In a thrilling display of high school football, the Cuero Gobblers faced off against the LaVernia Bears under the Friday night lights at Gobbler Stadium on Sept. 5 at Gobbler Stadium.
In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats from the opening whistle, it was a game filled with explosive plays, dramatic momentum swings, and standout performances that will be talked about long after the final seconds ticked off the clock.
The excitement kicked off just 20 seconds into the game when Gobblers quarterback Jaxon Marie quickly handed off the ball to Camelo Perez. Perez sprinted an electrifying 81 yards, scoring the game’s first touchdown and putting Cuero ahead 7-0 after a successful extra point by kicker Angel Hernandez. However, LaVernia wasn’t going to let the early setback define them. In response, they executed a precision 3rd and 14 pass from quarterback Cooper Null to tie the score at 7-7.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, filled with big plays and rapid scoring. With just under two minutes left, Marie connected with Walker Dietze, reclaiming the lead for the Gobblers at 14-7. But LaVernia quickly countered, with Ty Carter dashing 76 yards to knot the game once again at 1414. As the first quarter came to a close, the Bears found a groove, and Null’s touchdown put LaVernia ahead 21-14.
As the second quarter unfolded, the Gobblers came out swinging. Marie’s initial touchdown was called back due to an offensive holding penalty, but it did not deter the momentum. In a show of determination, Perez found the end zone again, tying the game at 21-21. With just seconds to spare in the half, Marie orchestrated a drive that concluded with D’Zayvin Bonner bulldozing into the end zone, granting Cuero a 28-21 lead at halftime.
With both teams regrouping for the second half, the Bears came out strong. Null launched a long pass that eventually set the stage for a chaotic sequence, with a blocked extra point being scooped up by Chris Mathis. The Bears narrowed the gap to just one point at 28-27. Cuero’s offensive line was a force to be reckoned with as Perez punched in his third touchdown of the night, extending the Gobblers’ lead to 35-27. But LaVernia had more fight left; their ensuing kickoff return went for 93 yards, along with a quarterback keeper two-point conversion, tying the game again at 35-35.
With a strong return from Aiden Strecker, it didn’t take long for Cuero to capitalize. Just 13 seconds into the quarter, Marie connected with Dietze on a crucial 4th and 10 play for the Gobblers’ sixth touchdown. The intensity ramped up as the Gobbler defense forced a fumble, allowing Cuero another chance to extend their lead. Coach Jerod Fikac reflected on the defense stating “Two weeks in a row our defensive line has taken on a very physical, big offensive line and have held their own. Key is to continue to grow and I feel our kids are hungry to do that.”
However, LaVernia responded with their own quarterback heroics as Null scored again. A second blocked extra point, by Aiden Stafford, kept it to a one-point game, 42-41 in favor of Cuero. “We put a big emphasis on the effort on field goal block. Our kids took it to heart and executed it tonight; that resulted in 2 big blocks,” Fikac noted. Late in the game, Marie found Dietze once more, and with Hernandez’s extra point, the Gobblers pulled ahead 49-41.
In the final moments, the Bears desperately tried to regain control, but Null’s long pass on a critical 4th and 15 was intercepted by Perez. The Gobblers would run time off the clock without converting a first down, to put the Bears back on the field. With a final attempt by Null, Dietz intercepted the ball as time expired, sealing LaVernia’s fate, allowing the Gobblers to close out the game and emerge victorious.
Next up for the Gobblers will be Yoakum at home on Friday, September 12. Kick off is set for 7:00pm.
(Editors Note: The Sept. 3 issues of the Cuero Record and the Yorktown News were published early on Friday, Aug. 29, instead of the regular Monday schedule due to the Labor Day holiday. The early deadline prevented coverage of the Friday night, Aug. 29, sports games in the Sept. 3 issues. The Record and the News apologize for the inconvenience to readers.)
Gobbler defenders Stran Gaitan, Aiden Strecker and Jevan Trevino stop LaVernia’s Ty Carter. Photo by Mike Cantu
