The Refugio Bobcats will start defending their Class 2A state championship starting next week when they open the regular season at Devine.
The Bobcats are coming off a 16-0 season and a fifth state championship.
For this football powerhouse, it does not get any better than that.
So the big question is can they do it again this year?
Despite losing some key starters to graduation, the Bobcats certainly have the talent to win big again this year.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coach Jason Herring admits this will be a year like no other.
“This is such a crazy season anyway,” Herring said. “You got to stay healthy because of football and stay healthy because of the virus so there a lot of unknowns. But we are trying to do the very best we can and follow all the protocols and even go above and beyond all the protocols and just try and keep the kids as safe as we possibly can.”
And on top of that, the Bobcats will have to play all their games on the road this season while their home stadium is being repaired.
Still, this is a confident team that believes it can win back-to-back state titles.
Refugio wide receiver/defensive back Jordan Kelley expects the Bobcats to build on their illustrious 2019 season.
“Last season was a great season, 16-0, and there’s no doubt in my mind this team can do the exact same thing and we can repeat,” Kelley said.
Those repeat chances are thrilling for Refugio wide receiver/defensive back Antwan Gross.
"It's pretty exciting,” Gross said. “We look pretty good, we practice hard and I think we will be good again this year.”
Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine likes them a lot. The magazine has them ranked No. 2 in the state in their annual pre-season poll.
The Bobcats will scrimmage against both Odem and London Thursday night in Odem.
