LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS EAGLES defeat MAVERICKS 21 to 12 11th Annual Rivalry Game New Stadium Record Crowd of 8000 By: Conrado
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS
EAGLES defeat
MAVERICKS 21 to 12
11th Annual Rivalry Game
New Stadium Record Crowd of 8000
By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central
“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”
The long awaited and much anticipated matchup between the two local high school varsity football teams took center stage on Friday, September 9, 2016 when the C.C. Winn Mavericks varsity football team under the direction of head football coach Eric Villasenor entertained their cross town rivals the Eagle Pass Eagles varsity football team mentored by head football coach Tom Gonzalez in the 11th Annual Rivalry Football Game at the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Eagle Pass Eagles who were the designated visiting team came in sporting and overall season record of 1-1 while the designated home team the C.C. Winn Mavericks entered with an unblemished 2-0 mark. In a very well played hard hitting game by both teams the Eagle Pass Eagles continue their dominance over the Mavericks with a 21 to 12 defeat over the Mavericks witnessed by a new stadium record crowd of 8000.
As predicted in my pregame preview field possession, penalties and turnovers would play a vital role in the determining the outcome of this contest but as the old saying goes “That’s part of the game”. That cannot deter from an overall well played game between the two local schools with plenty of thrilling action on both sides of the ball. The offenses battling hard between the 20’s seeking to get the pigskin in the end zone. Both defenses inflicting punishing and bone shattering tackles which ended up with the Mavericks and Eagles losing a vital cog to their defense with the Mavericks losing hard hitting linebacker Rolando Sanchez to a knee injury and the Eagles losing pass rushing specialist defensive end Angel Miranda to an ankle injury and defensive tackle Jesus Fernandez to a shoulder injury. But as the wise old Hall of Fame head football coach Cozel Foster used to say “You dance with who you brought”.
After an exchange of punts by both teams, the home standing Mavericks managed to dent the scoreboard first o their second offensive series of the night with a well executed 50 yard 7 play scoring drive primarily with their patented ground game along with a couple of short passes capped off with a 10-yard keeper by quarterback Julio Ruiz with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter. The point after attempt sailed wide let but the Mavericks had a 6 to 0 lead over the Eagles.
Late in second period the Mavericks held the ball at their own 36-yard line when disaster struck as Eagles defensive safety Alan Morales intercepted a Mavericks pass attempt and returned it to the Mavericks 10-yard line. The short scoring drive culminated with a three-yard blast to pay dirt by quarterback Ricky Medina with 5:01 remaining in the first half. Eagle placekicker Jose Riojas converted the point after to give the Eagles the narrow 7 to 6 lead over the Mavericks. With just a few seconds remaining on the clock before halftime Eagles placekicker Jose Riojas attempted a 48-yard field goal that looked like it had the distance but sailed wide left as the Eagles took their 7 to 6 lead into the halftime locker room.
During the half time break both coaching staffs were going over some changes to the offensive and defensive game plans as the Might Eagles Band and the Thundering Mavericks Band as well as the Diamond Dancers and Silverline Dancers entertained the record crowd in attendance.
The second half of this contest started out just like the first half with an exchange of punts by both team only this time it was the Eagles that scored first utilizing the services of Jose Rioja, Mark Venegas and Ricky Medina taking turns in toting the pigskin to matriculate down the field for an 82 yard scoring drive that was capped off with 39 yard touchdown pass from Ricky Medina to wide receiver Ricky Reyes who put on a couple of nifty moves to shake himself free from the Mavericks secondary enroute to pay dirt with 3:12 showing o the third quarter clock. Jose Riojas tacked on the point after to extend the Eagles lead to 14 to 6.
Late in the third the valiant Mavericks who were plagued by costly penalties all night long with their three longest plays from scrimmage each called back due to a penalty fought back with 53 yard scoring drive that saw the Mavericks facing a fourth and 8 at the Eagles 12-yard line. The ever gutsy Coach Eric Villasenor decided to go for it instead of kicking a field goal. The Mavericks surprised everyone in the stadium including the Eagles defense with Mavericks tailback Danny Rios carrying the ball around left end getting the defensive flow towards him and low and behold he pitches the ball to wide receiver Ruben Esquivel on a reverse and Esquivel was able to waltz into the corner of the end zone with 49 seconds left in the third period making the score 14 to 12 in favor of the Eagles. The Mavericks two-point conversion run attempt fell just inches short.
