Eagle Pass Eagles blank Del Rio Rams 10-0 during homecoming festivities

By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Live from Walter Levermann Rams Stadium, Del Rio, Texas

The late-season surging Eagle Pass High School Eagles blanked arch-rival and District 29-5A nemesis Del Rio High School Rams 10-0 on Friday, November 1, 2013, during homecoming festivities for the Del Rio Rams at Walter Levermann Rams Stadium in Del Rio, Texas in a key district football game with playoff consequences.

The visiting Eagle Pass Eagles dominated both the offensive and defensive fronts to take a first-half lead of 10-0 and never relinquished the lead during the second-half to hold on for the important District 29-5A victory by the final score of 10-0.

The Eagle Pass Eagles won the coin toss during the meeting of the game captains at midfield and chose to receive the ball in the second-half and kick the football to the Del Rio Rams at the beginning of the game.

The Rams received the opening game kick-off and began marching down the Walter Levermann Rams Stadium turf before the stout Eagles defense led by middle linebacker Armando “Mando” Lopez and wrecking crew comprised of linebackers Rudy Valdez, Chris Flores, Julian Castaneda, and Saul Garcia stopped the Rams drive, forcing the Rams to punt to the Eagles.

The Eagles took the football at their own 15 yard line after the Rams punt and began to put a drive of their own with nice runs by quarterback Ty Chisum, running backs DeShawn Franklin and Mark Venegas, and sideline passes to wide receiver R.J. Ruiz marching to the Rams 24 yard line with 5:04 remaining in the first quarter when suddenly the Eagles fumbled the ball and Rams defensive tackle Steven Maldonado recovered the football at the Rams 22 yard line, stalling the Eagles drive.

The Rams potent offense was stuffed by the mighty Eagles defense once again forcing the Rams to punt. The Eagles took the ball at the Rams 42 yard line after a bad punt and began their next possession. The Eagles converted a key fourth down and six yards to go while at the Rams 38 yard line on a pass from Eagles quarterback Ty Chisum to standout wide receiver R.J. Ruiz good for 14 yards to advance the football to the Rams 24 yard line with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles offense was stifled by the Rams defense forcing the Eagles to attempt a 30 yards field goal by standout Eagles placekicker Jerry Gonzalez with 45 seconds left in the first period. Gonzalez’s field goal attempt was high and long enough hitting the upper right cross bar and bouncing in good for the 30 yard field goal, giving the Eagles an early 3-0 lead with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Rams took the ensuing kick-off at their own 22 yard line but the stingy Eagles defensive line of Rolando Fernandez, Jesus Fernandez, and Alex Hinojosa and defensive secondary of R.J. Ruiz, Kevin Chisum, Jesse Mata, Olexis Gutierrez, and Carlos Rodriguez stifled the Rams offense all night long, forcing the Rams to punt and the Eagles took excellent field position on a bad Rams punt at the Rams own 44 yard line with 11:07 remaining in the second quarter.

Eagles offensive coordinator Javier Cardenas went to the air on the Eagles next possession with quarterback Ty Chisum connecting with wide receiver Riche Gonzalez on a 10 yard pass completion followed by a 31 yard completion to wide receiver Chris Perez to the Rams three yard line. Eagles quarterback Ty Chisum called his number twice from the three yard line until he finally punched the football into the Rams end zone on a one yard quarterback sneak and Jerry Gonzalez’s point after attempt was good, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead with 7:45 remaining in the second quarter.

The Rams returned the ensuing kick-off to their own 31 yard line with 7:39 left in the second stanza. The Rams drove the football down the field to the Eagles 20 yard line but standout Eagles defensive back Jesse Mata intercepted a Rams pass at the Eagles 13 yard line to kill the Rams potential scoring drive with 5:10 remaining in the second period.

Both teams’ defenses settled down and forced each teams’ offense to punt on their next possessions.

The Eagles caught a lucky break as the Rams center snapped the football over the Rams punter’s head into the end zone forcing the punter to kick-it out of the end zone to the Rams 30 yard line with 2:57 left before half-time, giving the Eagles excellent field position.

The Eagles offense was muzzled by the stingy Rams defense forcing the Eagles to attempt a 35 yards field goal by placekicker Jerry Gonzalez with 1:56 left before homecoming festivities at half-time. Gonzalez’s field goal kick sailed through the crisp November evening long enough but slightly wide of the left cross bar for the missed field goal attempt, turning the football over to the Rams at their own 25 yard line.

Neither team could move the football for the remainder of the second quarter settling for an Eagles 10-0 lead at half-time.

The Mighty Eagle Pass Eagles Marching Band presented a command performance while the beautiful Diamond Dance team danced their hearts out in their stunning burnt orange and black outfits to the applause of the Rams loyal homecoming fans.

In the second-half, both the Eagles and Rams defenses dominated each teams’ offenses trading field possessions. The Rams remained within striking distance all-night long but the total team effort by the Eagles clearly prevailed this evening preserving the 10-0 victory over long-time arch rival and District 29-5A nemesis Del Rio Rams. Standout Eagles defensive back Jesse Mata sealed the total Eagles team win with his second interception of a Ram pass attempt in the game late in the fourth quarter with the Rams driving
at the Eagles 26 yard line picking off the football at the Eagles six yard line with 2:26 remaining in the contest. The Eagles offense ran out the clock to secure the important District 29-5A win and guaranteeing the Eagles a state playoff berth in the Region IV-5A Bi-District Championship series with a team to be announced in the future.

The Eagle Pass Eagles improve to 3-5 overall in the season and 3-2 in District 29-5A standings with one game remaining in the season against their cross-town rivals, C.C. Winn Mavericks, for the coveted City Championship on Friday, November 8, 2013, at 7:30 P.M. at the EPISD Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Eagle Pass Eagles will be the home team while the C.C. Winn Mavericks will be the visiting team.