Eagle Pass Eagles lasso C. C. Winn Mavericks 21-12 in 11th Annual City Football Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
Over 8,000 cheering fans packed the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium to witness one of the best City Football Championship series game played as the visiting Eagle Pass High School Eagles lassoed the previously undefeated C. C. Winn High School Mavericks 21-12 on Friday, September 9, 2016, at Eagle Pass, Texas, extending their undefeated streak in the classic Menudo Bowl series to 11-0.
During the meeting of the team Captains at the 50 yard line immediately before the start of the game, the Eagles called for “Tails” in the traditional coin toss but “Heads” it was so the Mavericks chose to receive the opening kick-off. Both teams checked hand and the 11th Annual Battle on the Border was on to the delight of the overflowing aficionados at the EPISD Student Activity Center.
The Mavericks received the opening Eagles short kick-off but the Eagles wrecking crew defense led by standout linebackers David Ramos, David Kypuros, Alek Alvarez, and Brandon Garza, nose guard Jesus Fernandez, defensive lineman Caleb Garcia, Haran Rodriguez, Bernabe Olivas, and Angel Miranda, and defensive backs Dee Andre Torres, Alan Morales, Kevin Garcia, and Armando Martinez stifled the potent Mavericks offense, forcing them to punt.
The Eagles received the punt and the thundering Mavericks defense led by standout linebackers Ernesto Villasenor, Alberto Duran, and Rolando Sanchez, defensive linemen Carlos Tijerina, Enrique Garza, Jacob Guerra, and Victor Olguin, and defensive secondary backs Rene Auces, Alonso Vallejo, Alex De Jesus, and Raul Gomez stymied the Eagles offensive machine, forcing them to punt after a bad snap from the deep snapper and giving the Mavericks excellent field position at the 50 yard line.
The Mavericks stampeding offense led by standout quarterback Julio Ruiz, running backs Omar Hinojosa and Daniel Rios, wide receivers Jose Rodriguez, Ruben Esquivel, Alfonso Cardona, and Gilberto Rodriguez, and linemen Luz Garcia, Jose Salazar, Emmanuel Orta, Jaime Fuentes, and Mario Elizondo engineered a 50 yard touchdown drive, culminating with a 10 yard keeper by quarterback Julio Ruiz into the Eagles end zone with 3:55 minutes left in the first quarter and the point after attempt failed sailing wide left to give the Mavericks an early 6-0 lead.
The Eagles offense guided by standout quarterback Ricky Medina, running back Mark Venegas and Ricky De Los Santos, wide receivers Jose Riojas, Brian Palacios, Ricky Reyes, and Isaac Perales, and anchored by offensive linemen Cody Esquirvel, Jovan Garza, Jorge Guardado, Adrian Rodriguez, and Isaac Castillo struggled early in the game but responded when called upon in the game.
Both teams exchanged possessions hampered by turnovers and penalties in the first half of the defensive battle and chess game orchestrated by each team’s coaching brainstorm.
The Eagles offense finally got on track in the mid-second quarter after an Eagles interception by standout defensive back Alan Morales gave the Eagles possession on the Mavericks 35 yard line with 6:47 minutes left in the first half. The Eagles quickly capitalized on the turnover and orchestrated a short touchdown drive resulting in a three yard run by Eagles quarterback Ricky Medina into the Mavericks end zone and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good, giving the Eagles a 7-6 lead in the game with 5:01 minutes left in the second stanza.
Both teams traded possessions and the Eagles attempted a 40 yard field goal by place kicker Jose Riojas with 10 seconds remaining in the first half, but the kick sailed wide left as the Eagles took a slim 7-6 lead after 24 minutes of play in the 11th Annual City Football Championship.
The cheering 8,000 plus aficionados were entertained during half-time by the mighty Eagles Band and Diamond Dance Team as well as the thundering Mavericks Band sporting its new uniforms and the Silver Line Dance Team.
The second-half saw the Eagles take the opening kick-off, but the stifling Mavericks defense forced the Eagles offense to punt.
The Mavericks received possession of the football at their 46 yard line and marched down to the Eagles 5 yard line on a dazzling run by quarterback Julio Ruiz, but the Mavericks were penalized for clipping and stifling the promising drive.
The Eagles took the Mavericks punt at their own 18 yard line with 6:57 minutes left in the see-saw battle third quarter. The Eagles explosive offense engineered an impressive 82 yard touchdown drive, culminating with a 39 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ricky Medina to wide receiver Ricky Reyes right up the middle of the Mavericks secondary and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to provide a 14-6 lead with 3:12 minutes left in the third period. The Eagles quick aerial strike stunned the Mavericks and their coaching staff and fans.
The never say die Mavericks took the ensuing kick-off and orchestrated an impressive 48 yard touchdown drive with a thrilling razzle and dazzle 12 yard reverse play on a fourth down and 7 yards to go, resulting in a touchdown by standout wide receiver Ruben Esquivel and the two point conversion fell short as the Eagles defense stopped Mavericks quarterback Julio Ruiz at the one yard line, narrowing the score 14-12 in favor of the Eagles with 13 seconds left in the third quarter and resurrecting momentum among the Maverick Nation aficionados.
The Mavericks suffocating defense stopped the Eagles potent offense on their next possession, forcing them to punt.
The Mavericks offense went to work at their own 38 yard line with 10:07 minutes left in the 11th Annual City Football Championship game and began marching closer to the Eagles end zone and potential game winning drive, but a holding penalty set them back followed by an Eagles interception by standout linebacker David Ramos of an errant Julio Ruiz pass at the 50 yard line with only 8:16 minutes remaining in the “Clasico” game. The interception reinvigorated the Eagles and their coaching corps and over 4,000 screaming Eagle Nation aficionados.
The Eagles offense took over possession at midfield determined to score and put some distance on the score board between themselves and the always dangerous Mavericks while eating up as much time as possible from the waning minutes of the 11th Anniversary of the Menudo Bowl.
The Eagles offense responded by engineering a tough 50 yard touchdown drive despite the Mavericks valiant defensive stand, culminating with a two yard dive by standout Eagles slot back and place kicker Jose Riojas and the point after attempt by Riojas was good to give the Eagles a commanding lead of 21-12 with only 1:49 minutes left on the 11th Chapter of the Battle on the Border.
The courageous Mavericks offense was stifled by the Eagles wrecking crew defense in the waning seconds of the game. The Eagles earned their 11th consecutive victory over the Mavericks in the annual classic football game, but not before a valiant effort by the Mavericks to make a close and hard fought game enjoyed by the overflowing 8,000 plus Maverick County, Texas football fans on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Congratulations to the Eagle Pass Eagles, Head Coach Tom Gonzalez and staff, and fans on their hard earned victory over the C. C. Winn Mavericks, 21-12, in the 11th Annual City Football Championship which will be remembered in the annals of history as one of the most thrilling and exciting games in the classic series.
Congratulations also to the C.C. Winn Mavericks, Head Coach Eric Villasenor and staff, and aficionados on their valiant and determined play and representing themselves, school, and community with great sportsmanship, character, and pride.
