Glass is half full for GHS in 2013

It’s never easy to fall short of a goal.

That’s what the Gonzales football team is experiencing right now. The Apaches missed out on a playoff berth after losing their final two games of the season as they had to settle for a 6-4 finish overall and a fourth-place tie for fourth with a 2-3 mark in District 26-3A play.

“It’s always a disappointment to not reach your goals,” Gonzales coach Ricky Lock said. “I’m disappointed, but I’m more disappointed for my players, especially the seniors.”

Last Friday, 25 seniors played their final high school football game in Gonzales’ season-ending 16-14 loss to Smithville. Out of those seniors, eight were starters.

Among the departing seniors is tailback Cecil Johnson, who ran for 2,016 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. He also ran for 1,701 yards and 14 scores in 2011 to finish his two-year career with 3,717 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Other senior starters who played their final high school football game last week were free safety Zack Lopez, tight end Cameron Smith, defensive end Ray Flores, wide receiver/cornerback Coltin Russell, quarterback Matt Hillman and linebackers Francisco Diaz, Chris Garcia and Morgan Martinez. According to Lock, the Apaches have four spots to fill on both sides of the football.

“I came back when our seniors were freshmen and we changed everything,” he said. “We changed everything from the work ethic and expectations to goals. This group was very successful.”

The season had a promising start as Gonzales won four of its first five games to head into 26-3A play with a 4-1 record. The only loss was a 28-27 setback against Bastrop Sept. 7.

Gonzales opened district play with a gut-wrenching 35-34 loss at La Grange. The Apaches suffered four turnovers in the contest, including two in the final 1:18 as the Leopards held on to victory.

Gonzales bounced back to defeat then-No. 7 Giddings, 43-23. The Apaches held on to a 30-23 lead heading into the fourth quarter before they wore the Buffaloes down in the end.

That dominance continued next week when Gonzales traveled to Yoakum. The Apaches led 20-13 at the half before using a pair of long pass plays from Hillman to Darrance James netting 130 yards and a touchdown, and a 336-yard rushing night from Johnson to run away with a 48-20 victory to move within a win of clinching a playoff spot.

While Gonzales had plans on beating Cuero Nov. 2 to sew up its second playoff spot in as many years, the Gobblers had other plans. Cuero beat the Apaches at their own game by outgaining them, 230-130, on the ground in a 41-14 rout.

Gonzales still controlled its own destiny going into the regular season finale at Smithville last week as a win put the Apaches in the postseason. But a trio of untimely injuries, 13 penalties and three big Smithville scoring plays kept Gonzales from accomplishing that feat as the Tigers held on for a 16-14 victory.

“It was disappointing how we lost in the end,” Lock said. “We had some injuries at the wrong times, but our kids fought to the bitter end and never gave up. I’m proud of them for that. We were four points away from being 9-1.”

Things look promising in 2013 as the Apaches return seven players on both sides of the football, including all five offensive linemen. Offensively, tackles Tyler Filla and Jordan Johnson, guards Damian Airhart and J.T. Miller, center Zac Perez-Clack, James at receiver and fullback D.J. Gonzales return.

On the defensive side, tackles Clack and Johnson, end Airhart, linebackers Gonzales, Miller and Alyas Ramirez and cornerback James return. Although the Apaches return more than the other teams in the district next season, Lock is quick to point out one thing.

“Our district will still be competitive,” he said. “La Grange has a good group coming back, Yoakum has some returning, Cuero has just two offensive starters back, but one of them is their tailback, Smithville loses a lot and so does Giddings, but Giddings’ JV and freshmen teams won district.”

Gonzales begins offseason workouts on Monday.