs          19           27
      Rushes-yards     39-258       38-397
      Passing yards       123          244
      Passes             8-15        13-13
      Penalties-yards    5-45         7-70
      Fumbles-lost        0-0          2-2
      Punts-aver      4-42.66        0-0.0


  INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

  Rushing
    S: Doug Brooks 11-134, Donyai Taylor 14-53, Zane Rhodes 8-37, Devin Lehnert 2-29, Tyler Mikes 4-5.
    R: Austin Ochoa 21-309, DJ Campbell 6-49, Ysidro Mascorro 5-36, Jake Tinsman 3-12, Naaji Gadsden 1-1.

  Passing
    S: Mikes 7-14-0-92, Lehnert 1-1-0-31.
    R: Ochoa 13-13-0-244.

  Receiving
    S: Cole Patek 3-65, Lehnert 3-43, Taylor 1-11, Rhodes 1-4.
    R: Tinsman 8-138, Campbell 2-11, Ethan Perez 1-73, Gasden 1-15, Michael Firova 1-7.