Bobcats Fall to Yorktown in Area Playoff

Blake Stautzenberger looks for an open receiver.

The Bobcat football season came to an end Friday as Yorktown proved to be more than worthy opponents. The Wildcats effectively shut down the Bobcat running game and seriously hampered QB Blake Stautzenberger's attempts to take the game to the air. Yorktown's speedy defensive backfield looked like shadows on Bobcat receivers - allowing only 5 completions on 21 passing attempts and racking up 3 interceptions.

After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Wildcats were first to put points on the board with a touchdown and extra point. The Bobcats received a lucky break when a Yorktown interception and resulting touchdown was called back due to an illegal block. The Wildcats settled for a field goal, bringing the score to 10-0. In the closing seconds of the first half, Stautzenberg connected with a "hail mary" to Garrett Gonzales putting the the ball inside Yorktown's 20 yard line and firing up the Bobcat fans. With just 21 seconds left in the half, Stautzenber connected again with a short pass to Josh Manthei for the touchdown. Kicker Adam Aguilar came through with the extra point and Bobcat spectators breathed a sigh of relief as they entered halftime with the score a respectable 10-7.

The Bobcats received another lucky break early in the 3rd quarter when a Wildcat lineman barreled into the punter. The resulting "roughing the kicker" penalty gave the Bobcats a first down. Unfortunately, Yorktown stopped the Cats' momentum a few plays later by stripping the ball away. Yorktown continued to move the ball against the Bobcats, scoring another 6 points on a touchdown and missed field goal attempt.

Things were looking bleak in the 4th quarter as a third Wildcat touchdown brought the score to 22-7. Undaunted, the Bobcats continued to put a up a valiant fight. Henry Herzog made a diving grab into the endzone to kill a Bobcat punt on the Yorktown 1 yard line and the Cats repeatedly forced Yorktown to punt from deep within their own territory. Refusing to give up, the Bobcats turned to their passing game in hopes of making something happen. But the Wildcats' smothering pass defense proved too difficult to penetrate and as the final seconds of the game ticked away the score remained Yorktown 22 - Skidmore-Tynan 7.


Josh Manthei goes up against a wall of Wildcats.