Bearkats Top Lions in Season Opener
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Updated: September 2, 2017
photo: Valley Morning Star
La Feria Lions at Raymondville Bearkats
Season openers are special in many ways. They mark the beginning of a journey, provide a fresh start, and for the Raymondville Bearkats, they offer a chance at redemption.
In 2016, the Bearkats traveled to La Feria and were pummeled by the Lions, 47-14. That opener set a bad tone for the team, and the Bearkats lost their next three games en route to a disappointing 3-8 season.
But Raymondville is determined to make this season different, and it got the ball rolling with a 22-12 win at home in an opening day rematch against the Lions.
“Last year, they came out and pretty much ran up the score,” Raymondville’s junior running back Marcus Capetillo said. “So all week we’ve been preparing and said ‘it’s not going to happen again’ and we executed perfectly.”
“Perfectly” may be a bit of a stretch, considering the Bearkats committed 15 penalties, had three turnovers and saw two players ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. But when you focus on their goals of redemption and setting the right precedent for the season, “perfectly” is a pretty good word.
"Last year, the way we started was tough,” Raymondville head coach Frank Cantu said. “I knew we were a much better team than the way we were playing… it just seemed like we couldn’t shake it off. [The kids] wanted to change the atmosphere, they wanted to change the culture from last year and they stepped up in a big way and got the W. It just sets everything in order. We got off to a good start, but we’ve got a tough road ahead.”
Raymondville didn’t take long at all to find the end zone. The Bearkats scored twice in the opening quarter, first on an 11-yard passing touchdown to Capetillo from senior quarterback Daniel Gutierrez and then on a two-yard touchdown run, also courtesy of Capetillo. They went for two after both scores and were successful, taking an early 16-0 lead.
But the heart of the Lions was revealed in the second quarter, and La Feria quarterback Dorian Hernandez took control. Dorian Hernandez found receiver Darius Hernandez for a 14-yard touchdown pass and then scored on a seven-yard run to cut the deficit to four at halftime.
The third quarter was sloppy for both teams, resulting in six penalties and three turnovers. The woes continued into the fourth until a spark ignited a wild ending.
Raymondville’s junior Noe Zambrano notched a big interception to stop a promising La Feria drive. The Bearkats, aided by two pass interference calls against the Lions, got all the way down to the two-yard line and looked primed to put the game away. But an offensive holding penalty and two consecutive dropped passes in the end zone forced a turnover on downs and put the momentum right back into La Feria’s hands.
"That hurt. That was upsetting and we definitely have to work on that,” Cantu said of the missed opportunity. “We got all the way to the two-yard line, we should’ve sealed it there and we need to take advantage of those situations.”
With La Feria driving again, Capetillo stepped up one more time and notched an interception that he returned 70 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but you’d have never known it by the roaring of the home crowd.
Because the undersized, underestimated Bearkats had achieved their goals. They got their revenge and set a good vibe for the season; now they will strive for better.
“We just dug down in our hearts and we wanted it more than them,” Capetillo said. “Building off this, we’re going to keep the momentum and go after the season, hopefully get district champs. That’s been our goal for years and that’s what we’re going to go for.”
by Claire Cruz, @claireecruz5
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