11/25/2009 9:57:00 AM Football season ends for Bears at State quarterfinals
By Cheryl Hartz Reporter
A series of injuries Friday night precluded the 4A-I State football championship hopes for the Bradshaw Mountain football team. The No. 12-ranked Bears were hanging tough with No. 4 Cienega through the bulk of the first half of the State quarterfinal playoff in Vail, when things started to unravel, leading to the 50-7 Bobcat victory.
Cienga showed its strength immediately by returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Nine minutes later, a 30-yard pass put the Bobcats up 14-0.
The Bears came right back as James Reyes hauled in a Tyler Audsley pass and picked up 44 yards. Audsley took it 27 yards for the TD on the next play. With 18 seconds remaining in the quarter, Andy Rosas delivered the extra point and the gap was 14-7.
The beginning of the end commenced when Rosas kicked a touchback, and the defensive leader had to be carried off the field.
"We knew we were in trouble when it was 14-7 and Andy came out with a torn ACL," said BMHS head coach Chuck Apap. "He's such an impact player, it affected us defensively and our kicking game as well."
Two plays later, the Bears' woes continued when quarterback/defensive back Audsley left the game with a strained shoulder.
"When Tyler came out and couldn't lift his throwing arm above his shoulder, I thought, 'Uh-oh, this is not a good thing,'" Apap understated. "I knew at that point things were not going in our favor."
Still the Bears continued a powerful defense through the second quarter. Freshman Damian Otero intercepted a pass, but a holding penalty on the Bears returned possession to the Bobcats, and the home team eventually added a field goal to make it 17-7.
"When we intercepted the pass down at the 8-yard line, if we hadn't gotten the penalty, we would've taken it in and scored and tied the game at that point," Apap said.
Without Audsley's pass coverage, Cienega scored again late in the half, and led 23-7 at the break after John Kelley blocked the PAT attempt.
Although Bradshaw's Jeremiah Hernandez was well-qualified to step in at the QB position, additional touchdowns eluded the Bears, even as injuries mounted. Brady Cabral's neck and James Reyes' hip flexor problems limited their play.
Meanwhile the Bobcats ran rampant, scoring three times in the third quarter and once in the fourth, and the team that had been to the State quarterfinals for the past four years finally would advance to the semis.
"They are a very good football team, but we felt we could've done better if our guys didn't come down hurt," Apap said. "We didn't lose because of lack of effort or preparation. Our kids gave 100 percent effort and played to the best of their ability."
Apap noted the Bears next season will return 8 on defense and 6 of 11 on offense. "We'll be back next year," he said.
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009
Article comment by:
JACKSON
I don't care if 5 of your key players get hurt in a game, if your team is good you shouln't lose by 40!!!! Apap you always have an excuse!And we all sit back laughing - waiting for you to make up another one! Oh who is your strength and conditioning coach? Maybe you should blame him!
