Eagle Pass Eagles Crush Del Rio Rams 48-14 in 102nd Rivalry Meeting, Qualify for Playoffs
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The Eagle Pass High School Eagles crushed arch-rival Del Rio High School Rams 48-14 in the 102nd rivalry meeting between the two teams in a key District 30-6A football game on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, qualifying for a post-season playoff berth as the third-place team in District 30-6A with the win.
The Eagles offense came out firing on all cylinders as quarterback Andres Garcia tossed seven touchdown passes in the game to lead the Eagles to victory while the defense stifled the Rams ground-oriented offense all game.
In the first quarter, the Eagles scored the first points of the game on a sensational 60 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Willie Frausto who raced down the field past the Rams secondary into the end zone. The Eagles point after attempt was blocked, but the Eagles took an early 6-0 lead with 10:09 minutes remaining in the first-quarter.
After the Eagles’ self-proclaimed “Land Shark” defense stopped the Rams offense, the Eagles quickly struck a second touchdown on a 17 yard pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Sebastian Velasquez and the extra point sailed through the uprights, making it Eagles 13-0 with 11:28 minutes remaining in the second-quarter.
The never say die Rams struck back with a touchdown of their own on a 55 yard pass from quarterback Eliseo Ortiz to wide receiver Ethan Vasquez, catching the Eagles defense by surprise. The Rams point after attempt was good, narrowing the Eagles lead 13-7 with 9:29 minutes remaining in the second-quarter.
On their next possession, the Eagles struck paydirt with a 47 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Jose Hernandez who streaked into the Rams end zone for the six points, and the Eagles point after attempt was good to make it 20-7 with minutes remaining before halftime.
The Eagles’ “Land Shark” defense buckled down and shut down the Rams rushing attack, causing them to punt.
The Eagles engineered another touchdown drive on their next possession, culminating in a six yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Willie Frausto and the extra point was good, extending the Eagles lead 26-7 with 4:44 minutes remaining before halftime.
The mighty Eagles’ “Land Shark” defense continued dominating the Rams offense, causing them to punt again on their following possession.
The Eagles self-proclaimed “War Eagle” offense orchestrated yet another touchdown drive, culminating with a four yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Sebastian Diaz and the point after attempt was good, expanding the Eagles lead 34-7 with only eight seconds remaining in the first-half.
During halftime, the Mighty Eagle Marching Band, Diamond Dance Team, and Cheer Squad performed and celebrated “Parents Night” and “Seniors Night.”
In the second-half, the Eagles continued right where they had left off, engineering a 75 yard, 10 plays touchdown drive resulting in a 10 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Sebastian Velasquez and the extra point was good, enlarging the Eagles lead 41-7 with 8:20 minutes remaining in the third-quarter.
The Eagles’ “Land Shark” defense continued to dominate the Rams offense, forcing another punt.
The Eagles aerial attack struck again on a 51 yard touchdown catch and run pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to running back Emilio Mendoza who raced past the Rams defenders down the sideline for six points into the Rams end zone and the point after attempt was good, sealing the Eagles victory 48-7 in the third-quarter.
The Eagles then played their second team offense and defense midway through the third-quarter until the end of the game to provide these players valuable game experience.
The Rams managed to score a second touchdown in the fourth quarter on a dazzling run by tailback Bryan Natividad into the Eagles end zone and the point after attempt was good for the eventual final score 48-14 in favor of the Eagles.
With the win over the Rams, the Eagles punched their ticket into the state post-season playoffs next week as the third-place representative of District 30-6A against the second-place team of District 29-6A in the San Antonio Northside Independent School District.
Congratulations to the Eagle Pass Eagles on defeating the Del Rio Rams and qualifying for the state playoffs.
