Eagle Pass Eagles Crush Laredo LBJ Wolves 56-7 in District Opener
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
The Eagle Pass High School Eagles defense of their 2020 District 30-6A Championship started with a dominant victory over the Laredo LBJ High School Wolves 56-7 on Friday, September 24, 2021, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Eagles designated the game as Parents Night in honor of their parents.
The Eagles won the coin toss and elected to defer to receiving the football in the second half, kicking off to the Wolves to open the game.
The Wolves kick-off return specialist fumbled the opening kick off and the Eagles quickly pounced on the loose pigskin at the LBJ 16 yard line.
The Eagles self-described “War Eagle” offense took only one play to punch the football into the Wolves end zone as quarterback Isaac Stanwick rumbled for a 16 yard touchdown with only 11 seconds into the game and place kicker Alan Losoya’s extra point sailed through the uprights, giving the Eagles an early 7-0 lead with 11:49 remaining in the first quarter. Some Eagle Nation aficionados were still buying their popcorn and drinks at the concession stand as the Eagles scored their first touchdown.
The Eagles self-described “Landshark” defense composed of linebackers Victor Chavez, Eddie Sepulveda, and Zack Zapata, defensive tackles Javier Santos and Izhar Mauricio, defensive ends Erick Lara and Nathan Aguilera, and defensive backs Aiden Morales, Jake Zapata, Diego Garcia, and Aidan Lopez dominated the Wolves offense throughout the game, forcing the Wolves to punt on their first possession.
The Wolves defense stifled the Eagles “War Eagle” offense on their second possession, forcing them to punt.
After the Eagles’ “Landshark” defense Eddie Sepulveda and Erick Lara sacked Wolves Quarterback Raul Cantu at the Wolves 28 yard line, the Wolves punted again.
The Eagles engineered a 60 yards touchdown drive on their third possession using a balanced ground and passing attack, culminating on quarterback Isaac Stanwick tossing a five yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kyle Gloria in the Wolves end zone and place kicker Alan Losoya’s point after attempt was good to extend the Eagles lead 14-0 with 5:35 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles’ “Landshark” defense continued pressing the Wolves offense on their third possession as linebacker Víctor Chavez sacked quarterback Raul Cantu at the Wolves 28 yard line, forcing a punt. The Wolves punter received a low snap from center and fell on the football at his 15 yard line as the screaming Eagles punt return team corralled him, giving the Eagles excellent field position at the Wolves 15 yard line.
The Eagles quickly capitalized on the Wolves turnover on their fourth possession with quarterback Isaac Stanwick hitting wide receiver Dakota Kypuros on a five yard touchdown pass, but an Eagles penalty negated the Kypuros score. Three plays later, Stanwick dropped back to pass but instead ran up the middle into the Wolves end zone with a seven yard touchdown and place kicker Alan Losoya point after attempt split the goal posts, extending the Eagles lead 21-0 with 1:32 minutes remaining in the first quarter, stunning the Wolves.
On the Wolves next possession, the Eagles’ “Landshark” defensive secondary led by Adrien Morales, Jake Zapata, Diego Garcia, and Aidan Lopez covered the Wolves wide receivers like a glove, forcing them to punt.
The Eagles orchestrated a 72 yard touchdown drive on their next possession resulting on a sensational 64 yard run by running back T. J. Mares as the Mighty Eagle Band played the school fight song “Eagle War Cry” into the warm September evening during the play and Alan Losoya extra point was good, giving the Eagles a commanding 28-0 lead over the Wolves with 9:24 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The stellar Eagles’ “Landshark” defense recorded two quarterback sacks on the Wolves next possession, forcing a punt.
The Eagles’ “War Eagle” offense, anchored by offensive linemen Jack Olivas, Alfredo Guevara, Brouning Lentz, Joel Tapia, and Derek Ruiz, wasted no time on their next drive in punching the football into the end zone as running back T. J. Mares eluded the Wolves defense for a 38 yard touchdown run on the first play and Alan Losoya kicked the extra point, extending the Eagles lead to 35-0 with 7:26 minutes left in the second quarter.
After another defensive stop by the Eagles’ “Landshark” defense, the Eagles took only two plays to reach the Wolves promised land as standout running back T. J. Mares exploded through the Wolves line and secondary for a dazzling 78 yard touchdown run and Alan Losoya point after attempt was good, extending the Eagles lead 42-0 with less than three minutes before halftime.
With an insurmountable lead, Eagles Head Coach Tom Gonzalez started playing key reserve players to give them valuable game experience as the season is long and arduous.
The Eagles once again stopped the Wolves on their ensuing possession, forcing a punt.
The Eagles’ “War Eagle” offense only took two plays to complete a 54 yard touchdown drive as quarterback Isaac Stanwick connected with standout wide receiver Dakota Kypuros on a 26 yard bomb in the Wolves end zone for the score and Alan Losoya enjoyed his seventh point after attempt to give the Eagles a strong 49-0 lead with 1:32 minutes before halftime. The teams went into their locker rooms at halftime with the score 49-0.
In the second half, the Eagles coaching staff primarily played their reserve players against the Wolves.
The Wolves averted a shut out as quarterback Raul Cantu scampered for an 11 yard touchdown run and the point after attempt was good with 11:05 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, narrowing the score 49-7.
The Eagles tallied their final score of the game on a five yard run by tailback Omar Salazar and Alan Losoya eighth extra point soared through the goal posts, culminating a 62 yard touchdown drive with 2:35 minutes in the game, extending the Eagles lead 56-7.
The Eagles crushed the visiting Wolves for a decisive 56-7 district victory, improving to 3-2 overall in the season and 1-0 in District.
Eagles running back T. J. Mares rushed for 210 yards on only five carries, scored three touchdowns, and averaged 42 yards per carry.
Eagles quarterback Isaac Stanwick rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two scores in the game. Wider receivers Dakota Kypuros and Kyle Gloria each had one touchdown reception. Running back Omar Salazar tallied one touchdown.
Eagles linebacker Victor Chavez had nine tackles, two sacks, and one big hit in the game.
The Eagles next play arch rival Laredo United Longhorns in a key District 30-6A game on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 7 p.m. at the Laredo United Independent School District Student Activity Complex.