With the Loyal Legion of Eagles fans as well as the famed Mavericks Nation and the rest of the new stadium record crowd in attendance cheering their hearts out the Mavericks and Eagles continued to battle hard throughout the fourth quarter of play with both offenses battling for every yard possible and both defenses inflicting some serious punishment with some vicious tackles. The Mavericks offense held possession near midfield and began to mount what seemed like a potential go ahead score but once again disaster struck as Eagles linebacker David Ramos intercepted the Mavericks pass attempt and returned it to midfield.
The Eagles offense took over and proceeded to orchestrate a game clinching scoring drive that culminated with a two-yard plunge into the end zone by Jose Riojas with only 1:49 left in the game. Jose Riojas converted the point after to extend the Eagles lead to 21 to 12 over the Eagles.
The Mavericks still had one more chance to mount a last second scoring drive but the Eagles defensive unit forced the Mavericks to turn the ball over on downs. The Eagles showed some class deciding to take a knee to wind out the clock rather than to attempt to tack on one more meaningless score as they came away with the hard fought 21 to 12 victory over the valiant Mavericks who played their hearts out.
Eagle Pass Sports Central would like to commend the Eagles offense comprised of offensive linemen Cody Esquivel, Jorge Guardado, Adrian Rodriguez, Jovan Garza and Issac Castillo along with wide receivers Ricky Reyes, Jose Riojas and Brian Palacios along with tailback Mark Venegas and quarterback Ricky Medina who went toe to toe against the Mavericks formidable defense comprised by linemen Enrique Garza, Carlos Tijerina, Victor Olguin and Jacob Guerra, linebackers Ernesto Villasenor, Albert Duran and Rolando Sanchez as well as the stingy Mavericks secondary of Rene Auces, Rey Vasquez Alonso Vallejo and Alex De Jesus.
We also commend the Mavericks offense comprised buy linemen Jose Salazar, Emmanuel Orta, Luz Garcia, Mario Elizondo and Jaime Fuentes along with wide receivers Ruben Esquivel, Alfonso Cardona, Gilbert Rodriguez and tight end Jose Rodriguez along with quarterback Julio Ruiz and running backs Danny Rios and Omar Hinojosa who battled against the Eagles aggressive defense comprised by linemen Jesus Fernandez, Angel Miranda, standout Haran Rodriguez who had a tremendous game with 10 tackles along with backups Mario Torres, Sebastian Hernandez and Brandon Garza who were forced into action due to injuries as well as linebackers David Kypuros, Alek Alvarez and David Ramos and the defensive secondary of Alan Morales, Darwin Lechler, Kevin Garcia and Dee Andre Torres.
Eagle Pass Sports Central congratulate victorious Eagle Pass Eagles and commend the effort put forth by the C.C. Winn Mavericks in this hotly contested game where absolutely nothing was at stake other than another victory to the winner and a loss to the other team but certainly no mythical City Championship. We also commended the new stadium record crowd in attendance that came out to support their respective favorite team. Now that this rivalry game is over come out and support both the Eagles and Mavericks the rest of the season after all they both represent the city of Eagle Pass, Texas our beloved ever growing community!
OFFICIAL TEAM STATS:
MAVERICKS EAGLES
First Downs 12 12
Att./ Yds. Rushing 33/176 46/227
Yards Passing 72 60
Total Yards 248 287
Pass att./comp./int’s 6/16/2 4/8/0
Return Yards 0 25
Punts /Avg. 4/38.2 3/31.0
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 2/1
Penalties/Yards 7/75 4/30
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:
PASSING
MAVERICKS
#8 Julio Ruiz 6 comp. 16 att. 2 int’s 72 yards
EAGLES:
#4 Ricky Medina 4 comp. 8 att. 60 yds. 1TD
RUSHING:
MAVERICKS:
#8 Julio Ruiz 17 att. 68 yds. 1TD
#7 Ruben Esquivel 1 att. 12 yds. 1TD
#11 Alfonso Cardona 4 att. 40 yds.
#21 Danny Rios 12 att. 60 yds.
#22 Omar Hinojosa 1 att. – 4 yds.
EAGLES:
#4 Ricky Medina 20 att. 92 yds. 1TD
#7 Mark Venegas 17 att. 108 yds.
#9 Jose Riojas 8 att. 22 yds. 1TD
#20 Ricky De Los Santos 1 att 5 yds.
RECEIVING:
MAVERICKS:
#7 Ruben Esquivel 2 rec. 36 yds.
#11 Alfonso Cardona 1 rec. 9 yds..
#21 Danny Rios 1 rec. 6 yds.
#82 Jose Rodriguez 2 rec. 21 yds.
EAGLES:
#7 Mark Venegas 1 rec. 7 yds.
#8 Dee Andre Torres 1 rec. 8 yds.
#13 Ricky Reyes 2 rec. 43 yds. 1TD
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