Eagle Pass Eagles Thrash McAllen High Bulldogs 52-21 In Bi-District Football Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles thrashed the McAllen High School Bulldogs 52-21 in their 2017 Region IV 6A, Division 2 Bi-District Football Championship game held on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, improving to 9-2 overall in the season.
The District 29-6A Co-Champion Eagle Pass Eagles won the pre-game coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, allowing the McAllen Bulldogs to receive the opening kickoff.
The Bulldogs started their first possession of the game at their own 13 yard line after their kickoff returner fumbled the football and recovered it as a bunch of swarming Eagles were right on top of him. The Eagles self-anointed “Land Sharks Defense” forced the visiting Bulldogs to go three and out and punt to the Eagles.
The explosive Eagles offense led by quarterback Richie Luna and running back Dee Andre Torres explored the pesky Bulldog defense on the first possession, going three and out and punting back to the Bulldogs.
After trading their first possessions, the Bulldogs started at their own 13 yard line on the second possession but hit the Eagles’ “Land Sharks Defense” Wall and had to punt to the Eagles.
On their second possession, the potent Eagles offensive receiving corps composed of Albert Guevara, Jose Riojas, Norby Zavala, Ralph Guerrero, and Rey Mendoza went immediately to work on the Bulldogs secondary at the Eagles 40 yard line. On the second play from scrimmage, standout Eagle quarterback Richie Luna launched a 55 yard touchdown pass to standout wide receiver Norby Zavala and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to give the Eagles an early 7 to 0 lead over the stunned Bulldogs with 7:19 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles vaunted “Land Shark Defense” led by linebackers Haran Rodriguez, David Kypuros, Roger Ulloa, and Bernardo Mata stifled the Bulldogs potent ground game on their third possession, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. Line backer Roger Ulloa sacked the Bulldog quarterback on third down and three yards to go at the line of scrimmage to force the punt.
The Eagles explosive offense anchored by the stout offensive linemen composed of Ray Galindo, Tito Villarreal, Jose Laguna, Jorge Guardado, and Alex Martinez opened holes for standout running back Dee Andre Torres to run through the Bulldogs defense and protected quarterback Richie Luna to launch aerial missiles to his sure-handed wide receivers.
On the Eagles third possession at their own 19 yard line, the Eagles combined their ground game with workhorse running back Dee Andre Torres and short passes by quarterback Richie Luna to march down the field for an 81 yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 54 yard touchdown pass to standout wide receiver Rey Mendoza who slipped right through the middle of the Bulldogs defensive secondary and outraced them to the end zone and the extra point attempt by Jose Riojas was good to extend the Eagles lead 14 to 0 over the Bulldogs with 2:44 minutes left in the first stanza.
The Eagles “Land Sharks Defense” led by the fearless defensive linemen including Sebastain Hernandez, Moises Rocha, Mario Torres, David Santos, Jr., and Kike Villegas shut down the Bulldogs heralded ground game for the entire game, except in the second half when Eagles Head Coach Tom Gonzalez allowed his reserve and junior varsity players an opportunity to gain valuable game and playoff experience did the Bulldogs tallied 21 points in the second half.
Both teams exchanged possessions to end the first quarter of play. In the second period, the Eagles swarming “Land Sharks Defense” led by its defensive secondary composed of Ryan Chisum, Nico Moyeda, Kristian Barcena, Armando Monsivais, and Joshua Monsivais stifled the Bulldogs passing attack for the entire game until the Eagles reserve and junior varsity players entered the game during the mid-third quarter.
In the second quarter, the Eagles “Land Sharks Defense” held the Bulldogs on a fourth down and a few yards to go at the Bulldogs own 37 yard line, giving possession to the Eagles on downs.
The dynamic Eagles offense quickly capitalized on the defense hard work by striking a 37 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richie Luna to standout wide receiver Jose Riojas who eluded several would be Bulldog tacklers to will his way into the end zone and his point after attempt was also good to give the Eagles a commanding 21 to 0 lead over the Bulldogs with 11:45 minutes left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs received the ensuing kickoff at their own 44 yard line, but the Eagles “Land Sharks Defense” standout defensive end Moises Rocha swiped a Bulldog pass attempt and returned it 44 yards for a pick six score and the extra point attempt by Jose Riojas was good to extend the Eagles lead 28 to 0 with 11:22 minutes left in the second stanza, shocking the Bulldogs and their loyal fans who traveled five hours to the game.
