Yorktown fell Friday night in the first round of the playoffs to a tough Ben Bolt team in Beeville. The Wildcats started the season with a loss, went on a seven-game win streak, then lost the last three games of the season to accumulate a 7-4 overall record. They ranked third in District 15 2 A Division II and played the runner up of District 16.
The Wildcats were forced to rely on their passing abilities early in the game as the Badgers' tough defense seemed determined to take away the ground game. It wasn’t ideal for the Wildcats who have four passing touchdowns and eight interceptions for the year and have garnered much of their success from a rushing game that incorporates quarterback Brody Metting and McKenzie Yanta. In the second half, the duo of Yanta and Metting was able to temporarily utilize a hurry up offense to punch into the endzone by gouging up the middle from creases opened by the offensive line but the Wildcats succumbed to the Badgers, 38-19.
The Wildcats accumulated 214 total yards, rushing 46 times for 203 yards with three touchdowns and five completions out of 14 attempts with three interceptions. Ben Bolt rushed 26 times for 127 yards with two touchdowns and 16 completions out of 26 attempts for three touchdowns for a total 307 yards of offense. Highlights for the Wildcats include the 3 fumbles caused resulting in two turnovers.
The start of the game was exciting as the Wildcats took momentum almost immediately when the Badgers fumbled the opening kickoff and Metting recovered on the 38 yard line. While on the fifteen yard line the Wildcats threw an incomplete pass for fourth down when the Badgers were assessed an offsides penalty giving the Yorktown squad a first down. At 9:58, they capitalized when Metting scooted in from five yards out to bring the first points on the board and tacked on the extra point, 7-0. That costly Ben Bolt penalty was just the beginning with more to come during the following possession before the Badgers settled in. In a fourth down situation on the eight yard line they would have a delay of game call moving them back to the 13 yard line and then a false start that pushed them back even further to the 18 yard line with 6:47 on the clock. Defensive standout, Richard Flores would apply pressure and recover the fumble before being brought down on the 37 yard line. At 5:20 Yorktown called time out during their second drive after Ryan Knostman was taken down and they were in a fourth down and 2 yard situation. Metting would be tackled short and the ball would go over on downs. During the third drive for the Wildcats, the Badgers intercepted a pass before being tackled on the 29 yard line and then a fifteen yard penalty was tacked onto the drive. After being brought down by Adam Serbin on the five yard line, they punched in. Their two point conversion was denied due to penalty and the Wildcats remained on top, 7-6 at the end of the first period.
With 9:20 on the clock Ben Bolt rushed into the endzone after going down the field through the air. The two point conver-sion was broken up by Brayden Knostman, 12-7. The Wildcats wouldn't capitalize on their next drive. While on the 49 yard line in a third down and five situation, Flores caused havoc for the Badgers resulting in a fumble, but unfortunately Ben Bolt recovered. In a fourth down and 16 situation they elected to go for it. The quarterback connected with his receiver to keep the drive alive before being hit to the ground by Daylon Meyer. From the 31 yard line the Badgers scored on a pass into the endzone and then added two off of a diving catch, 20-7. After a Wildcat timeout with 1:23 remaining in the half the Yorktown squad ignited their run game as Metting shuttled up the middle for a 20 yard rushing touchdown on a quarterback keeper. His extra point attempt was deflected. With little time on the clock, the Badgers looked to utilize their passing game to try and extend the lead before half. A long pass was thrown into the endzone and broken up by Brayden Knostman with 16 seconds on the clock. Flores brought down the quarterback with 10 seconds remaining. The quarterback connected for a 19 yard touchdown with 3 seconds left, 26-13.
The Wildcats were slated to get the ball back to start the second half and after having recently established their rushing game, there were hopes that the Wildcats could pull off an upset. Meyer, Brayden Knostman, and Yanta were in the back field for kickoff return.
The Wildcat offense easily marched down the field in their hurry up offense with Yanta and Metting alternating drives until it was punched in from the one yard line. Metting connected with Matthew Olguin for the two point conversion but he was tackled short, 26-19. That would conclude the Wildcat scoring for the night. The Wildcat defense would hold the Badgers from scoring in the third but Ben Bolt would tack on another touchdown on a 40 yard interception return in the fourth period before kneeling to end the game, 38-19.
With the season closing Athletic Director Ryan Knostman stressed how proud he was of his team’s effort.
“Unless you win it all, it never ends how you want it to. Our guys fought their tails off. I am proud of the boys and how they continued to fight; they kept getting after it. This year with these guys, that's what they have always done. They go out and keep fighting and keep playing hard, so I am proud of them,” Knostman said.
