Abilene High 28, San Angelo Central 15

By AL PICKETT

Sports Editor

The No. 9 on Sneezy Beltran's jersey must have been nothing more than a blur at times to the San Angelo Central defense.

The junior tailback exploded for 328 yards, leading Abilene High to a 28-15 non-district victory Friday night over the Bobcats at Shotwell Stadium.

"I had no idea I had that many yards," said Beltran, who just missed equaling the District 4-5A record of 347 yards he set last year against Midland High. "The coaches called great plays, and all the credit goes to the offensive line."

Prior to the game, San Angelo Central coach Gary Gaines said his biggest fear was big plays by Abilene High because of his own team's lack of speed. His fears turned into a nightmare.

Beltran scored on runs of 48 and 81 yards and had another gain of 67 yards, giving him 196 of his 328 yards on just three of his 25 carries.

"It (lack of speed) showed," Gaines said. "Our defense really gave ground grudgingly for a long time, and then we gave up the big plays. (Beltran) is an outstanding running back. He makes it tough to do your job."

AHS safety Eddie Hyer, who had another big game defensively with an interception and a fumble recovery, also returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown.

In other words, three of Abilene High's four touchdowns came on plays of 48 yards or longer.

"There were big plays on both sides," Abilene High coach Steve Warren said. "Offensively, we weren't sharp, but we made some big plays. We weren't finishing off plays like we should, but a talented running back can make up for a lot.

"I thought our defense played well, except we gave up a few big plays toward the end."

Abilene High, which is idle next week before opening District 4-5A play Oct. 9 at Odessa Permian, finishes its pre-district schedule with a 4-1 record.

"I'm happy where we are," Warren said. "This will be the payoff. We have two weeks to get ready. We've pushed them hard, but this is when the stretch run starts."

After a scoreless first quarter, Beltran carried the ball on four straight plays to start the second quarter. The 194-pound junior went 17, 5, 6 and then the final 48 yards for the game's first score. Beltran went off right tackle and popped to the outside, finding an open field down the right side for the touchdown.

The Eagles stopped Central on its next possession. Hyer fielded the punt on his 10-yard line, cut to his right and raced 90 yards untouched for a touchdown, giving AHS a 14-0 halftime lead.

Central tried to make a game of it in the fourth quarter. Tony Maldonaldo recovered a fumble for the Bobcats at the AHS 25-yard line to set up a touchdown. Jon Blann hit Ramon Cabello with a 5-yard TD pass with 10:59 to go in the game to pull the Bobcats to within a touchdown, 14-7.

Abilene High quickly responded, however. Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Beltran took an option pitchout from quarterback Frankie Munoz and raced 81 yards around left end for a touchdown.

The Eagles stretched their lead to 28-7 with 7:50 to go when Munoz hit Scott Bryson on a short drag route over the middle. Bryson scooted into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.

Bryson's touchdown was set up by Beltran's 67-yard run.

Central countered with a broken-play score. Blann, avoiding a sack, scrambled free and found Tomas Sosa all alone downfield for a 35-yard scoring pass with 6:27 left.

The Bobcats' Stephen Nobles blocked an AHS punt at the 7-yard line. Central turned it back over to the Eagles, however, when sophomore quarterback Sol Southall fumbled into the end zone. Frankie Richardson caught the fumble in mid-air and ran it out of the end zone to the 12-yard line.

But a clipping penalty at the 2 pushed the ball back to the 1-yard line. When AHS couldn't gain any ground. Rodriguez took a safety intentionally. He received the snap for the punt and then stepped out of the back side of the end zone for a safety, cutting the final margin to 28-15.

Central is now 0-4.

Al Pickett can be reached at 676-6772 or picketta@abinews.com.

San Angelo Central ......0......0......0......15-15

Abilene High ......0......14......0......14-28

SCORING SUMMARY

AHS - Sneezy Beltran 48 run (Cheno Rodriguez kick)

AHS - Eddie Hyer 90 punt return (Rodriguez kick)

Central - Ramon Cabello 5 pass from Jon Blann (Michael Caracciolo kick)

AHS - Beltran 81 run (Rodriguez kick)

AHS - Scott Bryson 14 pass from Frankie Munoz (Rodriguez kick)

Central - Tomas Sosa 35 pass from Blann (pass failed)

Central - safety (AHS punter Rodriguez intentionally stepped out of back of end zone)

......Central......AHS

First downs ......12......11

Rushes-yards ......42-165......40-321

Passing yards......137......32

Comp-Att-Int ......10-22-2......3-5-0

Punts ......6-33.8......2-29.5

Fumbles-lost ......2-2......2-1

Penalties-yards ......3-28......9-42

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Central: Phillipe Pitts 1-1, Justin Clark 2-7, Sol Southall 7-53, Ramon Cabello 4-9, Jon Blann 5-19, Kyle Howard 8-19, R.J. Hernandez 15-57. AHS: Sneezy Beltran 25-328, Frankie Richardson 4-27, Frankie Munoz 9-(-8), Eddie Hyer 1-(-18), Team 1-(-8).

PASSING - Central: Sol Southall 3-10-1, 29 yards; Jon Blann 7-12-1, 108 yards. AHS: Frankie Munoz 3-5-0, 32 yards.

RECEIVING - Central: Kyle Howard 3-29, Mark Rogerson 1-7, Chris Smith 1-8, Ramon Cabello 1-5, Tomas Sosa 2-69. AHS: Donnie De Leon 1-7, Scott Bryson 2-25.