Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks Stampede San Antonio McCollum Cowboys 23-7
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019
The thundering Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Mavericks stampeded the visiting San Antonio McCollum High School Cowboys 23-7 in a key District 14-5A, Division I football game held on Friday, October 4, 2019, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium, improving to 3-3 overall in the season and 1-1 in District.
The thunder and lightning Mavericks defense dominated the Cowboys throughout the game, limiting them to only seven points after 48 minutes of regulation play. The stout Mavericks defense had three interceptions against Cowboys quarterback Sean Tejeda during the game, smothering key Cowboys’ offensive drives.
The Mavericks received the opening kick-off and marched down Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium for a methodical 65 yards touchdown drive on 13 plays, culminating on a two yard power run into the end zone by running back Ethan Johnston and quarterback Jose Padilla scampered for the two point conversion to give the Mavericks an early 8-0 lead with 7:22 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, the Cowboys engineered a patented 80 yards touchdown drive resulting in a 33 yard touchdown pass into the Mavericks end zone on a half-back pass to wide receiver Pacheco and the point after attempt was good to narrow the score 8-7 with 4:33 minutes left in the first quarter.
After both teams’ defenses caused the offenses to exchange possessions without scoring, the Mavericks orchestrated a 74 yards touchdown drive midway through the second quarter, culminating on a dazzling 47 yards quarterback keeper by Jose Padilla who raced down the sideline to pay dirt and place kicker Amilkar Ramos’ point after attempt sailed through the uprights to extend the Mavericks lead to 15-7 with 8:32 minutes left in the second stanza. The teams failed to score in the remaining second quarter and went into half-time with the Mavericks leading the Cowboys 15-7.
In the third quarter, the Mavericks defensive back Eric Sanchez snatched a Cowboys aerial pass at the 50 yard line and returned it to the Cowboys 12 yard line, providing excellent field position for the Mavericks. The Mavericks offense capitalized Sanchez’s interception, taking only three plays to punch the pigskin into the Cowboys end zone on a three yard dive by fullback Carlos Soto and Jose Hinojosa converted the two points conversion to extend the Mavericks lead 23-7 with 1:50 minutes remaining in the third period.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys offense seemed to be driving towards a touchdown, but Mavericks linebacker Alex Chris Garcia intercepted a Cowboys aerial pass near the goal line and returned it to the Cowboys 46 yard line, giving outstanding field position to the Mavericks. The silver and black Mavericks offense marched down the field and apparently scored a touchdown on a half-back pass from running back Ethan Johnston to wide receiver Ernesto Vasquez, but the 24 yards would be touchdown pass was negated by a penalty for having an ineligible receiver, forcing the Mavs to settle for a 39 yards field goal attempt by place kicker Amilkar Ramos, which was wide left and no good.
Both teams exchanged a pair of possessions with their respective defenses dominating the offenses late in the fourth quarter, closing out the scoring at 23-7 in favor of the Mavericks.
With the key District 14-5A, Division I victory over McCollum, the Mavericks bounce back to even their District mark at 1-1 after last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Laredo Martin Tigers 28-25.
The Mavericks next game is against the San Antonio Harlandale High School Indians on Friday, October 11, 2019, at 7:30 P.M. at the Harlandale Independent School District Memorial Football Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Roll Mavericks Roll!