Once again the Eagles daunted “Land Sharks Defense” stuffed the Bulldogs on their next possession, forcing them to punt.
The Eagles patented offense wasted no time in lighting up the score board like a pin ball machine game on a 37 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richie Luna to wide receiver Jose Riojas and Riojas’ extra point was good to take a dominating lead of 35 to 0 over the Bulldogs with 9:35 minutes left in the second period.
The swarming Eagles “Land Sharks Defense” rose to the occasion once again stopping Bulldog standout wide receiver Gunnar Henderson and the Bulldog offense, forcing them to punt.
The Eagles received the punt at their own 38 yard line and proceeded to engineer a methodical 62 yard touchdown drive on the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf, culminating on a 35 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richie Luna to standout wide receiver Albert Guevara and Jose Riojas’ point after attempt was good to give the Eagles an insurmountable 42 to 0 lead over the stunned Bulldogs with 5:19 minutes remaining in the first half.
The Eagles devastating “Land Sharks Defense” held the Bulldogs on their next two possessions to preserve a 42 to 0 lead at halftime.
The Mighty Eagle Band and the Diamond Dance Team entertained the loyal Eagle Nation aficionados during the halftime show while the Eagles and Bulldogs coaching staff made adjustments in the locker rooms for the second half of play. The Eagles Cheer Team lifted the Eagles and Eagle Nation aficionados spirits up throughout the whole game.
During most of the third quarter, both teams defenses dominated their opposing offenses.
On the Eagles third possession of the second half, the Eagles reserve offensive players orchestrated a patented 60 yard touchdown drive resulting in a one yard plunge into the Bulldogs end zone by running back Saul Perales and Jose Riojas’ point after attempt was good to extend the Eagles lead 49 to 0 over the Bulldogs with 1::58 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs finally avoided the shut out on a successful 65 yard touchdown drive against the Eagles reserve and junior varsity defensive players, culminating with a 45 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Nixon to wide receiver Christian Solis and the point after attempt was good to narrow the Eagles lead 49 to 7 with 46 seconds left in third period.
The Eagles reserve offensive team took the ensuing possession at their own 25 yard line and marched down the field under the helm of junior varsity promoted to varsity quarterback Alan Rodriguez for a 28 yard field goal by Jose Riojas to extend the Eagles lead 52 to 7 with 6:52 minutes left in the fourth period.
The Bulldogs continued battling and engineered a 71 yard touchdown drive against the Eagles reserve players on their next possession, culminating with an 11 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Nixon to wide receiver Gunnar Henderson and the extra point was good to narrow the score 52 to 14 with 3:39 minutes remaining in the game.
The Eagles recovered the Bulldogs ensuing on-side kickoff at their own 48 yard line, but went three and out and punted.
The never say die Bulldogs took possession at their own 23 yard line and orchestrated a quick 77 yard touchdown drive, resulting in an 11 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Nixon to wide receiver Gunnar Henderson and the point after attempt was good to bring the final score 52 to 21 with 20 seconds remaining in the game.
The Bulldogs ensuing on-side kickoff attempt went out of bounds to give the Eagles possession. The Eagles knelt the ball to end the game and won the hard-fought Bi-District Championship by a dominating score of 52-21.
The Eagles played their best football game of the season against the Bulldogs as both the offense and defense contributed to the victory. The Eagles victory was a total team effort.
The Eagles improve to 9-2 overall in the season and will next face the undefeated Edinburg Vela High School Sabercats (11- 0) for the Area Championship on Friday, November 24, 2017, at 2 P.M. at the Laredo United Independent School District Student Activity Center in Laredo, Texas. Tickets for the Eagles Area Championship Game will be available for sale to the public on Monday and Tuesday, November 20-21, 2017, from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Athletics Department Office located at the northside of the EPISD Student Activity Center.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates the Eagle Pass Eagles on winning the Bi-District Football Championship and wishes them the best in the Area Championship against the Edinburg Vela Sabercats. Go Eagles!!
