Eagle Pass Eagles Fall To Medina Valley Panthers 28-27 In 2017 Football Season Opener
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.,
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles fell to the always tough Medina Valley Panthers 28 to 27 in the fourth quarter after leading for three quarters of the game in a non-district 2017 football season opener on Friday, September 1, 2017, in Castroville, Texas. The homestanding Medina Valley Panthers rallied in the fourth quarter from a 24-21 deficit to nudge the visiting Eagle Pass Eagles.
The Eagles received the opening kickoff and engineered an impressive touchdown drive resulting in a 28 yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Richie Luna to wide receiver Norby Zavala while place kicker Jose Riojas point after attempt was good, giving the Eagles an early 7 to 0 lead in the first stanza.
The Eagles stingy defense held the homestanding Panthers on their first offensive series and forced them to punt the football back to the Eagles.
The Eagles offense led by quarterback Richie Luna, running back DeeAndre Torres, and wide receivers Norby Zavala, Albert Guevara, Jose Riojas, David Lopez, and Ralph Guerrero orchestrated another touchdown drive culminating in a 49 yard touchdown pass from Luna to Guevara and place kicker point after attempt was good, boosting the Eagles lead 14-0 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Panthers engineered a touchdown drive resulting in a six yard touchdown run by Panther running back Caytan Chang and the extra point attempt was good, narrowing the score 14 to 7 in favor of the Eagles.
The Eagles marched down the field but had to settle for a 23 yard field goal from Eagles place kicker Jose Riojas, taking a 17 to 7 lead.
Both teams’ defenses buckled down and held the offenses scoreless for the remaining second quarter, giving the Eagles a 17 to 7 lead at Halftime.
In the third quarter, the Panthers received the second half kickoff and Panther return man Logan Master dazzled the Eagles kicking team for a 77 yard touchdown return and the point after attempt failed, closing the score 17 to 13 in favor of the Eagles.
The Eagles potent offense engineered another touchdown drive resulting in a seven yard touchdown pass from quarter back Richie Luna to wide receiver Ralph Guerrero and place kicker Jose Riojas extra point attempt was good, increasing the Eagles lead 24 to 13 over the Panthers in the third period.
The Panthers explosive running game engineered a long touchdown drive culminating in an eight yard touchdown dash by running back Devin Johnson and made a two point conversion attempt, decreasing the Eagles lead by a score of 24 to 21.
The Eagles offense once again marched down the field but had to settle for a 35 yard field goal by place kicker Jose Riojas to extend their lead 27 to 21 in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers ground game went back to work in the fourth quarter against the Eagles defense and managed to score on a five yard touchdown run by running back Carl Craig and the point after attempt was good to earn the Panthers a come from behind victory 28 to 27 over the Eagles.
Eagles Head Coach Tom Gonzalez stated “the Eagles played very hard and gained valuable experience in the young season.”
The Eagles face the Laredo Cigarroa Toros on Friday, September 8, 2017, at 7:30 P.M. at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. This first home game has been designated as Parents Night.
All Eagle Pass Eagles Football Aficionados are encouraged to attend and support the Eagles to victory. Go Eagles!
