Eagle Pass Eagles Caged By Laredo United Longhorns 45-14 in Key District 29-6A Football Game During Homecoming
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles were caged during the second-half of their 2017 Homecoming Football Game by the Laredo United High School Longhorns 45-14 after being tied at halftime 7-7 on Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium, falling to 6-2 overall in the season and 4-1 in District 29-6A standings.
The 2017 Eagle Pass High School Homecoming King and Queen are Caleb Garcia and Karla Velez representing the Cheer Squad after being crowned during halftime of the Eagles versus Longhorns football game.
The Eagles entered the game with a 6-1 season record and 4-0 in District 29-6A while the Longhorns were 4-3 overall and 2-2 in District.
The Longhorns won the opening coin toss and chose to receive the football. In their first possession of the game, the Longhorns explosive offense combined their ground and air game to engineer a 64 yard touchdown drive culiminating on a 25 yard pass from Quarterback Wayo Huerta to wide receiver Chris Fine and the point after attempt was good to take an early 7-0 lead over the Eagles with 9:48 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles first possession started at their own 26 yard line and the potent offensive machine orchestrated a methodical 74 yard touchdown drive resulting on a sensational 54 yard run up the middle of the Longhorns defense by running back Dee Andre Torres into the end zone and the point after attempt by placekicker Jose Riojas was good to tie the game 7-7 apiece with 9:11 minutes left in the first period.
After both teams’ first possession resulting in touchdowns, the defenses took over the remainder of the first half shutting each other down with the score tied 7-7 at halftime. The Eagles threatened scoring twice in the second quarter, but one possession ended at the Longhorns 14 yard line on an Eagles fumble recovered by the Longhorns and late in the second quarter before halftime the Eagles attempted a field goal but a high snap scuttled the field goal attempt, turning the ball over to the Longhorns.
In the second-half, the Eagles took the opening kickoff at their own 22 yard line and began moving the football well when Longhorn defensive back Oscar Villarreal intercepted a Richie Luna pass attmept and returned it 53 yards for a pick six touchdown and the extra point was good to give the Longhorns a 14-7 advantage over the Eagles with 11:37 minutes remaining in the third stanza, stunning the Eagle Nation aficionados.
The Longhorns interception return for a touchdown appeared to deflate the Eagles sail and shook up their confidence demonstrated during the first half of play. The Eagles moved the football during the second half but multiple turnovers stopped Eagle possessions and potential scoring opportunities. The Longhorns capitalized on the Eagles turnovers into Longhorn scores during the second half, including five touchdowns and a field goal to win by a lopsided score of 45-14.
In the second half, the Longhorns scored on touchdown passes from quarterback Wayo Huerta to Chris Fine of 34 yards, 39 yards, 9 yards, and an 8 yard touchdown run by running back Isaac Velasquez. The Longhorns place kicker Yahid Pena added a 32 yard field goal and five point after attempts.
The Eagles scored their second touchdown in the game on a two yard pass from quarterback Dee Andre Torres to wide receiver Ralph Guerrero and the extra point was good with 2:31 minutes left in the game, making the final score 45-14 in favor of the Longhorns.
The Eagles will regroup under Head Coach Tom Gonzalez and prepare for next week’s District 29-6A matchup with the district leading San Antonio Southwest Dragons on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at 7 P.M. at Eagle Pass in another important game. The Southwest Dragons are 7-1 overall and 5-0 in District 29-6A. The Dragons are in first place and are the only remaining undefeated team in District 29-6A league play. The Eagles will seek to defeat the Southwest Dragons for a shot at a Co-District Championship if they also beat arch-rival Del Rio Rams on November 10th.
