Eagle Pass C.C. Winn Mavericks earn school’s first football post-season playoff appearance with thrilling win over Harlandale Indians 27-24

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc. , Copyright 2016

The District 29-5A leading Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Mavericks staved off a furious fourth quarter rally by the San Antonio Harlandale High School Indians with an interception of an Indians pass attempt by defensive back Domingo Duran with 1:19 minutes left in the game to preserve a hard fought victory 27-24 on Friday, October 21, 2016, earning the Mavericks first ever state post-season playoff appearance in the school’s history and remain undefeated 3-0 in District play with two games remaining with a possible shot of winning the District Championship if they defeat both of their next two opponents, the Floresville Tigers and Uvalde Coyotes.

The thunder and lighting Mavericks defense played its toughest and best game this season against the Harlandale Indians. The Indians took first possession in the game, but the Mavericks defense stymied the potent Indians offense forcing them to punt.

The Mavericks engineered a perfect 75 yard touchdown drive on their first possession, marching from their own 25 yard line to the Indians end zone.  The Mavericks struck first blood on a sensational 47 yards touchdown pass from standout Quarterback Michael Paniagua to tailback Alfonso Cardona, who raced down the gut of the Indian defense for the touchdown.  The point after attempt by Mavericks place kicker Christian Rodriguez was good to give the Mavericks an early 7-0 lead with 6:59 minutes left in the First Quarter.

The Mavericks defense rose to the occasion on the Indians next possession by limiting them to a 23 yard Field Goal to make the score 7-3 with 11:17 minutes remaining in the Second Quarter.

In the Second Quarter, the Mavericks explosive offense fumbled the football and the Indians pounced on the football at the Mavericks 31 yard line with 10:26 minutes left in the Second Stanza.  The Indians quickly capitalized on the Mavericks turnover and scored on a three yard touchdown keeper by Quarterback Steven Medina and the point after attempt was good to  give the Indians a 10-7 lead with 8:17 minutes remaining in the Second Quarter.

The never say die Mavericks regrouped and orchestrated a 70 yard touchdown drive, culminating with with three yard TD run by bruising running back Carlos Tijerina who rumbled into the end zone with tacklers on his back and the extra point was no good, making it 13-10 in favor of the Mavericks with 5:36 minutes remaining in the Second Period.

Once again the Mavericks stout defense came to the rescue blocking a 38 yard Indians Field Goal Attempt by standout Mavericks defensive back Rene Auces, who leaped high into the air and blocked the field goal attempt with the Mavericks recovering the football by Mavericks defensive back Alonso Vallejo with 1:15 minutes remaining before halftime.  The Mavericks took a slim 13-10 lead into halftime of a hard fought District 29-5A football game.

In the Third Quarter, both teams’ defenses checked each other’s explosive offense with the Mavericks recovering an Indians fumble to shut down a potential score.  The two teams battled to a stalemate 13-10 in the Third Quarter.

In the Fourth Quarter, both teams’ offenses exploded.  The Mavericks capitalized on a short Indians punt and engineered a 33 yard touchdown drive culminating on a second TD run of eight yards by Mavericks bruising running back Carlos Tijerina who had to elude and spiral around Indian would-be tacklers into the end zone and the Mavs two point conversion was good, giving the Mavericks a 20-10 lead with 9:34 minutes left in the game.

The Harlandale Indians rallied in the fourth quarter by orchestrating a 67 yard touchdown drive, culminating with a two yard TD pass from Quarterback Steven Medina to wide receiver Jesse Sandoval and the point after attempt was good, narrowing the score 20-17 in favor of the Mavericks.

The Mavericks offense under the direction of Quarterback Michael Paniagua kept focused and engineered a 69 yard touchdown drive resulting in a sensational 12 yard TD keeper by QB Paniagua into the Indians end zone and the point after attempt was good to extend the Mavericks lead 27-17 with 4:21 minutes left in the game.

The Indians battled back with a 65 yard touchdown drive of their own, culminating with a 20 yard TD pass from QB Steven Medina to WR Steven Ruiz and the point after attempt was good to make a real close game at 27-24 in favor of the Mavericks with 2:57 minutes remaining in the game.
The Mavericks recovered the ensuing on-side kick-off attempt by the Indians. The Indians stout defense forced the Mavericks to punt the football and give them once last opportunity to either score a touchdown to go ahead or a field goal to tie the score and send the game into overtime.

The Indians received the football at their own 25 yard line with 1:28 minutes remaining in the game. The Mavericks thunder and lightning defense rose to the occasion one final time by intercepting an Indians pass attempt with 1:19 minutes left in the game by Mavericks standout defensive back Domingo Duran to seal the key and historic victory over the Harlandale Indians 27-24, earning the Mavericks their first ever school history post-season playoff berth.

The Mavericks improve to 7-1 overall in the season and remain undefeated in District 29-5A with a 3-0 record. The Mavericks are in sole first place in District 29-5A with an opportunity to win the District 29-5A Championship if they can defeat their two most formidable opponents in the final two games, the Floresville Tigers and the Uvalde Coyotes.

Congratulations to the C. C. Winn Mavericks on earning their first-ever post-season playoff berth in the school’s 11 year history and to Head Coach Eric Villsenor and his dedicated Coaching Staff.

The Mavericks travel to battle the potent Floresville Tigers on Friday, October 28, 2016, at 7:30 PM at Floresville, Texas in a key District 29-5A football game. Go Mavericks Go!