Rio Hondo ready to take on Devine

CORPUS CHRISTI - Being the home team at a neutral site in the playoffs may not seem like a big deal.

But the Rio Hondo Bobcats sure hope it is.

In the area round for the fourth straight season, the Cats are hoping for a little "home cooking" against Devine in their Class 3A Division II area round game tonight at Warrior Stadium at Tuloso-Midway.

"We‘ve lost the last three flips in the area round," Rio Hondo head coach Rocky James said. "My defensive coordinator Victor Sauceda called it this time and got us the home side. So we‘re hoping to break our area-round spell.

"Rio Hondo (9-2) looked crisp and efficient in a 35-14 cruise past Ingleside last week.

Quarterback Joseph Vela had 156 yards and a couple of scores on the ground, while the defense did its part and shut down the Mustangs after they tied the game early in the second half. Defensive back Ruben Cortez had two interceptions and the defense as a whole played well to get the Bobcats the ‘W.‘

Devine and head coach Chad Quisenberry noticed, as they were on hand last week while they enjoyed a first round bye.

"They‘re an awfully good football team," Quisenberry said. "We have the utmost respect for Rio Hondo. They‘re awfully impressive."

Both teams are similar in styles of play.

Rio Hondo is a run-first, pass when necessary team, as are the Warhorses (7-2).

For Devine, running back Rodney Guzman (93 carries, 751 yards) leads the ground game, while quarterback Roan West (879 yards) handles the air attack.

"We‘re about the same type of teams," James said. "They‘re a run team, and they‘re a good football team. Both teams are going to go hard. So we expect a lot of collisions out there tonight."

Quisenberry said his team has fought off injuries this year, as eight starters were out of the lineup at one point. But others have stepped up in their place and have the Warhorses back in the area round.

"It was nothing like we‘ve ever seen here," Quisenberry said of the injuries. "But we got a lot of young kids some playing time, and we‘re hoping that helps us depth-wise."

Rio Hondo has fallen to Ingleside, Cuero and Palacios the last three years in the area round.

"The kids are loose and they‘re fired up," James said. "They‘re really looking forward to this game. We feel this is the year we can get past the second round."

The winner of tonight‘s game will face the Giddings-Yoakum winner next week in the regional quarterfinals.

Armando Garza covers sub-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at armandog@valleystar.com