SAN ANGELO – Before the San Angelo Central High Bobcats’ “Angry Orange” defense and its fanbase even had a chance to get settled in, the Amarillo Sandies scored first, often, and at will to “speedboat” means competitive burst of speed the Cats on the way to a 41-21 non-district double-digit win. The Cats played their home opener at San Angelo Stadium on Friday, September 5, 2025.

On the Sandies’ first series drive of the first quarter, the play that jump-started the offense was when quarterback Jett Lopez handed off to Jude Dunavin. Once the explosive back hit the hole at the line of scrimmage, he juked Cats’ Free Safety Jaxon Kennedy, ran down the left sideline, and got by two defensive backs, the last line of defense, to score on a 56-yard run. The competitive burst of speed on the Sandies’ offense was so blazing fast that it took the unit only three plays to get on the scoreboard and take a 7-0 lead just one minute into the first quarter.

The Cats’ quarterback, Micah Smith, and his offense responded with their own score. With Central facing 3rd, and six at the Sandies’ 30-yard line, Smith dropped back to pass. His wide receiver, Gavon Johnson, who was split out wide, ran a post route that got him past a defensive back, then caught a perfectly thrown pass to score. After the PAT, it was Cats 7, Sandies 7 with 3:04 left in the second quarter.

Amarillo came right back on a 9-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off on a 10-yard touchdown run by Oliver Parsons. It was Sandies 14, Cats 7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Sandies came right back on the next drive to take a 10-point lead when its kicker, Sam Webb, banged in a 26-yard field goal to make it 17-7 Amarillo in the second quarter.

Cats’ Smith took command of the offense when he drove them for a touchdown. This one was a spectacular toe tapper, a seven-yard endzone catch by Colton Hill. With two minutes before the half, it was Sandies 17, Cats 14.

Prior to Amarillo’s field goal that made it 17-7, Central missed a golden opportunity twice. First Central, with a first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, could not punch in for the score. Second, a field goal attempt was missed.

To make matters worse, the “Angry Orange” defense again experienced “speedboat” turbulence. The Sandies’ fantasy scoring offense, facing a third-and-9, got a big play 71-yard touchdown throw from Jett to his receiver, Austin Sluder, to take a commanding 24-14 halftime lead.

In the second half, Amarillo (2-0) tacked on 17 more points to Central’s (0-2) seven points to end the game, 41-21 in favor of the Sandies.

“The guys played hard with effort, energy, and relentlessness. We couldn’t get off the field on third down (defensively).  The offense moved the ball at times but couldn’t sustain consistent drives to get us opportunities,” said Coach Mark Smith.

The Bobcats play a second consecutive home game next Friday, September 12, vs the Abilene Cooper Cougars. Kick-off from San Angelo Stadium is 7 p.m.
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