HAYWARD: Senior class pushes Agua Dulce and 15-5A D-I starting brings intrigue

Agua Dulce’s season will not likely be made on its first two wins of the season.

But the Longhorns find themselves in a position they have not been in nearly a decade. Agua Dulce’s 27-12 win against Ben Bolt on Friday gave the Longhorns their first 2-0 start since the 2009 season.

The Longhorns made the playoffs in 2017 but were bounced in the bi-district round of the Class 2A Division II postseason but are eyeing a longer run this season behind a strong senior class.

Led by four-year starting quarterback Randal Garza, the Longhorns have 12 seniors on their roster and most of them have been playing since they were freshman experiencing the ups and downs faced by a rebuilding program.

Coach Robert Beard said this is the culmination of some of taking their lumps and now it is paying off.

15-5A DIVISION I START BRINGS INTRIGUE

On the Class 5A front with District 15-5A Division I play beginning Thursday, the quest for the four coveted playoff spots in the nine-team district commences.

Next week’s Veterans Memorial and Flour Bluff game could be for a district championship but there are some games coming that will be big on the schedule, including Friday’s between Victoria East and Miller. Miller has started with a bang and now gets a chance to prove they belong with a team that is typically a perennial playoff contender.

Further down the road don’t be surprised if long-time rivals Ray and Miller are facing off for a playoff spot, rekindling some luster to the city’s longest rivalry.

A PERFECT PLAY

Freer coach Jerry Carpentier was not quite sure if he had been a part of a 98-yard run during his career. But Marc Buhidar’s 98-yard touchdown run against Bruni tied a Class 2A state record for longest run from scrimmage and from the sidelines Carpentier thought it might have been longer.

Carpentier said the play before, the Buckaroos’ quarterback was pulled out of the end zone preventing a safety and was not sure what yard line they were on.

Carpentier said as he saw the play develop it looked “pretty good” and when he watched it on film, “it looked better.”

“It was one of those plays where everyone did their job,” Carpentier said.

Buhidar finished the night with 235 yards on 11 carries and the long touchdown.

REFUGIO WILL BOUNCE BACK

Refugio’s 35-0 loss to Goliad raised some eyebrows across the state and prompted a few calls to our office, wondering if we had printed the right score.

It was the right score but take note Goliad is a team that is expected to compete for a regional championship in Class 3A Division I and Refugio will be back.

The eye-opening part from the game was Refugio’s offense being held to 86 total yards. That is something rare in the Jason Herring era but it will get better as the season progresses as the team gets used to a new scheme.

Refugio’s defense, meanwhile, had a solid game and they could be leaned on throughout the season as the offense progresses.

This is a setback but Refugio will be playing in December and this loss might be a motivating factor.

CALLER-TIMES AREA RANKINGS

Class 5A — 1. Veterans Memorial (2-0); 2. Flour Bluff (2-0); 3. Calallen (1-1) 4. Miller (2-0); 5. Gregory-Portland (2-0); 6. Ray (1-1); 7. Alice (1-1); 8. Moody (1-1); 9. Tuloso-Midway (2-0); 10. King (0-2); 11. Carroll (0-2).

Class 4A and below — 1. Beeville (2-0); 2. Rockport-Fulton (1-1); 3. George West (2-0); 4. Refugio (1-1); 5. San Diego (2-0); 6. Sinton (0-2); 7. London (2-0); 8. Odem (2-0); 9. Hebbronville (1-1); 10. West Oso (1-1)