Brahmas prepare for toughest game yet
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

East Bernard football coach Jerry Long is no stranger to the Brahmas Class 2A Region IV quarterfinal playoff opponent on Friday.

Long was an assistant coach for Refugio from 1995-2000.

The Bobcats beat the Brahmas 280 in 1996 in a regional quarterfinal game at Victoria when George Harris was the head coach.

The two teams will play at 7:30 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Texas State University in San Marcos.

Long also grew up 5 miles down the road from Refugio in Woodsboro and will likely recognize several faces Friday.

"A lot of these kids, I know." Long said. "I either coached or played with their parents," Long said. "That's a unique situation for me to go into this game. Some were little rug rats when I was there."

"I grew up playing them and getting my butt beat by them," Long said. " I know all those people down there. They've always traditionally been real good.

"Getting the opportunity to play the Bobcats is a big deal and exciting. As far as our kids are concerned its just another team. They know that they are good. There's not a mystique there like it is to other places down there. Our kids are high as a kite right now and that's a good thing."

East Bernard beat Troy 41-10 in Saturday's area playoff game in Bryan and Refugio beat Dilley 28-7 on Friday in Victoria.

"The last two weeks the kids have just played with an amazing effort," Long said. "They had a lot of drive and a lot of want-to."

The 12-0 Bobcats, who have been to the playoffs 39 times, are a consistent winner.

"It's just the expectations that they have," Long said. "It's not what the team expects, it's what the community expects. They are thinking state championship and that's a great thing to have.

"They've been dominant for a long time and been through several coaches. Their numbers are good and tradition is a big thing."

First-year Refugio coach Jason Herring, who was at Sonora last season, knows about the Bobcats' success.

"In Refugio there's always expectations to make the playoffs," Herring said. "Our kids enjoy the competition."

He agreed Friday's game should be a good one.

"We both have a great football teams," Herring said. "It's going to be a shoot-out and a war. It will come down to who plays the best, who doesn't turn the ball over and who executes."

Long agreed the Bobcats are the real deal.

"They are one of the best team's we've played," Long said. "But as far as the tradition and the level of confi- dence that they'll have, they are going to be right there at the top. The have the size, speed and coaching."