Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks Trounce Laredo Martin Tigers 47-12 during Homecoming
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
The thundering Eagle Pass Winn High School Mavericks trounced the visiting Laredo Martin High School Tigers 47-12 in a key District 14-5A, Division I football contest held on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, featuring 2021 Homecoming festivities for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks are battling for the fourth and final post-season playoff berth from District 14-5A, Division I, requiring at least two wins out of their last three district games entering the Martin Tigers game.
The Tigers won the pre-game coin flip and elected to defer until the second half to receive the football, giving the Mavericks the first possession of the game.
The Mavericks potent offense started at their own 47 yard line on their first possession and methodically engineered a 53 yard touchdown drive on five plays, culminating on a 9 yard scamper by standout quarterback Abraham Rodriguez into the Tigers end zone and place kicker Amilkar Ramos booted the point after attempt through the uprights to give the Mavs an early 7-0 lead over the Tigers with 9:45 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers started their first drive in the game at their own 25 yard line utilizing their patented “three yards and a cloud of dust” ground attack, but the stout Mavericks Wrecking Crew defense led by linebackers Jaime Barrientos and Jose Pablo Ramos, defensive ends Michael Hernandez and Victor Alonzo, and defensive tackles Adrian Morales and Juan Estrada stifled the potent Tigers offense, forcing a punt.
The Mavericks explosive offense led by offensive linemen Erick Flores, Jorge Martinez, Hector Saldana, Jose Reyes, and Jimmy Joe Lopez orchestrated a record 99 yard touchdown drive on their second possession, culminating on a sensational 67 yard quarterback keeper by Abraham Rodriguez, eluding several Tiger tacklers in the backfield, to the Tigers promised land and place kicker Almikar Ramos added his second point after attempt to extend the Mavericks lead 14-0 with 4:51 minutes remaining in the first quarter—stunning the Tigers.
The Mavs’ Wrecking Crew defense bent and flexed during the Tigers second possession allowing them to advance to the Mavs eight yard line, but on a fourth and goal at the eight yard line the Tigers surprised the Mavs’ secondary with an eight yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dominque Valadez to wide receiver Ruben Ojeda as the extra point attempt failed, narrowing the score 14-6 in favor of the Mavs with 10:26 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Mavericks responded by marching 58 yards on their third possession, but quarterback Abraham Rodriguez fumbled at the Tigers five yard line, which the Tigers recovered—denying Rodriguez a touchdown.
The Mavs’ Wrecking Crew led by defensive backs Fernando Franco, Juan Martinez, Jonathon Martinez, Alejandro Picazo, and Almikar Ramos stuffed the Tigers ground attack as Armando Lechler stripped the football from Tigers wide receiver Alejandro Moncada and ran it in for a fumble return touchdown and place kicker Almikar Ramos hit his third point after attempt, extending the Mavericks lead 21-6 with about six minutes left in the second quarter.
The Mavericks’ Wrecking Crew defense once again forced the Tigers to punt on their following possession, but a bad snap from center forced the Tigers punter to kick the football out of the end zone to prevent a Mavericks touchdown, taking a safety instead and extending the Mavericks lead to 23-6 with 5:05 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
After the safety free kick, the Mavericks got excellent field position at the Tigers own 47 yard line and quarterback Abraham Rodriguez rumbled into the Tigers end zone for a 25 yard touchdown run and place kicker Almikar Ramos added his fourth extra point to extend the lead to 30-6 with about 2:30 minutes in the second quarter.
The Mavericks Wrecking Crew once again stifled the Tigers on their next possession as standout defensive back Jonathon Martinez swiped a Tigers pass attempt and returned it for a 33 yard pick six touchdown and Almikar Ramos added his fifth point after attempt, enlarging the Mavericks lead 37-6 with 2:15 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Tigers offense struggled throughout the first half as the Mavericks stout defense manhandled their “three yards and a cloud of dust” ground game, forcing a third turnover on the Tigers next possession as Mavs defensive linemen Santiago Castillo pounced on a Tiger fumble at their own 20 yard line with 23 seconds remaining for the halftime Homecoming festivities.
With a few seconds remaining before halftime festivities, Mavericks place kicker Almikar Ramos booted a 37 yards field goal to extend the lead to 40-6.
During halftime, C. C. Winn High School celebrated its 2021 Homecoming festivities as Soccer representatives Rogelio Castillo and Amy Galvan were crowned Homecoming King and Queen after a student election held earlier in the week.
In the third quarter, both teams exchanged possessions as their defenses managed to keep the offenses from scoring, but in the fourth quarter the Tigers blocked a Mavericks punt attempt and wide receiver Ruben Ojeda picked it up on a bounce and easily ran it into the end zone for a 17 yard touchdown and the Tigers two point conversion attempt failed, narrowing the score 40-12 with 11:52 remaining in the game.
The Mavericks responded by marching 74 yards down Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium scoring on a one yard plunge by standout running back Jeremiah Robinson into the Tigers end zone and place kicker Almikar Ramos stayed perfect for the evening with his sixth point after attempt, securing the victory with a 47-12 final score.
Mavericks Head Coach Eric Villasenor elected to play many of his reserve players in the fourth quarter to give them valuable game experience and protect the starters for the remaining two district games against San Antonio Southwest Dragons and Rio Grande City Rattlers, which the Mavericks need to win at least one of these last two games to earn a playoff berth.
The Mavericks improve to 2-2 in District 14-5A, Division I standings and are 4-4 overall in the season.
The Mavericks gained a total of 338 offensive yards compared to the Tigers 167 yards. Leading the Mavericks offensive charge were quarterback Abraham Rodriguez with 200 rushing yards on 15 carries and three rushing touchdowns while running back Jeremiah Robinson had 134 rushing yards on 15 carries and one rushing touchdown.
The Mavericks are open next week and will next play the San Antonio Southwest Dragons on October 29, 2021 in San Antonio and against the Rio Grande City Rattlers on November 5, 2021 at home.
San Antonio Southwest Legacy Titans are in first place in District 14-5A, Division I with a 3-0 record, followed by San Antonio Southwest Dragons and San Antonio Southside Cardinals at 3-1 each, the Winn Mavericks are in fourth place at 2-2, the Rio Grande City Rattlers are in fifth place at 1-2, Laredo Cigarroa Toros and Laredo Martin Tigers are tied for sixth place at 0-3. The top three playoff berths will go to San Antonio Southwest Legacy, San Antonio Southwest, and San Antonio Southside with the fourth berth to be decided between the Winn Mavericks and Rio Grande City Rattlers.
Roll Mavericks Roll!
