Dilley pops big plays to defeat Comfort

Big play after big play sunk the Comfort Bobcats in their home opener Friday, as the Dilley Wolves came to town and shut down Comfort, 46-24.

Dilley quarterback Johnny Rodriguez ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more as the Wolves overcame an early 17-14 Comfort lead.

Five Dilley touchdowns went for more than 40 yards, and a fifth was set up by a 53-yard Rodriguez bomb.

Dilley running back Bubba Reyes scored two second-half touchdown runs as the Wolves ran their record to 2-0 on the season.

Comfort held an early lead after quarterback Carter Pape broke free on a 34-yard run in the first quarter and connected with Gio Lopez on a 41-yard scoring toss in the second, for a 14-7 lead.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Dilley’s Jacob Lopez broke outside and went 89 yards for the score and the 14-14 tie. Comfort added a field goal with 5 minutes left in the quarter to up 17-14 — their final lead of the night.

Dilley was quick to respond. Rodriguez broke loose on a 41-yard score for a 21-17 lead just 2:41 before halftime.

The Wolves forced a Comfort three-and-out before Isaiah Lambert returned the punt 40 yards into Comfort territory. Three plays later, Rodriguez hit his wideout Lopez on an 18-yard strike with 6 seconds remaining in the first half for a 27-17 lead at the break.

Dilley got second-half touchdown runs of 23 yards by Reyes and 66 yards from Rodriguez to push their lead to 39-17 with 8:55 to play.

The next time Comfort found the end zone was a 4-yard TD run by workhorse running back Topper Sterling with 4:22 to play and Dilly comfortably ahead, 39-24.

Not helping the Comfort cause was the exit of starting quarterback Pape, who was injured late in the third quarter and did not return.

“We just need to cut down on mistakes. We had far too many of them tonight,” said Comfort coach Jay Rieken. “We need to build on the things we did right and bury the things we didn’t do well.”

Dilley coach David Silva praised the play of his young quarterback, making just his second start.

“He was 0-for-4 passing last week,” Silva said. “He’s come a long way in just a week. He’s shown he can control the game and make things happen when we need it.”

Comfort hosts Ingram in a 7 p.m. kickoff Sept. 13 while Dilley returns home to face the Randolph Ro-Hawks next week.