"Bay City, El Campo resume state’s longest rivalry" by: Mike Reddell

   Bay City and El Campo will square off here Friday in the oldest continuous Texas high school football rivalry – the 102nd consecutive and 118th meeting.
      El Campo (6-1, 2-0) leads District 12-4A-1 and boasts a tandem running back threat of Rueben Owens with 125 carries for 1,666 yards and Johntre Davis, who has 68 carries for 727 yards.
   El Campo runs the ball. The Ricebirds average 417 rushing yards per game, versus 79 passing yards.
   The Blackcats has struggled to get its passing and running games this season, but seemed to turn a corner against Columbia last Friday (Oct. 15), even though Bay City lost 55-27.
   In that game, the Blackcats had 311 total yards – 205 passing and 139 rushing – with senior Jamorrious Abbott hauling in two passes for 129 yards.
   After trailing the Roughnecks 42-6 at half, Bay City came out firing in the third quarter with 21 unanswered points.
   Ayden Smith had an 8-yard touchdown run early in the stanza at the 11:40 mark – he scored Bay City’s lone touchdown in the first half with a one-yard run.
   Quarterback Joe Davalos’ PAT scoring pass to Carlon Jones brought the score to 42-14.
   A Davalos pass to Abbott turned into a 98-yard scoring play (the PAT failed), cutting the margin to 42-20 with 9:46 left in the third.
   Bay City’s third-quarter scoring continued with a 31-yard passing combination from Davalos to Abbott.
   With Victor Morales PAT kick, the Blackcats narrowed the score to 42-27 with 6:40 left in the third.
   Columbia came back with two touchdowns.
   Defensively, Smith led the Blackcats with five tackles, while Carlon Jones, Jahmari Johnson and Zo’Maryon Bryan each had four tackles.
   Commenting on the Blackcats’ third quarter scores, Head Coach Robert Jones said, “It was definitely our most impressive quarter of football this season we just have to translate that to the start of the game.  
   “We have to find a way to play a complete game without shooting ourselves in the foot every week, but we are building something special and it’s going to take some time with only three senior starters on the team,” he added.
   “The future looks bright.  
   “I love the fight the kids showed the third quarter that was that Blackcat Fight Never Dies mentality,” Jones said.  
   “El Campo is going to be a tough opponent to contain this week, but I preached to the kids we have no pressure go out and do your assignment and do it to the best of your ability and I will live with the results. 
   “We will put in a great week of practice this week and with it being the oldest rivalry in the state of Texas, the kids will be excited and give Blackcat country all they have Friday night.”