Eagle Pass Eagles Thrash San Antonio South San Bobcats 43-14 in District 29-6A Contest
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles thrashed the visiting San Antonio South San High School Bobcats 43-14 in a key District 29-6A football contest on Friday, October 13, 2017, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, improving to 5-1 overall in the season and 3-0 in District 29-6A standings.
The South San Bobats received the game’s opening kickoff and engineered a long, time consuming 90 yard touchdown drive on the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf, culminating on a one yard quarterback sneak into the Eagles wrecking crew defense end zone by Bobcat signal caller Raul Agosto with 3:42 minutes remaining in the first quarter and an early 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles started their first possession of the game at their own 33 yard line and immediately answered the Bobcats opening touchdown drive with an aerial bomb touchdown from quarterback Richie Luna to wide receiver Rey Mendoza for 67 yards and the point after attempt by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to tie the game at 7-7 each with 2:43 minutes left in the first stanza.
The feisty Eagles defense settled down on the Bobcats next possession, forcing them to punt. Likewise, the Bobcats defense stifled the Eagles explosive offense on their next possession. The Eagles wrecking crew defense held the potent Bobcats flex-bone offense on their third possesion, forcing them to punt.
On their third possession of the game, the Eagles offensive machine orchestrated a patented 71 yard touchdown drive combining the pounding running of tailback Dee Andre Torres and pass completions from Richie Luna to several wide receivers. The Eagles struck the Bobcats end zone with a five yard toss from quarterback Richie Luna to wide receiver Rey Mendoza with 7:33 minutes remaining in the second quarter and the extra point attempt by Jose Riojas was good, giving the Eagles a 14-7 lead over the Bobcats.
Both teams’ defenses dominated their opposing offenses for the remainder of the first half as the Eagles took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
The award winning Mighty Eagle Marching Band and the Diamond Dance Team performed during halftime to the delight and cheers of the loyal Eagle Nation aficionados. The Eagles Cheer Team supported the fans and players to stay focused and enlivened their spirits throughout the game.
In the third quarter, the Eagles took the opening second half kickoff at their own 39 yard line and engineered a 61 yard touchdown drive, culiminating on a seven yard touchdown pass from Richie Luna to Dee Andre Torres and the point after attempt by Jose Riojas was perfect, extending the Eagles lead 21-7 with 9:35 minutes left in the third period.
The mighty Eagles defense led by linebackers David Kypuros, Haran Rodriguez, and Roger Ulloa, defensive linemen Moises Rocha, David Santos, Jr., Mario Torres, and Sebastian Hernandez, and defensive backs Ryan Chisum, Raul Lechler, Joshua Monsivais, Eric Heredia, and Kristian Barcena stuffed the Bobcats lethal ground game and deflected their aerial game during the entire second half, except giving up a mid-fourt quarter touchdown after a Bobcat interception of an Eagles pass attempt that gave them excellent field position resulting in a five yard touchdown run and a good point after attempt.
The Eagles explosive offense added three more aerial touchdowns in the second half to dominate the Bobcats defense, including a third touchdown reception of 30 yards by standout Eagle wide receiver Rey Mendoza midway in the third period, a 22 yard toss to standout wide receiver Albert Guevara late in the third stanza, and a 12 yard catch and run by standout wide receiver Norby Zavala midway in the fourth period. Eagles place kicker Jose Riojas kicked two extra points and ran a two point conversion into the Bobcats end zone to add valuable points to these three touchdown passes.
Eagles work horse running back Dee Andre Torres rumbled through the Bobcats defense throughout the game, but particularly in the fourth quarter to run out the clock and preserve the Eagles key District 29-6A victory over the Bobcats.
Eagles Head Football Coach Tom Gonzalez stated the players and coaching staff prepared well for the South San Bobcats and the extra rest earned the previous bye week helped the Eagles battle courageously and valiantly against the Bobcats.
The Eagles play the defending District 29-6A Champions Laredo United South High School Panthers next week on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 7 P.M. at the Laredo United Independent School District Student Activity Complex in Laredo, Texas. The United South Panthers will enter the contest at 2-4 overall in the season and 2-1 in District 29-6A standings after rallying in the last minute to defeat the Laredo United High School Longhorns 19-18.
The Eagles are currently tied for first place in District 29-6A standings with San Antonio Southwest High School Dragons at 5-1 overall in the season and 3-0 in District, followed by the Laredo United Longhorns who are 3-3 overall in the season and 2-1 in District, Laredo United South Panthers who are 2-4 overall and 2-1 in District, Laredo Alexander Bulldogs who are 1-5 overall and 1-2 in District, Del Rio Rams who are 1-5 overall and 1-2 in District, and Laredo LBJ Wolves who are 0-6 overall and 0-3 in District.
The Eagles next four games will be their most difficult and challenging games this season. Every game will have to be played one game at a time as if it was a playoff game because the District final standings will be decided.
