Cowboys earn a bi-district title against the Randolph Ro-Hawks

    The Edna Cowboys traveled to Seguin to take on the Randolph Ro-Hawks in the Division I Region 4 bi-district playoffs and won with a final score of 38-22.
    Coach Lane O’Connor said Friday’s win was big for the Cowboys. “We were very excited to get that win and the kids responded well to it, as well as the coaching staff,” he said.
    Randolph won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kick off. The Cowboy defense set the tone early by forcing the Ro-Hawks to turn the ball over on downs on their first offensive possession of the game. Edna's first offensive possession yielded three points when #60 Aaron Padilla made a 27-yard field goal with 5:04 left in the first quarter.
    Ro-Hawks answered on their second offensive possession of the first quarter when they scored a touchdown.  After a good extra point, the Ro-Hawks took the lead 7-3 with 2:52 left in the first. After a Cowboys punt score remained 7-3 Randolph at the end of the first quarter.
    The second quarter started out much like the first with continued sound defense by the Cowboys. #12 Isaac Shelton came up with a huge interception with 10:07 left in the second quarter. Cowboys offense took advantage of the Ro-Hawk turnover when #18 quarterback Landon O'Connor connected with #6 Marquis Bates on a five-yard touchdown pass with 5:08 left in the second. After a good extra point by #60 Padilla, score was 10-7 in favor of the Cowboys.
    Edna's defense did not allow the Ro-Hawks to score again in the first half.  Cowboy's offense scored a touchdown on the ground by #7 Marquis Broussard, followed by a good extra point by #60 Padilla. The Cowboys led 17-7 at the end of the first half.
    Edna received the second half kick off and pick up where they left off in the second quarter. #7 Broussard ran in for a touchdown with 8:27 left in the third quarter. The extra point was good by #60 Padilla, making the score Cowboys 24-7. The ‘Boys defense continued to play well and did not give up a score in the third quarter.  Edna's offense scored once more in the third when #4 Deontae Jones ran in for a touchdown with 4:43 left in the third. #60 Padilla added the extra point, and the score was 31-7 at the end of the third.
    The Ro-Hawks scored a touchdown on the ground to begin the fourth quarter with 8:31 remaining. Extra point was good and the score was 31-14, still in favor of the Cowboys.
    The ‘Boys offense put up one more score in the fourth quarter when #7 Broussard ran in a touchdown with 5:17 left in the game. #60 Padilla added on the extra point and made the score 38-14, in favor of Edna.
    Ro-Hawks scored another touchdown on the ground followed by a two-point conversion with 2:23 left. Edna recovered an onside kick and ran the clock out to end the game. The final score at the buzzer was 38 Cowboys, 22 Ro-Hawks.
    #7 Broussard had 27 carries for 248 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Overall he’s rushed 1,835 yards and 20 touchdowns. #4 Jones rushed 13 times for 88 yards and one touchdown for the night.
    Senior Dylan Kallus said the team will be ready to go out and play. “We don’t want the season to end because we have come so far,” he said. “Goliad is a really good team and we know they’re going to be ready to play, but so will we.”
    “We’ve prepared well all season for the game against Goliad and we know they will do the same,” O’Connor said. “We’ll do our best to continue preparing them for a highly competitive game this Friday.”
    The Cowboys (6-5) pick ed up a hard fought bi-district win to advance to the second round of the playoffs. They will play the Goliad Tigers for Area champions in Victoria at Victoria Memorial Stadium this Friday, Nov. 21., at 7:30 PM.