PREVIEW: Central Bobcats Look to Build Momentum Against Belton

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Central Bobcats corrected a 2-game skid on the road in Andrews last week by dominating El Paso Montwood, 42-7.

Central's Micah Smith threw four touchdown passes, including three to wide receiver Gavin Johnson, and running back Zey Johnson added two more on the ground as the Bobcats secured their most convincing win so far in 2026. Down 7-0 at the start of the second quarter, Central put together an impeccable 17-play, 94-yard drive that ended in an 8-yard touchdown pass to Zey Johnson to tie the game. That drive truly became the game-defining moment for the Bobcats as they never looked back. Central would go on to score 42 unanswered points on their way to a complete rout.

"That drive to me was this team in a nutshell," Coach Mark Smith said at his weekly press conference. "That's hard to do...once that converted, I knew. This team's got it, and we were going to take control of that game."

Central now looks to Week 5, where the Bobcats look to keep the ball rolling against Belton at home.

Central (2-2) vs. Belton (3-1)

• When: Friday, Sept. 25
• Where: San Angelo Stadium
• Kickoff: 7 p.m.

The Belton Tigers should be an interesting matchup for the Bobcats this season in a series that Central has owned the past two years. Last season, the Bobcats walked into Belton and handed the Tigers a 49-21 thumping in Week 4. The 5A school finished 5-6 in 2025, losing in the first round of the playoffs to Iowa Colony.

However, with a new head coach in Joshua Mann, this program already looks different than it did a season ago. Belton currently sits at 3-1 overall, with big wins over Hendrickson, Bryan and Bastrop. The Tigers lost their first game last week, 21-10 to Waco Midway.

Leading the way for Belton this season and someone the Bobcats absolutely have to find a way to shut down is wide receiver Gavin Ross. The senior averages 138 receiving yards a game and elevates any program with his big-play ability. He has already amassed 559 yards and seven touchdowns on 38 catches. Last year, Ross caught 83 passes for 1,218 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"The wideout [Ross], I believe, had one of, if not the most, catches in 5A in the state of Texas last year," Coach Smith said. "He's back and has caught almost 40 balls already this year. He's dynamic and a great player. Belton does a great job of getting him the ball."

Belton has a potent rushing attack, with 816 yards, compared to 782 through the air, and remains a balanced offense. To win this game, Central needs to control the line of scrimmage. If the Bobcats can shut down Belton's rushing attack, they can then focus on containing Ross. It is not far-fetched to say that Ross is truly the only weapon in the passing game. The next-closest receiver to Ross has pulled in 89 yards this year.

On defense, Smith said Belton will be tough, but he looks forward to the task.

"I think it's a great challenge," Smith said. "As a competitor, you love moments like this. You want to go play against really good people. and show what you can do. As a playcaller, Coach (Jacob) Martin and the rest of the defensive staff have to pick their moments. You obviously can't put two guys on No. 5 [Ross] all the time, but we certainly will from time to time. You have to do a good job of disguise in a game like this. Show a certain picture pre-snap to get to what you want post-snap. But they also have three backs that have run for a couple hundred yards a piece, and we have to be sure we are sound in the run game." 

Offensively, Central needs to replicate what they did against Montwood. Long, sustained drives with emphasis on the run game will keep the Tigers' offense on the sideline and allow the Bobcats to control the game. Zey Johnson continues to be a problem for any defense he faces this season. He already has 532 yards rushing and is on pace to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark if he keeps it up and stays healthy.

Obviously, stopping Zey Johnson will be a point of emphasis for the Tigers, but that should open up Gavin Johnson, Ellis Johnson, Jesse Smith and Tucker Beaty in the passing game. Micah Smith needs to take advantage of these opportunities when they come to secure the win.

Most importantly, Central needs to play mistake-free football. No turnovers and low penalties will give the Bobcats every advantage they need to claim victory.

"This game is going to be a great opportunity for the guys," Smith concluded. "I think their confidence is at a really high level right now, and I love it. This is when you find out how good your skills are when you play really good people."