Penalties and a dynamic CC Miller blitz package stymied the Cuero Gobbler’s offense. Jaxxon Marie was sacked 5 times, as the Gobblers were held to under 200 yards of offense in a 5621 defeat.
“I really don’t think our kids quit,” Head Couch Jerod Fikac said. “I heard some good, positive talk on the sidelines.”
Receiver Tony Perez took the opening kick 90 yards, but it was called back due to a penalty. To keep Miller’s explosive offense off the field, the Gobblers' moved the ball slowly and methodically, chewing up as much of the clock as possible. Running back Davyon Varela pounded the ball for the Gobbler’s first five plays of the game. Penalties would force the Gobblers to punt with six minutes left in the first quarter.
CC Miller took over, at the 25 yard line, and wasted no time moving the ball with runs by Broderick Taylor. He would score from 9 yards out, giving the Bucs the lead 7-0. After a turnover- on-downs, the Bucs took over on the Gobbler’s 42 yard line. They scored on another run by Taylor, just 40 seconds into the second quarter, making the score 14-0.
On their next possession, Cuero started inside its own 20 and went three-and-out. CC Miller’s Jonah Stafford blocked the punt and recovered it in the endzone, extending the Buc’s lead to 21-0.
The Gobblers caught a break, when Tony Perez fell on a muffed punt by the Bucs. Aided by a holding penalty, the Gobblers set up on the Miller 24 yard line. After converting on 4th down, the Gobblers found the endzone, on a 5-yard touchdown pass, from Jaxxon Marie to Walker Dietze, with 27 seconds left. The score was 21-7 at the half.
CC Miller opened up the third quarter, with a 19-yard touchdown pass, from Trevor Long to Eathan Vela. The score was 28-7 just two minutes into the second half.
The Gobblers continued to play hard. Marie had runs of 9 and 22 yards, before running a 40-yard dash to the goal line. The Gobblers trailed by only 14 halfway through the third. However, the Gobblers had no answer for Taylor. He would take a handoff straight up the middle for a 41 yard touchdown run, his third of the night, extending the Buc’s lead to 35-14. After forcing another punt, the Bucs would put the game out of reach, on a fourth touchdown run by Taylor, a 24-yarder. The score was 42-14.
Cornerback Jossiah Taylor set up the Gobbler’s final score of the night after scooping up a fumble caused by Kason Roy and returning it to the Buc’s 24. The quarter would end with the score 42-14.
Facing fourth down, Marie found Walker Dietze in the corner of the endzone for a seven yard strike. Dietze finished the night with five catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
CC Miller would score two more touchdowns to end the game. Taylor scored on a 45 yard run, finishing the night with 18 carries for 235 yards and five touchdowns. Long would hit Eathan Vela for their second touchdown connection of the night as well. The final score was 56-21.
Coach Fikac said he was proud of the Gobbler’s effort.
“We were right there in the first half. We hadn’t played very well and were only down 21--7. We made some adjustments and our kids continued to battle. It’s one of those deals like we said – our preseason was tough. I thought we were competitive for a good amount of time. We just got to fix some things.”
The Gobblers will travel to face Belton on Friday.
