Central Bobcats Hang On For Win Over No. 18 Abilene High

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Central Bobcats had to survive a late comeback attempt, but they earned a 28-23 win over No. 18-ranked Abilene High on Friday to kick off the 2026 football season at San Angelo Stadium.

It was the 100th all-time meeting between the two programs, and it had an exciting fourth-quarter finish.

It didn't look like it would come to that after Central ran out to a 21-3 lead — capped by a blocked punt returned for a touchdown to start the third quarter.

But Abilene High charged back into the game, and the Bobcats' offense was forced to respond after the Eagles pulled within five points on two occasions.

Central answered each time, though a late drive came up just short with a botched field goal try.

It gave Abilene High one last chance with 49 seconds remaining from its own 14-yard line, but the Eagles' desperation drive never got close, and a Hail Mary pass on the final play was batted down.

"I'm so proud of the guys, the way they just fought all the way to the end," Central head coach Mark Smith said. "(Abilene High) is a great, quality opponent, and it was another banger to start the season.

"The guys made plays and found a way to win."

The win snapped a three-game losing streak against Abilene High and gave Central a 48-47-5 edge in the series.

The Bobcats will travel next week to play at Mansfield Lake Ridge.

Central senior quarterback Micah Smith was 15-of-22 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns, and he added a TD run.

Jesse Smith was a big-play receiver with five catches for 97 yards, while Gavin Johnson had five catches for 51 yards and a TD.

Zey Johnson looked dynamic at running back with 19 carries for 139 yards, including a 44-yard romp on the Bobcats' final drive.

"That's a tough team to run the ball against," Smith said of Abilene High. "They load the box in there, and they make you just kind of thug out some tough runs. We were able to lean on them a little bit. Physical football is what i want to be about, and you saw it there in the second half."

After a punt on the opening drive of the game, Central scored the next two times it touched the ball. Micah Smith threw a 7-yard TD pass to Tucker Beaty to cap a 68-yard drive. Then Smith scrambled for a 2-yard TD run  to end a 74-yard drive and make it 14-3 at halftime.

The Bobcats blocked a punt to begin the second half, and Dereon McDuffie returned it 10 yards for a score to extend the lead to 21-3.

To Abilene High's credit, the Eagles didn't go away. They put together a 15-play, 75-yard drive for their first TD of the night on a 3-yard pass from Tristan Beal to Jaden West on fourth and goal.

The game really turned, however, on the ensuing drive when Abilene's Camrin Allen intercepted a pass, setting up another TD pass from Beal to John Rangel from 23 yards out to cut Central's lead to 21-16.

Suddenly, all of the momentum was in Abilene's favor, but the Bobcats answered right back.

"It was no pressure to us," Johnson said. "We just sat down on the bench and communicated with each other and just fixed it and stayed calm."

Central responded with an 84-yard TD drive. Johnson churned out 39 yards on six carries before Smith zipped an 18-yard TD pass to Johnson, who shook off his defender and jogged into the end zone with 7:29 to play.

That looked like that might have put Abilene High away, but the Eagles came right back to score less than two minutes later on Beal's 6-yard TD run.

Central again stepped up when it had to and drove all the way to Abilene High's 3-yard line, but the Bobcats were unable to finish the drive with a TD. They were then unable to handle the snap cleanly on the field goal try, but they ultimately did enough to all but put the game away.

Central's defense did the rest by allowing only 12 yards on Abilene High's final drive.

"I'm really proud of the defense, and the things we emphasized there — third down, getting off the field," Smith said. "Teams are going to make a few plays, and they did. That's a good team. They made a few plays, and their quarterback played well. But we did a good job against them defensively. I'm really proud of (defensive coordinator Jacob) Martin and the staff."

This story will be updated.

San Angelo Central 28, Abilene High 23

Abilene   3   0   7   13 — 23

Central   7   7   7   7 — 28

First Quarter

C - Tucker Beaty 7 pass from Micah Smith (Aaron Davila kick), 2:27 remaining

A - Elisha Batendji 33 field goal, :12

Second Quarter

C - Smith 2 run (Davila kick), 10:31

Third Quarter

C - Dereon McDuffie 10 blocked punt return (Davila kick), 11:12

A - Jaden West 3 pass from Tristan Beal (Batendji kick), 3:17

Fourth Quarter

A - John Rangel 23 pass from Beal (run failed), 11:38

C - Gavin Johnson 18 pass from Smith (Davila kick), 7:29

A - Beal 6 run (Batendji kick), 5:55