Eagle Pass Eagles Slay Previously District 29-6A Undefeated San Antonio Southwest Dragons 18-13 in Key Football Game, Both Teams Tied With 5-1 District Record
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles slayed their District 29-6A nemesis San Antonio Southwest High School Dragons in a key District football game, 18-13, on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, knocking off the Dragons from the District 29-6A undefeated ranks and forcing a two way tie at 5-1 apiece between them too with one week remaining in the regular season.
The Eagles Wrecking Crew Defense dominated the heavier Dragons offensive line and stifled their explosive ground game on many occasions during the game to seal the important District 29-6A victory for the Eagles.
The Eagles improve to 7-2 overall in the season and 5-1 in District 29-6A standings while the Dragons fall to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in District. If both teams win their final game next week, they would be crowned District 29-6A Football Co-Champions.
The Southwest Dragons won the pre-game coin toss and elected to receive the football. The Dragons started their first possession of the game at their own 32 yard line and managed to engineer a methodical 68 touchdown drive culminating on an 18 yard touchdown run by running back Anthony Sanchez and the point after attempt was good to get an early 7-0 lead over the Eagles with 6:16 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles started their first possession at their own 35 yard line and marched down to the Dragons 34 yard line, but disaster struck as the Eagles fumbled the football and the Dragons pounced on the losse pigskin to recover it at their 34 yard line.
The Drgaons drove from their own 34 yard line to the Eagles 7 yard line and decided to go for it on a fourth down and two yards to go, but the Eagles Wrecking Crew defense led by linebackers Haran Rodriguez, David Kypuros, and Roger Ulloa stuffed the Dragons explosive offense at the 7 yard line, giving possession of the football on downs to the Eagles with 1:10 minutes left in the first period.
The Eagles offense marched from their own 7 yard line to the Dragons 37 yard line, but the Dragons defense stifled the Eagles offense on a fourth down and one yard to go, turning the ball on downs to the Dragons with 10:04 minutes remaining in the second stanza.
On their third possesion, the Dragons drove to the Eagles 33 yard line but the mighty Eagles defense led by defensive linemen Manny Rodriguez, Moises Rocha, Mario Torres, and Sebastian Hernandez rushed the Dragons quarterback on fourth down, forcing an incomplete pass and turning the football over to the Eagles with 6:00 minutes remaining in the first half of play.
The potent Eagles offense was forced three and out by the Dragons stingy defense, forcing the Eagles to punt.
The Dragons received the football at their own 39 yard line and marched down to the Eagles 17 yard line threatening another score, but the suffocating Eagles Wrecking Crew defense led by defensive backs Raul Lecheler, Ryan Chisum, Nico Moyeda, and Armando Moncivais blanketed the Dragon wide receivers that DB Raul Lechler intercepted a Dragon pass attempt and retuned it to the Dragons 20 yard line with 2:23 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Eagles on their next possession marched down the Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium turf from their 20 yard line to the Dragons 23 yard line threatening to score, but Dragons defensive back Rosendo Olague intercepted an Eagles pass attmept with 1:09 minutes left before halftime, stopping a potential scoring drive.
The Dragons ran out the first half clock and took a slim 7-0 lead over the Eagles into halftime.
The mighty Eagle Pass Eagles Marching Band and the Diamond Dance Team performed and entertained the loyal Eagle Nation aficionados.
The Eagles and Dragons coaching staffs made adjustments during halftime in preparation for the second half of play.
The Eagles received the second half opening kickoff and started a drive at their own 38 yard line. The Eagles combined the ground game with running back Dee Andre Torres and aerial attack of quarterback Richie Luna to orchestrate a methodical 62 yard touchdown drive culminating with a sensational 17 yard run into the Dragons end zone by Dee Andre Torres and the point after attmept by place kicker Jose Riojas was good to tie the game at 7 to 7 apiece with 9:29 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Dragons started their first second-half possession at their 37 yard line and marched down to the Eagles 29 yard line threatening to score, but the Eagles Wrecking Crew Defense answered the call once again by stopping the Dragons offense on a fourth down and eight yards to go with 6:25 minutes remaining in the third period.
The Eagles offense took over on downs at three own 29 yard line and moved the football to the Dragons 17 yard line where Eagles place kicker Jose Riojas made good on a 34 yard Field Goal attmept to give the Eagles thrive first lead in the game at 10-7 with 3:37 minutes left in the third stanza.
The Dragons engineered a patented 74 yard touchdown drive on their next possession resulting in a 9 yard pass to wide receiver Jesus Garcia into the Eagles end zone and regaining the lead 13-10 with 11:57 minutes in the fourth quarter, but the stampeding Eagles defense blocked the point after attmept and Eagle defensive back Armando Monsivais scooped up the football and returned it into the Dragons end zone for an Eagles two points narrowing the score 13-12 in favor of the Dragons with 11:52 left in the game. The Eagle Nation loyal aficionados sensed the Eagles gaining momentum in the game.
The Eagles received the Dragons kickoff near the goal line and were able to return it only to the Eagles 6 yard lin, where they began thrive next possession. The Eagles offense mixed their ground game with running back Dee Andre Torres and passing attack led by wide receivers Rey Mendoza, Albert Guevara, Norby Zavala, Jose Riojas, and Ralph Guerrero. Eagle workhorse running back Dee Andre Torres busted open for a 40 yard plus run down to the Dragons 4 yard line. The Eagles finally punched the football into the Dragons end zone on a one yard quarterback sneak by Dee Andre Torres who switched to QB on a fourth down and one yard to go and the two points conversion attempt failed to give the Eagles an 18-13 lead over their nemesis Southwest Dragons with 7::57 minutes remaining in the marquee game.
The mighty Eagles Wrecking Crew Defense stifled the Dragons explosive offense on two additional possessions to seal the hard fought District 29-6A victory and forcing a tie for first place between the Eagles and Dragons at 5-1 each in district league action.
The Eagles have already qualified for a berth in the 2017 UIL post-season state playoffs and will play arch-rival Del Rio High School Rams next week on Friday, November 10, 2017, at 7:30 P.M. at Del. Rio, Texas, for either the District Championship or Co -Championship. The Eagles fate is in their own hands and determination. Go Eagles! Beat the Del Rio Rams! Win the District Championship!
