Eagle Pass Eagles Claw Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks 34-7 in 12th Annual City Football Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles clawed their cross-town rival Eagle Pass C.C. Winn High School Mavericks 34-7 in the 12th Annual City Football Championship series on Friday, September 15, 2017, extending their undefeated streak to 12 consecutive years over the Mavericks.
Approximately 7,000 Maverick County and surrounding area football aficionados packed the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Football Stadium to witness the 12th edition of the Eagle Pass Eagles versus Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks football rivalry, also affectionately called the Menudo Bowl by local sports fans.
The visiting Winn Mavericks won the pre-game coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
After returning the opening kickoff to their 23 yard line, the Mavericks quickly opened up the game with a three yard pass completion to one of their wide receivers, but Eagles wrecking crew defensive back Darwin Lechler crushed the Mavericks wide receiver jarring the pigskin loose for a fumble and Eagle defensive back Ryan Chisum recovered the fumble at the Mavericks 31 yard line with 11:47 minutes remaining in the first stanza.
The Eagles offensive machine led by quarterback Ricardo “Richie” Luna, running back Dee Andre Torres, and wide receivers Albert Guevara, Jose Riojas, Norby Zavala, David Lopez, and Ralph Guerro wasted no time in attacking the Mavericks stampeding defense as Luna tossed a 30 yard pass completion to wide out Albert Guervara to the Mavericks one yard line on the first Eagles play from scrimmage. On the ensuing play, Eagles quarterback Richie Luna called his number into the Mavericks end zone on a one yard keeper for a touchdown and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead over the stunned Mavericks with 11:14 minutes remaining in the first quarter. Bang, Bang, and Boom went the critical first minute of the key rivalry game.
On their second possession, the Mavericks potent offense went three and out against the Eagles wrecking crew defense led by linebackers Mando Moncivais, David Kypuros, Haran Rodriguez, and Roger Ulloa, forcing them to punt the football with 9:04 minutes in the first period.
The Eagles offense anchored by offensive linemen Jose Laguna, Jorge Guajardo, Ray Galindo, Tito Villarreal, and Alex Martinez received their second possession at the Eagles 47 yard line and engineered a patented 53 yard touchdown drive, culminating on a nine yard touchdown sprint by wide receiver Jose Riojas into the Mavericks end zone and the extra point attempt by Riojas was good extending the Eagles lead over the shocked Maverick Nation aficionados 14-0 with 6:17 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Mavericks offensive machine under the direction of quarterbacks Tony Flores and Ethan Johnston, running back Gustavo Cabrera, tight end Isaac Villarreal, wide receivers Jose Blanco, Justis Roiz, Brandon Wheeler, Raul Solis, and Luis Olvera together with offensive linemen Sebastian Lopez, Erik Del Bosque, Juan Hernandez, Ty Ramirez, and Jaime Rodriguez took their third possession at the Winn 23 yard line but went three and out against the Eagles defensive border wall of linemen Sebastian Hernandez, David Santos, Jr., Mario Tores, Moises Rocha, and defensive backs Darwin Lechler, Kristian Barcena, Ryan Chisum, and Raul Lechler, forced to punt the football with 5:26 minutes left in the first period.
After the Eagles shock and awe play in the early first quarter, the Mavericks stampeding defense led by linebackers Ernesto Villasenor, Miguel De Los Santos, Cesar De La Garza, and defensive linemen Alexis Morales, Alejandro Ontiveros, Isaias Gonzalez, Ricardo Morales and Isamel Villarreal together with defensive backs Brandon Wheeler, Xavier Cerezo, J.J. Garcia, German Velasquez, Domingo Duran, and Isaac Flores buckled down and held the explosive Eagles offense off the scoreboard on their next five offensive possessions to trail only 14-0 at halftime. Similarly, the Eagles stout defense held the Mavericks scoreless for eight possessions during the entire first half in a defensive struggle between both teams.
During halftime, the loyal 7,000 plus football Aficionados were treated to a beautiful and inspiring performances by the Winn Silverline Dance Team and thundering Mavericks Band as well as the Eagles Diamond Dance Team and the mighty Eagles Marching Band. During pre-game festivities, the Mavericks and Eagles Cheerleading Teams entertained the audience.
At halftime, Head Coaches Tom Gonzalez and Eric Villasenor conferred with their Assistant Coaches to make game adjustments based on the first half of play by both teams.
The homestanding Eagles received the opening kickoff in the second half at their own 40 yard line and took only three rushing plays by inspired running back Dee Andre Torres, including a 28 yard run, a 19 yard dash, and a 13 sprint into the end zone, to tally a 60 yard touchdown drive and the point after attempt failed to expand their lead 20-0 over the proud Mavericks with 11:12 minutes remaining in the third stanza.
The Mavericks took their first possession in the second half in good field position at their own 43 yard line and started a promising drive when disaster struck as Eagles defensive back Ryan Chisum intercepted a tipped Maverick pass attempt and returned it for a 53 yard touchdown return and the extra point attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to give the Eagles an insurmountable lead of 27-0 with 9:42 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Eagles stingy wrecking crew defense once again forced the Mavericks to go three and out and punt on their next possession.
The Eagles balanced offensive machine took possession at their own 31 yard line and methodically marched down the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf for a 69 yard touchdown drive resulting on a one yard plunge by running back Dee Andre Torres into the Mavericks end zone and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas sailed through the uprights to give the Eagles a commanding lead 34-0 over the valiant Mavericks with 48 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The remainder of the game turned into a defensive battle between the Eagles wrecking crew and Mavericks stampeding defenses.
The never say die Mavericks did manage to tally a touchdown late in the fourth quarter when the Eagles center and quarterback miscommunicated forcing a bad snap and Mavericks linebacker Miguel De Los Santos scooped up the loose pigskin and returned it for a 30 yard touchdown and the point after attempt by place kicker Ernesto Fuentes was good to avoid a shut out 34-7 in the 12th Annual City Football Championship..
Both teams are to be commended for playing with extraordinary sportsmanship, dignity, and respect for their opponent, the sport of football, and their community–Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas.
The Eagles improve to 2-1 overall in the season while the Mavericks are now 1-2 in the season.
Despite the score and the winner or loser of this intense city football rivalry, the Eagles and Mavericks annually play their hearts out and provide the most entertaining, exciting, and thrilling football game of the year in the community. Go Eagles! Go Mavericks!
