Refugio defense swarms Post in 2A D1 state championship for program’s fifth title
Banged up might be the best way to describe Refugio as the Bobcats entered their Class 2A Division I state title game Wednesday night with Post at AT&T Stadium.
The game was the Bobcats’ third in 14 days and the wear and tear of that schedule had Refugio head coach Jason Herring trying to limit the physical punishment on senior quarterback Austin Ochoa.
But when the Bobcats scored late in the second quarter tying the game at 7; Herring decided to unleash Ochoa.
The decision was a good one as Ochoa ran for three more scores to lead the Bobcats to a 28-7 victory as Refugio claimed its fifth state title.
“Austin is a man-child and he’s the best high school quarterback in the state of Texas from 5A on down. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” Herring said. “He has a rocket arm and he’s a bull at 215 pounds. He’s the fiercest competitor that I have ever coached in my life and I’m so glad he’s on my team.”
Ochoa’s final game for the Bobcats was a great one.
The senior scored on runs of 2, 1, 5 and 1 yards to earn Offensive MVP. Ochoa carried 27 times for 116 yards and completed 9 of 14 passes for 207 yards.
The state title was the third for Herring at Refugio. He also claimed a state championship at Sonora in 2000. The Bobcats finished the season with a 16-0 mark.
“There is nothing better than winning a state title,” Herring said. “You work your whole life to get one. They are always super special, but make no mistake all the credit goes to the kids. This isn’t the most talented team I’ve coached at Refugio, but because of their heart and character they might be the best football team I’ve coached.”
The senior class at Refugio finishes its time with the program as the winningest senior class in program’s history with 59 victories.
Herring said before the season he knew he had enough talent to make a run at a state title. But he wasn’t sure. Then the heart and character of the players showed each day and he knew he had something special.
“I knew they were great kids and I knew we had enough material on paper,” Herring said. “Our job as a coaching staff was to try and get them to state. We had lost some players in our last two games so we came in here a little beat up. We were a little rusty on offense, but I thought our defense played lights out.”
The Bobcats defense played lights out all night, limiting Post (15-1) to 93 yards of offense on 39 plays. Refugio’s swarming defense allowed just 2.4 yards per play.
Sophomore linebacker Javon Williams garnered Defensive MVP after registering 6.5 tackles (six solo stops) and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Post took a 7-0 lead with 35 seconds to play in the first quarter on a 6-yard run by Aston Jefferson.
The Bobcats answered the score with touchdowns in the second and third quarters and pair of scores in the fourth quarter to clinch their fifth title.
“This was just a night of survival for us,” Herring said. “All the credit goes to the kids. They battle and never gave up. They are the best group of kids character-wise that I have ever coached in 28 years.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 11:38 PM.