Gobblers continue to improve

The Cuero Fightin’ Gobblers took the field at Gobbler Stadium last Friday, Aug. 19, for their final scrimmage and tune-up before the season opener in El Campo. The day prior, the Sinton Pirates had traveled an awfully long way for there to be no action with mother nature getting the best of the scrimmage. The teams would agree to reschedule for the next day with varsity only going head to head.

The Gobblers would score first in the controlled portion with junior quarterback hitting junior wideout Daylon Gibbs on a deep post route.

The Gobbler defense would be stifling forcing three Pirate turnovers in the first set of the controlled portion. A fumble recovery by Brandt Patek and interceptions by both Tycen Williams and Donavin Jones had the Mean Green defense looking sharp. The Gobblers ran to the ball in flocks.

Starting the live quarter, Cuero started out with the ball on the 30-yard line. After a first down on the first play courtesy of Dayson Varela, the Gobblers would be forced to punt. Keeping the Pirates behind the chains, senior defensive end Christian Holmes forced a third-down sack that would force a Sinton punt. A couple of plays later Mason Notaro hit junior Nathan Luschen on a 42-yard pass that put the Mean Green up 7-0 after a successful William Carbonara extra point.

The Gobbler defense continued to wreak havoc forcing a quick three and out from the Pirates. In the ensuing possession, Notaro hit Donavin Jones on a short screen that saw Jones take it 52-yards to the crib putting the Gobblers up 14-0.

“Obviously, we have some skill guys that are explosive. You get the ball in their hands, in space, and they can do somethings,” said coach Fikac on what he saw from his skills players. “With that being said, I think our o-line is improving. I know they don’t get a lot of the credit, but our offense is going to roll the way they roll. I am proud of those guys for the way they work.”

To start the second live period, the Cuero defense would force Sinton to face a third and long that resulted in a conversion on a 34-yard pass. Sinton would get the ball all the way down to the 11-yard line, but the Gobbler defense stiffened up and did not allow much more after that. The Pirates would settle for a 28-yard field goal, their only score in the live period.

In the ensuing Gobbler possession, a 47-yard catch and run by Gibbs set the Gobblers up in the red zone. Jeremiah Wilson would punch it in from 10-yards out to bring the score to 21-3 after Carbonara’s third successful extra point. With 7:22 left in the live period, the Pirates would wave the white flag.

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