A win Friday will keep Comfort’s hopes afloat

FOOTBALL FRIDAY

The Comfort High football team did what it needed to do last Friday to keep its playoff chances alive. The Bobcats beat Karnes City, 39-0, and now they must win Friday at home against the Young Men’s Leadership Academy (YMLA).

Comfort will also need to win next Friday against Blanco, but before they play their main rivals to close out the regular season, the Bobcats will host the winless Lions on Friday, 7 p.m.

Even though YMLA hasn’t won a game since 2024, CHS coach Jay Rieken said they are in no position to take the Lions lightly.

“We have to beat them, so we’re not looking past this week,” he said. “One slip up and we’re in trouble. Our playoffs started last week.”

Poth (4-0) and Stockdale (4-1) have claimed the top two spots in the district, but Blanco (3-2), Nixon-Smiley (3-2) and Comfort (1-3) are in the fight for the final two spots.

Comfort approached last week’s game at Karnes City like a playoff game and was up for the challenge. It was their first win since Aug. 28 when the Bobcats beat Brady in their season opener.

“It felt good, we played well,” Rieken said. “It was our first shut out of the year and it was a great effort by the kids. It was good to get on the board and win.”

Rieken said he was pleased with how his line played.

“Our guys blocked well and we cleaned up a few things on the line,” he said.

Comfort’s O-line allowed the team to run for 359 yards and four TDs and also throw for 135 yards and two more scores.

Bobcats QB Omar Rivera rushed for three touchdowns in the first half and helped Comfort take a 21-0 lead into halftime. They outscored the Badgers in the second half, 18-0.

Rivera finished with 89 ground yards, Tyler Barteau led the team in rushing with 105 yards on five totes and a score, while Aiden King ran 13 times for 86 yards.

Cole Young and Cash Barrett both had touchdown catches from Rivera, who completed 6 of 11 passes for 135 yards.

Even though YMLA hasn’t won a game, Rieken said they have some talented players.

“They run the spread and they have some athletes,” he said. “They have a couple of kids that can run and shake loose. They’ve got a couple of dudes that can move really well.”