Eagle Pass Eagles Clawed Laredo Cigarroa Toros 35-7 In Non-District Football Game, Face Cross-Town Rival Winn Mavericks Next Week

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles clawed the visiting Laredo Cigarroa High School Toros 35-7 in a non-district football game on Friday, September 8, 2017, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, improving to 1-1 in the season.

The Laredo Cigarroa Toros won the coin toss during pre-game ceremonies at midfield and deferred to receive the football until the second-half, allowing the Eagles to receive the game’s opening kickoff.

The Eagles took their first possession at their own 41 yard line and the offense led by quarterback Richie Luna, running back Dee Andre Torres and wide receivers Albert Guevara, Oscar Castillon, Norby Zavala, Jose Riojas, David Lopez, and Ralph Guerrero marched down the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf to the Toros 16 yard line, where the Eagles 33 yard field goal attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was blocked by the high leaping Toros defense with 7:58 minutes remaining in the first stanza.

The Toros took possession after the blocked field goal at their own 44 yard line, but ran into the Eagles wrecking crew defense led by linebackers David Kypuros, Haran Rodriguez, Roger Ulloa, and Mando Moncivais.  Eagle linebacker David Kypuros intercepted a Toros pass attempt and returned it 68 yards for an apparent Eagles touchdown, but an Eagle player blocked a Toro in the back nullifying the outstanding defensive play and touchdown by Kypuros. The Eagles defense forced the Toros to punt the football back to the Eagles.

The explosive Eagles offensive machine took possession at their own 47 yard line and engineered a 53 yard opening touchdown via short passes and tough running by Eagle running back Dee Andre Torres, culminating in a 12 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richie Luna to wide receiver Albert Guevara who slipped several would-be Toro tacklers to get into the Toros end zone and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead over the Toros with 1:34 minutes left in the first quarter.

The Toros offense took possession at their own 37 yard line and drove to the Eagles 10 yard line, where they attempted a 27 yard field goal that missed its mark with 7:46 minutes remaining in the second period.

After the missed Toros field goal attempt, the Eagles took possession at their own 20 yard line and orchestrated a patented 80 yard touchdown drive via the air and ground games, culminating with a one yard touchdown plunge by running back Dee Andre Torres and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was no good, extending the Eagles lead to 13-0 over the Toros with 4:38 minutes left before half-time.

The Toros offense returned the ensuing Eagles kick-off to their own 25 yard line and immediately engineered a 75 yard touchdown drive through passing and running, resulting in a six yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alfredo Sepulveda to wide receiver Jesus Salazar and the point after attempt was good, narrowing the Eagles lead 13-7 with only 47 seconds before half-time. The Eagles went into half-time with a slight lead over the Toros, 13-7.

The sparkling Eagle Pass High School Diamond Dance Team, debuting their new uniforms, entertained the loyal Eagles Nation aficionados together with the mighty Eagles Marching Band.  The Toros Dance Team and Marching Band also performed during half-time.

Eagles Head Coach Tom Gonzalez and his coaching staff made strategic offensive and defensive changes during half-time after reviewing the first half of play.

In the third quarter, the Toros took the second-half kick-off at their own 25 yard line, but the mighty Eagles defense stifled the potent Toros offense, forcing them to punt.  Both teams’ defenses stopped the offenses during the early third period.

After a key quarterback sack by Eagle defensive tackle David Santos, Jr. that stopped a Toros drive, the Eagles took possession at their own 48 yard line and successfully engineered a 52 yard touchdown drive resulting in a three yard keeper by quarterback Richie Luna into the Toros end zone and the two point conversion was good on a pass from Luna to wide receiver Rey Mendoza, extending the Eagles lead 21-7 over the Toros with 1:10 minutes remaining in the third stanza.

The Eagles wrecking crew defense led by defensive linemen David Santos, Jr., Sebastian Hernandez, Mario Torres, and Moises Rocha and defensive backs Christian Barcena, Darwin Lechler, Nico Moyeda, and Raul Lechler dominated the Toros offense during the second half, shutting down their scoring machine.

Late in the third quarter, the Eagles explosive offense took possession at the 50 yard line and orchestrated a perfect 50 yard touchdown drive, culminating on a four yard touchdown run by Eagle running back Dee Andre Torres and the extra point by place kicker Jose Riojas was good, increasing the Eagles lead 28-7 over the Toros with 10:42 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles final score came on a dazzling 85 yard interception return for a touchdown by Eagle defensive back Kristian Barcena, raising the loyal Eagles Nation aficionados to their feet, and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good, giving the Eagles an insurmountable lead 35-7 over the Toros with only 1:46. Minutes left in the game.

The Toros marched into Eagles territory on their last drive of the game, but the stingy Eagles defense shut them down to seal a hard fought victory 35-7 over the Laredo Cigarroa Toros.

The Eagles face next week their cross-town rival Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Mavericks for the fictitious City Championship on Friday, September 15, 2017, at 7:30 P.M. in the most entertaining football game of the season in Eagle Pass, also known as “The Menudo Bowl.”   The Eagles will be the home team while the Mavericks will be visitors.  Get your tickets early because you do not want to miss this perennially exciting and thrilling football game in Eagle Pass.