The Cuero Gobblers forced a total of five turnovers on their way to a dominating victory over the Robstown Cottonpickers, 55-6. The Gobblers finished the regular season with a 7-3 record and are headed to the playoffs, where they will face the La Féria Lions.
“I thought we played really well. On defense we got a ton of turnovers. Took care of the line of scrimmage. I don’t know what we went for offensively, but I’m proud of our guys. I think they came out and played a real good game, and it’s getting real. The key right now is getting hot going into the playoffs, “ Coach Fikac said.
The Gobblers started off hot, scoring on their first three drives and jumping out to a commanding 21-0 lead in the first quarter.
On their first series, Jayce Guajardo hit Davyon Varela on a screen pass for a 37 yard gain. A few plays later, he found Conner Kubesch in the endzone for a 5 yard touchdown. The 2-pt conversion from Guajardo to Walker Dietze made it 8-0.
The Gobblers got the ball back, when Aiden Strecker got his first interception of the night and returned it deep into Robstown territory.
A few plays later, lineman Cash Cooper took the handoff and scored from four yards out. The score was 14-0.
Robstown’s next drive did no better. On 3rd and 14, safety David Leinen picked off a pass and returned it to the 23 yard line.
Then, Guajardo lobbed the ball to Dietze in the back corner of the endzone. The score was 210.
Robstown ran out the remainder of the period. A minute into the second quarter, Aiden Strecker intercepted his second pass of the night.
Cuero did not capitalize. On 3rd and short, Varela fumbled the ball and Robstown recovered it about 20 yards upfield.
The Gobblers defense stood tall. The Pickers were forced to punt a few plays later. Then, Guajardo hit Dietze for a 37 yard gain, setting up 1st and Goal. Lineman Hayden Carter scored on a one yard plunge, making the score 27-0, with 5:15 left in the second quarter. Robstown would finally get on the scoreboard. Ricardo Ruiz scored on a 42 yard run to make it 27-6.
On their next possession, a 30 yard run by Varela set up the Gobblers inside the 10. He scored on the next play, making it 33-6.
David Leinen forced his second turnover of the night on Robstown’s next drive. Leinen took the ball from a receiver as he fell to the turf.
Next, Tony Perez caught a screen pass and ran for 24 yards, with an extra 15 yards for a late hit. Guajardo found Kubesch wide open across the middle for a 21 yard touchdown with 16 seconds left before half. The score was 40-6.
On their opening possession of the third quarter, the Gobblers moved the ball downfield before Varela scored his second touchdown of the night on a one yard dive. The 2-pt conversion on a reverse to Hernandez made the score to 48-6.
The next Robstown drive ended with another turnover. Jossiah Taylor intercepted a pass, the Gobblers fifth forced turnover of the game.
Guajardo finished the scoring on a one yard run, with a minute left in the third quarter. It was 55-6.
Both teams would run out the remainder of the time and the Gobblers were victorious.
Asked about the resurgence of the Gobblers defense, Ka’Son Roy said, “Our offense, really, helps us in practice all the time. They help us get better day-by-day, and we get better weekby- week.”
