C. C. Winn Mavericks stomp Mission Eagles 27-7 in Non-District Football Game, play San Antonio Central Catholic Buttons next
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
The thundering Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Mavericks stomped all over the visiting Mission High School Eagles in a key non-District football game on Friday, September 16, 2016, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium, improving to 3-1 overall in the season.
The thunder and lightning Mavericks defense blanketed the potent Eagles offense throughout the game, causing four Eagle turnovers and capitalizing on them for short touchdown drives into the Eagles end zone.
Mavericks standout running back Danny Rios rushed for three touchdowns in the game while quarterback Julio Ruiz added another touchdown to propel the Mavericks to a hard fought 27-7 victory over the Rio Grande Valley Mission Eagles.
The Mission Eagles won the coin toss and elected to receive the football. The Eagles opened the game with a quick pass to a wide receiver, but the swarming Mavericks defense hit the Eagles receiver very hard, forcing a fumble which was recovered by standout Mavericks defensive back Raul Gomez at the Eagles own 34 yard line with 11:50 minutes to go in the first period.
The explosive Mavericks offense went to work under the helm of signal caller (QB) Julio Ruiz and marched down to the Eagles 15 yard line knocking on the door of the end zone, but the Eagles defense led by standout linebacker Steven De Leon stopped the Mavericks on downs.
The Mavericks thunder and lighting defense led by defensive linemen Carlos Tijerina, Jacob Guerra, and Enrique Garza and linebackers Alberto Duran, Ernesto Villasenor, and defensive backs Rene Auces, Raul Gomez, and Rey Vasquez stymied the potent Eagles offense led by quarterback Damian Gomez and tailback Steven De Leon on their next possession, forcing a punt.
The Mavericks offense took over at the Eagles 49 yard line after a short punt and went to work behind their big offensive line led by Luz Garcia, Emmanuel Orta, Jose Salazar, Jaime Fuentes, and Mario Elizondo and engineered a 51 yards touchdown drive, culminating in a one yard touchdown keeper by quarterback Julio Ruiz and the point after attempt sailed left of the goal post to give the Mavericks an early 6-0 lead with 5:10 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Mavericks defense stifled the Eagles offense throughout the entire game and their hard hitting caused four Eagles turnovers in the game.
The Mavericks offense lit up the scoreboard a second time after marching 59 yards down the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf after defensive tackle Enrique Garza recovered an Eagles fumble at the Mission 41 yard line, resulting in a dazzling 14 yards scamper into the end zone by standout Mavericks tailback Daniel Rios and the extra point by Mavericks place kicker Christian Rodriguez split the put rights to give the Mavericks a comfortable 13-0 lead with 8:19 minutes left in the second stanza.
The Eagles fumbled the Mavericks ensuing kick off to them and Mavericks kicking team specialist Jesus Flores pounced on the loose football at the Eagles 28 yard line, giving excellent field position to the Mavericks.
The Mavericks offense marched down to the Eagles four yard line, but Mavericks quarter back Julio Ruiz fumbled the pigskin and the Eagles defense stopped a would be Mavericks score.
Once again the Mavericks defense suffocated the explosive Eagles offense forcing them to punt and standout Mavericks wide receiver and punt returner Ruben Esquivel returned it to the Eagles own 29 yard line with 4:27 minutes left before half-time.
The Mavericks capitalized on their great field position and punched the football into the Eagles end zone on a one yard dive by running back Daniel Rios and place kicker Christian Rodriguez’s point after attempt barely crossed over the goal posts to give the Mavericks a solid 20-0 lead with only 2:34 minutes left in the first-half of play. The Mavericks took their 20-0 lead into half-time after the Mavericks defense continued smothering the Eagles offense.
Loyal Maverick Nation football aficionados were entertained on this evening during half-time, being Mexico’s Independence Day, by the award winning C. C. Winn Silverline Dance Team special tribute to Grammy Award winning recording artist Selena Quintanilla Perez to the delight of the cheering Maverick fans, as well as the thundering Mavericks Marching Band.
The Mavericks took the opening kick-off of the second-half at their own 25 yard line, but the Eagles defense buckled down and forced the Mavericks to punt.
On their first possession in the second-half, the Eagles came out charging and quickly scored on an impressive 55 yards touchdown drive in three long plays, culminating on a sensational 24 yard run into the Mavericks end zone by standout Eagles tailback Steven De Leon and the point after attempt by place kicker Rene Rodriguez was good to make the score 20-7 in favor of the Mavericks with 6:49 minutes in the third quarter.
Both teams exchanged possessions during the third quarter several times as their defenses held the offense. The Mavericks thunder and lighting defense stuffed out any momentum the Eagles had gained from their quick score touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, the Mavericks capitalized on a short Eagles punt and easily marched 26 yards into the Eagles end zone on a one yard plunge by running back Daniel Rios and place kicker Christian Rodriguez extra point was good to provide the Mavericks a commanding lead of 27-7 with only 8:56 minutes left in the game. The Mavericks defense held the Eagles potent offense from scoring for the remainder of the game and sealed the Mavericks hard earned victory over the Mission Eagles in the Battle of the Border between the two teams from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Congratulations to the Mavericks on an impressive win and outstanding offensive and defensive play against the Mission Eagles.
Mavericks Head Coach Eric Villasenor and his thundering Mavericks improve to 3-1 overall in the season and will prepare to face the San Antonio Central Catholic Preparatory School Buttons (Rattlers ) next Friday, September 23, 2016, at 7:30 P.M. At the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. Go Mavericks!
