Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks Stomp San Antonio McCollum Cowboys 27-14 in District 29-5A Football Action
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The thundering Eagle Pass Winn High School Mavericks stomped the San Antonio McCollum High School Cowboys 27-14 in a key District 29-5A football game on Thursday, October 12, 2017, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, improving to 2-4 overall in the season and 1-0 in District 29-5A.
The visiting McCollum Cowboys took the opening kickoff and returned it to their 36 yard line. The Cowboys struck pay dirt on their first play from scrimmage with a lighting quick 64 yard touchdown run through the Mavericks defense by running back Jonathan Handy and the point after attempt was good to give the Cowboys an early 7-0 lead with 11:43 minutes remaining in the first quarter, stunning the Maverick Nation aficionados.
The homestanding Mavericks took the ensuing kickoff to the 41 yard line to start their first possession of the game, but the Cowboys defense stifled the Mavericks offensive machine led by quarterback Ethan Johnston, forcing them to punt the football.
The Mavericks stampeding defense woke up after the Cowboys surprising touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and forced the Cowboys to go three and out and punt to the Mavericks.
The Mavericks started their second possesion in good field position at the Cowboys 48 yard line and immediately went to work on the Cowboys stingy defense. The Mavericks combined their ground and air offensive schemes to score on a seven yard scamper by quarterback Ethan Johnston with 4:06 minutes left in the first stanza, but the point after attempt failed narrowing the Cowboys lead 7-6.
The Mavericks marauding defense led by linebackers Ernesto Villasenor and Miguel De Los Santos and defensive back Xavier Cerezo shut down the Cowboys explosive offense on the following Cowboys possession, forcing them to punt.
The explosive Mavericks offense kicked into high gear on their third possession and orchestrated a patented 74 yard touchdown drive on the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf, culminating with a four yard dash into the Cowboys end zone by Maverick quarterback Ethan Johnston with 8:29 minutes remaining in the second quarter and the point after attempt by Maverick place kicker Ernesto Fuentes was good to pull the Mavericks ahead 13-7 over the Cowboys.
The Mavericks stampeding defense dominated the Cowboys the rest of the second quarter, stifling the Cowboys potent offense in the Mavericks red zone after recovering a fumble and marching to the Mavericks 11 yard line. The Cowboys had a 21 yard touchdown run by tailback Jonathan Handy called back after a holding penalty and the Mavericks defense kept them from scoring in the second quarter to take a 13-7 lead into halftime.
The award winning thundering Maverick Marching Band entertained the loyal Maverick Nation football aficionados with their UIL Marching Band Performance and the Silverline Dance Team dazzled the fans with their high-stepping precision dance routine. The Mavericks Cheer Team led the Maverick Nation with spirited cheers and supported the Mavericks maintain momentum during the game.
In the third quarter, the Mavericks took the second-half opening kickoff and started a drive at their own 30 yard line and marched to the Cowboys 46 yard line but turned the football over after a fourth and six yard pass attempt failed.
The McCollum Cowboys took their first second-half possession and engineered a 54 yard touchdown drive resulting in a five yard dash into the Mavericks end zone by running back Jonathan Handy and the point after attempt was good, taking a 14-13 lead over the Mavericks with 4:54 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Mavericks potent offense was stopped by the Cowboys defense on their next possession, forcing the Mavericks to punt. A Cowboy player touched the football near the goal line and Maverick defensive back Azael Rodriguez pounced on the pigskin in the Cowboys end zone for a touchdown, giving the Mavericks momentum in the game and the extra point was good to give the Mavericks a 20-13 lead over the Cowboys with 2:27 minutes left in the third period.
On the next possession, the Cowboys started at their own 36 yard line and marched to the Mavericks 38 yard line, but Maverick defensive back Azael Rodriguez intercepted an errant Cowboys pass and returned it to the Mavericks 31 yard line with 9:33 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
With momentum on their side, the Mavericks capitalized on the Cowboys turnover and engineered a 69 yard touchdown drive culminating on a razzle dazzle reverse play for a seven yard touchdown run by Maverick wide receiver Luis Olvera and the point after attempt by place kicker Ernesto Fuentes was good to give the Mavericks a 27-13 lead with 7:20 minutes left in the game.
The Mavericks roaming and hard hitting defense shut down the Cowboys offense the remainder of the game while the offense ran out the clock with a drive to the Cowboys red zone before quarterback Ethan Johnston took a knee to end the game, sealing the victory over the McCollum Cowboys 27-13.
Mavericks Head Coach Eric Villsenor stated the victory over the McCollum Cowboys was a total team effort as all three phases of the game-offense, defense, and special teams-contributed to the key District 29-5A win.
The Mavericks will next play against the San Antonio Southside High School Cardinals on Friday, October 20, 2017, at 7:30 P.M. at home during Homecoming festivities.
