BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
GRAPEVINE – Junior quarterback Bowe Bentley shined for the Celina offense and the defense made three interceptions in the first half as the Bobcats pulled away after halftime for a 55-21 win over Alvarado in the Class 4A Division 1 Region 2 championship on Friday night at Mustang-Panther Stadium.
Celina (14-0) advances to the state semifinals with a match-up against Canyon West Plains, which beat Stephenville 42-35 in the Region 1 final on Friday. It’s the Bobcats first trip to the state semifinals since 2015 when they went 15-1 and played for a state championship.
The regional final appearance was their first since the 2021 season.
Meanwhile, Alvarado’s magical run ends at 13-1. The Indians won the 6-4A D1 district championship and had its best season since 2011. The Indians had their most wins and deepest run in 13 years when the program played for state title.
Alvarado had nice field position for most of the first half.
But Celina’s defense shined in the opening 24 minutes as the Bobcats picked off THREE Alvarado passes.
Both teams were forced to punt on their respected opening drives. However, Celina had a miscue on its attempt and Alvarado got the ball on the other side of the 50.
The Celina D was able to stop Cardea Collier and then forced an incomplete pass in the end zone. On the next play, Jacob Brown got the first Celina interception as Collier was looking for Logan Bjork in the end zone. Brown dove for the pick and the ball was placed at the 1.
Celina’s offense stalled again and Alvarado would get possession back near midfield.
The Indians would finally turn the good position into points as Collier rushed it in for six and after the kick, Alvarado led 7-0 with 4 minutes on the first-quarter clock. Collier, who is committed to Tarleton State, came into the match with 41 passing touchdowns on the season, 31 on the ground and 72 overall.
The Alvarado momentum would be short lived as Colton Rodriguez returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for the touchdown.
Alvarado’s next drive ended in Celina’s second interception as Colten Place stepped into a pass, but the Indians’ D forced a punt.
Collier broke several tackles early in the second quarter and then dumped it off to his running back Demarcus Belton for the Alvarado touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 9:49 before halftime.
Celina answered quick again as Bentley found Ethan Rucker down the home sideline for a 53-yard touchdown and 14-14 tie just over a minute later.
The Bobcats clamped down on Alvarado with the Indians faced a third and 20 at the Celina 24. Celina got to Collier on third down and then allowed a short gain on fourth and long to regain possession on downs.
Bentley responded with a long touchdown run, but after the kick was wide left, the Bobcats led 20-14 with 2:49 left in the quarter. Erick Salinas got Celina’s third interception in Alvarado territory and the Bobcats scored when Bentley hit Wyatt Villarreal on a 49-yard TD.
It would give Celina 20 unanswered points and a 27-14 cushion with 1:28 left.
Alvarado got a much needed score before the break when Collier found his big tight end, West Texas A&M commit Hunter Byerley in the end zone and Celina went into the lockers up 27-21.
Celina dominated after halftime, outscoring Alvarado 28-0.
Celina running back Logan Gutierrez got into the end zone on back to back drives – from the 19 and 1 – as the lead grew to 41-21 with 4:25 left in the third quarter.
Bentley kept it for a big 64-yard gain to the 5 and Harrison Williams punched it in to make it 48-21 with 10:52 left in the fourth quarter. Williams added his second TD – from 41 yards – and it was 55-21 less than two minutes later.
After trailing 14-7, Celina outscored Alvarado 48-7 and scored on seven straight drives.
Celina defeated Alvarado 55-14 last year in the area round.
