On an electrifying evening at Yoakum Bulldog Stadium, the Cuero Gobblers faced off against the Gonzales Apaches in the highly anticipated Area Championship game on Nov. 21.
With a fervent crowd of approximately 6,500 football playoff fans in attendance, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as these two rivals squared off for a shot at advancing in the playoffs.
The game kicked off with an electric start as Jaxxon Marie, the Gobblers’ quarterback, demonstrated remarkable skill by connecting on a precise pass to Walker Dietze. Positioned between two Apache defenders, Dietze made a spectacular catch that put Cuero on the scoreboard first with a 7-0 lead. Throughout the first quarter, both teams showcased their defensive strengths, keeping the score tightly contested.
Despite some challenges, including issues with the scoreboard, the second quarter began with renewed energy. A little over 10 minutes left in the quarter, Cuero’s Jordan Jones took matters into his own hands, running the ball into the end zone and extending the lead to 14-0. Not to be outdone, the Apaches responded swiftly with a long pass and a spectacular run, cutting the deficit to 14-7 just minutes later.
As the clock wound down in the first half, Marie powered through the defense, plunging in from 2 yards out to put the Gobblers ahead 21-7 with only 1:56 left on the clock. The excitement wasn’t finished yet; the Gobblers managed to grab possession again, attempting a trick play on fourth down that caught the Apaches off guard. However, in a pivotal moment, Gonzales’ Marcus Izaguirre caught an interception in the end zone with just 4 seconds remaining, leaving the score at 21-7 as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
The second half commenced with the Apaches receiving the ball. Gonzales quickly made an impact as they connected on a pass to a wide-open Brayden Hoffmann, chipping away at the Gobblers’ lead and bringing the score to 21-14. Yet, Cuero’s defense shook off the pressure, and Marie countered with determination. At 3:41 left in the third quarter, he executed a run from 7 yards out, restoring the Gobblers’ lead to 28-14.
Feeling the weight of the rivalry that has existed between the two schools, the intensity on the field continued to build. As the game entered the fourth quarter, Marie showcased his dynamic playmaking ability once again, connecting with D’zayvion Bonner to push the score to 35-14. From that point on, the Gobblers maintained their lead, displaying resilience and teamwork until the final whistle blew.
Coach Jerod Fikac noted “I am proud of the kids handling a very emotional week and a rivalry game in the playoffs. We knew coming into the game controlling the line of scrimmage was going to be the key to winning the game and that is exactly what we did. The kids had a great week of work. I think the offensive and defensive lines took care of business. We ran for over 300 yards and threw it when we needed to. Jordan Jones carried the load and ran the ball hard. Defense took care of their run game and continued to get better and better. Now it’s time for some Thanksgiving football.”
Marie finished the night 11 of 17 passes for 145 yards. Jones rushed24timesfor131 yards, and Dietze was the top receiver with 5 catches for 63 yards.
With this victory under their belt, the Cuero Gobblers now set their sights on the Regional Semi-finals, where they will face the Rockport Pirates on Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi. The Gobblers will be looking for redemption after a narrow loss to the Pirates earlier in the season, with the score being 56-57.
