Eagle Pass Eagles romp Laredo United South Panthers 40-34 during Homecoming festivities
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles romped the visiting Laredo United South High School Panthers 40-34 during 2014 Homecoming festivities on Thursday, October 9, 2014, at Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, earning a key District 29-6A football victory.
The surging Panthers took the opening kick-off and engineered a touchdown drive culminating in a 71 yard bomb from quarterback Ricardo Hernandez to wide receiver Chris Cabello into the Eagles end zone and the point after attempt was good, taking an early 7-0 lead with 10;34 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles took the ensuing kick-off and returned it to their own 26 yard line, where they started their first possession of the game. On the second play from scrimmage, the Eagles fumbled the football and the Panthers pounced on the ball recovering it at the Eagles 28 yard line with 10:03 minutes left in the first period.
The Panthers quickly capitalized on the fumble recovery and hit a 13 yard touchdown pass and the extra point was good to take a 14-0 lead against the Eagles with 8:16 remaining in the first stanza. Eagles’ fans suddenly started getting nervous in the stands of Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Eagles coaching staff regrouped the team on the sideline and made adjustments quickly.
The explosive Eagles offensive machine took the ensuing kick-off at their own 22 yard line. The Eagles offense went to work on their second possession of the game and orchestrated a textbook touchdown drive resulting in a six yard touchdown keeper by Eagles standout quarterback Ty Chisum and the point after attempt was good, narrowing the score 14-7 in favor of the Panthers with 6:47 remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles defense led by linebackers Mando Lopez, Rudy Valdez, and Mike Montalvo forced the Panthers to punt the ball back to the Eagles offense.
The Eagles offense marched down the turf of Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium for a 62 yard touchdown drive culminating in a two yard keeper into the Panthers end zone by quarterback Ty Chisum and the extra point was good to tie the game 14-14 with 3:01 left in the first period.
The pesky Eagles defense forced the Panthers to punt on their next possession, but the Panthers long snapper made a low snap into the turf resulting in fumble which the Panthers punter recovered while blanketed by several Eagles defenders for the safety, giving the Eagles a 16-14 lead in the first quarter.
The Eagles also benefitted from the safety receiving the ball from the Panthers at their 33 yard line late in the first quarter. The Eagles engineered a patented 67 yard touchdown drive culminating in another eight yard keeper by quarterback Ty Chisum into the Panthers end zone and the point after attempt was good, increasing the Eagles lead 23-14 with 10:06 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Panthers quickly answered the Eagles score with a touchdown drive of their own resulting in an 13 yard pass into the Eagles end zone and the extra point was no good with 7:33 left in the second period, decreasing the Eagles lead 23-20.
The Eagles offense accepted the Panthers challenge and engineered another 53 yard touchdown drive on their next possession resulting in a seven yard sprint into the Panthers promise land by quarterback Ty Chisum and the point after attempt was good with 5:15 remaining in the second stanza, increasing the Eagles lead 30-20.
Both teams traded possessions with their defenses stopping their explosive offenses. Eagles defensive end Luis Mendez recovered a Panthers fumble but the Panthers stymied that Eagles drive.
The Panthers next possession started at the Eagles 40 yard line and with time running out in the second-half caught the Eagles secondary napping with a 35 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ricardo Hernandez to wide receiver Chris Cabello and the extra point was good, narrowing the score 30-27 with 28 seconds remaining before half-time.
During halftime, the 2014 Eagle Pass High School Homecoming Court was crowned with Eagles defensive back Carlos Rodriguez and Monique Marquez named Homecoming King and Queen representing the Eagles football team, Cesar Hernandez and Mirella Hernandez were named Prince and Princess representing the Senior Class, and Rudy Martinez and Antonia Chong were named Duke and Duchess.
In the third quarter, the two teams exchanged possessions including an interception by Eagles standout defensive back DeShawn Franklin but the Eagles were unable to capitalize on the takeover.
The Panthers started their next drive at their 41 yard line and orchestrated a 59 yard touchdown drive culminating with a three yard keeper by quarterback Ricardo Hernandez into the Eagles end zone and the point after attempt was good, regaining the lead 34-30 with 6:58 left in the third period.
Both teams’ defenses held their opposing offenses scoreless during the remainder of the third stanza.
In the fourth quarter, the Eagles scored a safety by standout linebacker Rudy Valdez on a bad snap from the Panthers center on a punt which went into the end zone, narrowing the Panthers lead 34-32 with 6:35 minutes remaining in the game, shifting momentum to the Eagles.
On the ensuing kick-off to the Eagles, the Eagles started at the Panthers own 45 yard line. The Eagles offensive machine orchestrated a 45 yard touchdown drive resulting in a 21 yard dazzling run by Eagles tailback DeShawn Franklin into the Panthers end zone and the two point conversion was perfectly executed by quarterback Ty Chisum on a keeper, increasing the Eagles lead over the Panthers 40-34 with 5:37 minutes remaining in the game.
The Eagles defense secured the victory on a Panther fumble recovered by Eagles safety Ty Chisum at the 50 yard line. The Eagles offense ran out the clock to preserve the hard fought District 29-6A win, improving to 4-2 overall in the season and 1-0 in District 29-6A action.
