Turnovers and penalties cost Blackcats

By Bink Grimes

Published September 22, 2008

Troy Ruiz’s 2-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left in the game gave the Cuero Gobblers, ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press 3A Poll, the game-winner in a gut-wrenching 26-21 win over Bay City.

The winning drive started when Blackcat backup quarterback Tommy Singletary fumbled at his own 41 yard with 1:52 left in the game. It looked like Bay City was in the driver’s seat to run clock and make Cuero use their three time outs, however, Singletary was stripped as he tried to gain extra yardage on first down, giving Cuero one more chance and the eventual win.

The Gobblers used good clock management and costly penalties by the Blackcats. A pass interference call on Singletary in the end zone with less than a minute left, followed by a dead ball, unsportsmanlike conduct call put Cuero at the three yard line.

Bay City took their first lead of the game when Le’Tevin Wilcox broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run on 4th and 2 from his own 45 with 5:17 left to make it 21-14.

Cuero quickly answered with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a five-yard TD run from Brent Johnson to make it 21-20. However, Bay City called a timeout to ice the kicker and it seemed to work as Jake Moeller shanked his straight-on attempt wide right.

Both teams traded possessions to start the second half. On Cuero’s second possession, the Gobblers drove 42 yards before the stingy Blackcat defense sacked Arndt on 4th and 10 at the Blackcat 30.

Bay City went three and out before Montgomery’s 39-yard punt pinned Cuero at their own 13 with just under 2 minutes left in the third quarter.

On Cuero’s next possession Bay City forced a three and out and got the ball back at their own 39 yard line with 17 seconds left in the third.

Bay City finally recorded their first, first down of the second half at the 11:20 mark of the fourth quarter when Tomek boot-legged to his right and found Godwin Wyche on an eight-yard pass.

Three plays later Tomek threw a short pass to Wyche who took it 23 yards to the Gobbler 13.

On a pivotal 3rd and 8, Wilcox ran it to the 1 before he took it in for the TD on the next play. Brown’s kick made it 14-14 with 8:33 left to play.

Cuero scored first after taking over at the Blackcat 46 as a result of a blocked punt. Jake Rangnow rumbled in from four yards out with 1:51 left in the first quarter to make it 7-0.

With 1:44 left in the first, a 24-yard pass from Tomek to Godwin Wyche put the Blackcats at midfield. However, two plays later Tomek’s pass sailed high and into the hands of the Gobbler’s Rangnow to give Cuero the ball at their own 49.

Five plays later Bay City’s Le’Darion Stone stripped a Cuero running back and recovered the fumble at the Bay City 36.

The Bay City drive stalled due to a holding penalty, and Derek Montgomery’s 27-yard punt gave the Gobblers the ball at their own 32.

The Gobblers took over 3 minutes off the clock before a stiff Blackcat defense forced the Gobblers into passing downs. Stoney Davis blocked a 3rd down attempt and held on 4th down as. Bay City took over at its own 20, but another costly personal foul penalty moved the Blackcats back to their own 8.

On the next play, Tomek hooked up with Singletary for a 51-yard pass. A play later Wilcox ran 16 tough yards for another first down. A short run and a block in the back penalty forced the Blackcats into a long passing downs, but on third down and 17, Tomek found Robert Taylor wide open in the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7, after Brown’s PAT with 1:20 left in the first half.

The Gobblers wasted no time driving 87 yards in seven plays before Tyler Arndt found Robert Armstrong in the endzone for a 31-yard TD with 9 seconds left in the half to make it 14-7.

Bay City will complete their non-district schedule when they host Sweeny Friday in a homecoming game.