Bay City Tribune

PEARLAND – The Blackcats dropped from the post-season after a close duel against a tough Texas City team that advanced with a 28-16 bi-district win Friday night at The Rig.

The Blackcats’ offense, the driving force all season, gave up two touchdowns in the first quarter on fumbles and failed to score four times deep inside Texas City territory in the second half.

The Stingarees scored all four touchdowns in the first quarter and only two of those off Bay City’s defense, which stepped up for it’s biggest game of the season.

The defense held Texas City after the first quarter shutout and gave the Blackcats’ offense a chance at a comeback.

The Blackcats scored 13 points in the second quarter and came back out at the half, trailing 28-13, and Marc Bindel’s defense dropped the hammer on Texas City.

The Stings were shut out and held to just three first downs in the second half. The Blackcats forced a fumble on the second play after kickoff and recovered it inside the Texas City 15-yard line. Shaun Rutherford tripped in the backfield for a seven-yard loss and BC had to settle for a field goal.

Julio Gonzalez booted a 27-yarder with 9:55 on the clock in the third, making it 28-16, Texas City.

The Blackcats had four more chances from the red zone, but failed to punch it in. Paul Ellis tipped a pass on Texas City’s next possession and C.J. Patterson pulled it in and brought it back to the Stings’ 37.

They got as far as the 34-yard line before turning it over on downs after an incompletion. The ’Cats held off another Texas City drive and drove it back down inside the Texas City 20. And another incompletion turned it back over to the Stingarees.

Texas City went four-and-out after a big hit for loss from Travis Tomek on ball carrier Johnny Thomas. Bay City took over again inside Texas City territory. Rutherford hit Kory Ford with an 11-yard pass to bring them up to the 35-yard line. They failed to get it across yet again.

Bay City’s final possession ended with three deep incompletions and the Stings ran out the clock.

Texas City scored early in the first quarter after a fumble on the kickoff. Thomas got out for a 41-yard touchdown and Mitch Russo hit the PAT.

Thomas scored twice more in the first on nine and 45-yard runs. Biko Benefield got into the backfield and recovered a fumble off Rutherford and took it 32 yards to score and go up 28-0.

Rutherford scored both TDs for the Blackcats on three-yard runs in the second quarter. Julio Gonzalez kicked the extra point on the first and Zach Benson failed to get into the end zone for a two-point conversion on the latter.

The Blackcats outdistanced Texas City with 289 yards – 251 of those in the air. The Stings finished with 243 yards.

Rutherford completed 24-of-45 passes for 251 yards in his final high school performance. He rushed for 33 yards on 14 carries.

Kory Ford had eight catches for 49 yards and Zach Benson had six receptions for 82 yards.