Yoakum Football: Industrial nicks Yoakum 25-20

By Alvin Gomez/Special to the Herald-Times

The Yoakum Bulldogs and Industrial Cobras opened their respective 2022 football campaigns in Vanderbilt Friday night.
The Bulldogs kicked off  to start the game and Industrial began its opening drive at their own 32 yard line making it down to the Bulldogs 27. They could not sustain the drive though and finally were turned away by Tyuan Garza who rushed in and came away with the first of his three sacks on the night.
Yoakum's first drive faced adversity as well going three and out with a penalty in between. Yoakum would actually recover a fumble by Industrial after a big hit by Qyion Williams who also recovered the fumble but they could not cash in.
Industrial would reach pay dirt on their next drive after taking over at the Yoakum 45 yard line. A 17-yard touchdown run by Cobras quarterback Ashton Garza and a missed extra point made it 6-0 Cobras.
Both teams could not seem to put together any scoring drives until later in the second quarter when both the Bulldogs and Cobras combined for 13 points in less than two and a half minutes. Industrial was able to cap a short drive of four plays with another Garza touchdown run from five yards out and following another missed extra point increased their lead to 12-0.
The Bulldogs began their next drive at their own 11 and leaned on junior quarterback Ty Gordon who led them down to the Industrial 49 with just under 30 seconds remaining. Gordon uncorked a beautiful throw to X'Zavier Barnett who hauled it in and sprinted into the end zone for a Bulldogs touchdown. After a successful point after by kicker Mark Sanchez, the Bulldogs cut the lead to 12-7.
Industrial began the second half with an onside kick  that they recovered but could not sustain the momentum as the Bulldogs defense stiffened. The Cobras were able to punt and pin the Bulldogs deep inside the 10 at their 1. The Bulldogs were able to move out of their end zone to the 4. On the Bulldogs next play, Willaims after making a nice move on a defender sprinted past the Cobras defense for a 96-yard touchdown. The Sanchez extra point gave the Bulldogs a 14-12 lead.
Industrial would regain the lead later in the third quarter after taking over following a Bulldogs turnover on downs. The nine-play drive ended with another Cobras touchdown run by Garza. The extra point added on would give them a 19-14 advantage.
The fourth quarter would see two lead changes starting with Yoakum needing only one play to reach pay dirt. Following a Cobras punt the Bulldogs took over at their own 48. This time Gordon would connect with Jamar Hopkins for a 52-yard catch and run touchdown. A missed extra point made it 20-19 with 9:57 remaining in the game. The Cobras opened their final game- winning scoring drive on their own 40. They were able to march down the field in seven plays finally pushing it in from two yards out with another Garza touchdown, his fourth rushing touchdown of the game. The extra point would be missed bringing the score to 25-20.
The Bulldogs would have one final chance to get the "W." After working the ball down in a time- consuming, 13-play drive to the Industrial 11,  a pass caught by Cory Gomez on 4th-and-8 failed to reach the first down  and the Cobras took over with 1:47 left in the ball game,  running one play and then kneeling down to end the game.  
For Yoakum, Gordon completed 6-of-11 passing for 136 yards and two touchdowns.  Williams led the Yoakum rushing game with 137 yards on five carries and one touchdown. Barnett and Hopkins each had one touchdown catch; Gomez had three catches for 26 yards.
Defensive leaders for Yoakum were Harris withsix tackles,  one sack; Robbins and Garza made five tackles. Garza had three sacks and Williams had one fumble recovery.