Eagle Pass Eagles Trounce Winn Mavericks 28-3 in 15th Meeting of Rivalry Series
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
The visiting Eagle Pass Eagles trounced cross-town rival Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks 28-3 in the 15th meeting of their rivalry series on Friday, September 10, 2021, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas amid 8,500 football aficionados.
The home standing Mavericks received the game’s opening kick-off at their own 21 yard line, but the stout Eagles Land Shark Defense led by linebackers Victor Chavez, Eddie Sepulveda, and Zack Zapata forced the Mavericks to go three plays and punt the football to the Eagles.
The Eagles received the football at their own 29 yard line and engineered a 71 yard touchdown drive led by quarterback Isaac Stanwick, running back T. J. Mares, and wide receiver Dakota Kypuros, culminating on a nine yard scamper by quarterback Stanwick and the point after attempt was good by place kicker Alan Losoya with 5:47 minutes remaining in the first quarter, taking an early 7-0 lead.
The Mavericks second possession of the game started at their 34 yard line, but the stingy Eagles Land Shark defense led by defensive ends Nathan Aguilera and Erick Lara and defensive tackles Javier Santos and Izhar Mauricio pressured Mavs quarterback Abraham Rodriguez on a pass attempt resulting in an interception by Eagles defensive back Jake Zapata at the Mavs 34 yard line, giving the Eagles excellent field position on their second possession.
The Eagles quickly took to the air and quarterback Isaac Stanwick hit tight end Jarod Romero on a pass attempt, but the feisty Mavericks secondary led by Almikar Ramos, Juan Martinez, Fernando Franco, Jonathon Martinez, and Alejandro Picazo rattled Romero on the reception, forcing a fumble recovered by Mavs defensive back Alan Vielma.
The potent Mavericks offense led by quarterback Abraham Rodriguez, running back Jeremiah Robinson, and wide receivers Francisco Valdez and Alan Vielma took their third possession at the Mavs 29 yard line and marched down the field to the Eagles 30 yard line but the Eagles Land Shark Defense stalled the Mavs drive, forcing a punt.
The Eagles third possession started at their own two yard line and orchestrated an impressive 98 yard touchdown drive with a combination of strong runs by running back T. J. Mares and quarterback Isaac Stanwick and a pass reception by wide receiver Dakota Kypuros, culminating on a two yard dive into the Mavs end zone by T. J. Mares and place kicker Alan Losoya’s point after attempt split the uprights, extending the Eagles lead 14-0 with 6:12 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Eagles Land Shark Defense stopped the Mavericks on their next possession, forcing them to punt.
The Eagles took to the air on their next possession starting at their 15 yard line as quarterback Isaac Stanwick connected with wide receivers Dakota Kypuros and Kyle Gloria on three pass attempts, culminating on a sensational 48 yard touchdown run by running back T. J. Mares to pay dirt and Alan Losoya’s extra point was good, extending the Eagles lead 21-0 with 1:58 minutes remaining in the second quarter, silencing the loyal Maverick Nation aficionados.
The teams went into halftime with the Eagles 21-0 over the Mavericks.
The Mighty Eagle Pass Eagles Band, together with the Diamond Dance Team, performed during halftime to the delight of the visiting Eagle Nation aficionados.
Similarly, the Thundering Winn Mavericks Band, together with the Silver Line Dance Team, performed their U.I.L. Band Competition set to the cheers and admiration of the loyal Maverick Nation aficionados.
The Eagles won the coin toss before the game and elected to receive the football in the second half. Mavericks place kicker Almikar Ramos booted the football into the warm September sky to start the second half and Eagles kick-off return specialist Dakota Kypuros fielded the ball at his 18 yard line and returned it on the right sideline behind an Eagles wall of blockers for a stunning 82 yard touchdown return to open the third quarter of play, shocking the Mavericks, with 11:46 minutes remaining on the third period. Eagles place kicker Alan Losoya went four for four on his point after attempts to extend the Eagles lead to 28-0 at the start of the third quarter.
The never say die Mavericks regrouped and executed their halftime adjustments on their next possession and marched from their own 10 yard line to the Eagles 14 yard line on a heavy dosage of strong runs by running back Jeremiah Robinson, kicking a 32 yard field goal against a strong wind by place kicker Almikar Ramos to break the shut out with 2:08 minutes remaining in the third quarter, making it 28-3 in favor of the Eagles.
Both teams’ defenses managed to contain the offenses and exchanged a pair of possessions without any additional scoring in the third quarter and early fourth quarter, causing both teams to play reserve players to give them valuable playing experience as they prepare for district competition.
Late in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand, the action switched to the grandstands as both the Mavericks and Eagles student sections participated in bursting colored chalk-grated smoke bombs in the stands, causing the Eagle Pass Independent School District Police to clear out the student sections and escorting them out the stadium.
The Eagles earned a hard-fought 28-3 victory the Mavericks to go 15-0 in the rivalry series between the two teams. Last year’s game was cancelled due to the shortened season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eagle Pass football aficionados welcomed the renewal of the rivalry series, which some local fans affectionately refer to it as the mythical City Championship while others call it “The Menudo Bowl.”
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates both the Mavericks and the Eagles on their 15th meeting and for exhibiting outstanding sportsmanship.
