Yoe drops third straight in overtime loss to Bay City

Cameron did not have much to lose on Friday night three hours away from home at Bay City.  After 48 minutes of regulated play, the score between the Yoemen and Black Cats was deadlocked at 23.  Bay City had scored on their opening possession of overtime to go up by 7.  Cameron responded with a score of themselves to cut the deficit to one with the point after attempt upcoming.

After taking a timeout to discuss his options, Yoe head football coach Tommy Brashear decided to go for the two-point conversion and the win.  Things just did not go as the Yoemen would have liked as the pass fell incomplete in the right corner of the end zone to allow Bay City to escape homecoming with the dramatic 30-29 victory.

It was a tough one for the Yoemen (1-3) to lose, but the call in crunch time is one that Brashear does not regret.  

“It’s a pre-district game and we are on the road,” said Brashear on the final pass play from Zack Andress to Ki’Zirrius Holt.  “We are already kind of banged up, so let’s try and get the win and get out of here healthy.   I don’t second guess the going for it at all.  Even though we didn’t get it, i’d still do it again.  We thought we had a 2-point play that would be good.  I thought we had a penalty there, but we didn’t get the call, and that is what it is.”

After having their opening cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey, the Black Cats (3-0) have now finished non-district undefeated.  

“It is a big momentum builder,” said Bay City head coach Lupe Florez.  “We get to go into district play feeling really good.  Hopefully we are excited enough to put more effort.  Our practice was great this week, but I think we have a little more effort they can put in during practice.”

The Yoemen did not do themselves any favours early, turning the ball over twice on their first two offensive possessions while giving up explosive plays of 75 and 40 yards through the air to the combo of QB Dylan Davidson to Jaden Collins.  Bay City added on a 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter to go up 17-0.  That was a lead that was just too much to overcome in the end.  

“There were too many explosive plays in the first half,” said Brashear.  “We put them into some binds with the turnovers.  I thought the defense played hard.  There was some miscommunication on what one of those calls was on the big plays.”

Cameron did get the offense moving shortly thereafter, completing a 48-yard two minute drive that was capped off by an 11-yard pass from Andress to Iverson Westbrook

Bay City would extend the lead the 23-7 in the third before Cameron started to make their comeback.  Nico Vargas cut the deficit to 23-15 by breaking up the middle with the 42-yard scamper before taking in the two-point conversion to bring the game back to one possession.

Cameron then scored again at the beginning of the fourth as Andress connected with Holt for 14 yards on what was a rare downfield completion.  Vargas punched in the two-point run over the right side to bring the score even at 23.  

The Yoemen had a few more opportunities down the stretch to close the game out, but could not execute.  On a third and goal from the 4, a snap could not be handled by Andress and resulted in a big loss back near the 20.  The ensuing field goal attempt fell short and to the right.

On their final possession of regulation, Cameron was driving but momentum was quickly halted as Westbrook was stripped at the Bay City 21.  The defense did manage to hold on both occasions to force the overtime session.  

“I’m proud of the guys for the fight,” said Brashear.  “We got down early and fought hard.  They don’t give up.  We just have to clean up our game.  The turnovers have been killing us the last three weeks.  We are 1-3 and I really feel like we could and should be 4-0.  We had four turnovers and it’s hard to beat a decent team or good team.”

After the win, Florez, whom was the offensive coordinator during Cameron’s three-peat state championship run from 2012-2014, explained how big it was to defeat the Yoemen.  

“It’s big for my kids,” said Florez.  “My kids know that I came from Cameron and they know how special of a place it is.  That is where they want to get.  Whether they believe it or not, they are my team and I think that they are great.  They wanted to prove it by beating the Yoemen, and that is what they came out and did.”

For the Yoemen, the 1-3 pre-district finish is disappointing, but the slate is now clean with 20-3A beginning next Friday night at McGregor.  

“It’s a new season,” said Brashear.  “There are three season to the year.  A few years ago we started 2-4 and came back and won state and I honestly think in my heart that this team is capable of doing that.”

STATS

Cameron Yoe

First Down: 23

Rushing: 46-238

Passing: 18-27-1, 201 yards

Punts: 1-37

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 3-3

Penalties: 5-63

Individual

Rushing: Iverson Westbrook, 19-129; Nico Vargas, 8-60; Zack Andress, 8-48

Passing: Zack Andress, 18-27-1, 201 yards

Receiving: Iverston Westbrook, 6-55; KeAndrea Moore, 5-51; Ki’Zirrius Holt, 3-45; Kadrian Hammond, 3-38

Bay City

First Downs: 15

Rushing: 34-169

Passing: 10-22-0, 238 yards

Punts: 3-26

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 3-1

Penalties: 13-94

Individual

Rushing: Rodney Mitchell: 14-73; Dylan Davidson, 13-54; Dedrick Morgan, 5-39

Passing: Dylan Davidson, 10-22-0, 238 yards

Receiving: Jaden Collins: 4-171; Marcus Edwards, 1-32; KeVaughn Gaskin, 2-26