Eagles-Laredo United South Football Game Report: Fri. Oct. 19, 2018

••Monday•, 22 •October• 2018 09:57• ??EPSCadmin??

EAGLES FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS

Eagles overpower the

United South Panthers 27 to 10

Eagles clinch post season playoff berth

Land Sharks record 5 turnovers

By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central

“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”

The Eagle Pass Eagles varsity football team under the direction of head football coach Tom Gonzalez returned to the friendly confines of the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday, October 19, 2018 to host the always tough Laredo United South Panthers in a vital 7:30 PM District 29-6A gridiron encounter.

The visiting Laredo United South Panthers entered this matchup sporting an overall season record of 2-4 and a district mark of1-1. The home standing Eagle Pass Eagles came in with an overall season mark of 6-1 and a district record of 2-1. Trailing 10 to 7 at the half the Eagles defense took over in the second half forcing a total of five turnovers with 4 interceptions and one fumble return for a touchdown while the Eagles offense unleashed a potent running game featuring their talented young freshman running back Jose Hernandez who wound up as the game’s leading rusher with 141 yards rushing on 23 carries with two touchdown runs to defeat the Panthers 27 to 10 and thus clinching a post season playoff berth.

The home standing Eagles supported by the Loyal Legion of fans in attendance received the game’s opening kickoff but uncharacteristically the Eagles potent offense started out slow and were forced to a three and out but on the other hand the visiting Panthers started out red hot with a well balanced offensive scheme featuring the running of the quick and shifty running back Brian Benavides and the pin point passing of the starting quarterback Efrain Hernandez mounting a well orchestrated 9 play 72 yard scoring drive capped off with a 6 yard scamper to pay dirt by running back Brian Benavides with 8:03 showing on the first quarter clock. Panthers’ placekicker Robert Ortiz tacked on the point after to give the Panthers the early 7 to 0 lead over the Eagles.

On the Eagles next offensive series they managed to drive down to the United South 23 yard line but could not advance any further and were forced to turn the ball over on downs. The Panthers took over and manufactured a 77 yard scoring drive that culminated with a 27 yard field goal by Robert Ortiz with 3:03 left in the opening quarter giving the Panthers a 10 to 0 lead in this game but eventually this proved to be all of the damage the Panthers would muster in this game.

Early in the second quarter the famed Eagles stingy “Land Sharks” defense showcased the reason they are considered one of the premier defensive units not only in District 29-6A but in the entire Region IV as well when the swift ball hawking safety Eric Heredia picked off the first of four Eagle Pass interceptions of the night at the Eagle Pass 16 yard line and returned it to the Eagles 39 yard line to set up the first score of the game for the Eagles. In that quarter the Eagles defense began to inflict some bone rattling punishing tackles on the Panthers running backs and receivers not seen since the days of the famed legendary line backing duo of Paul Salas and Rudy Pete Rodrigues of the 1960’s. Eagles’ defensive back Josh Monsivais also recorded an interception late in the first half.

The Eagles proud offense quickly sensing a momentum swing immediately countered with an impressive 61 yard scoring drive primarily on the ground with their young freshman workhorse running back Jose Hernandez carrying the majority of the load capping off the drive with a six yard run into the end zone with 8:05 left in the second quarter. Eagles’ placekicker Erick Ramirez converted the point after to narrow the Eagles deficit to 10 to 7 at the end of the first half.

During the halftime break the Eagle Pass Eagles coaching staff implemented a few changes both to their respective offensive and defensive schemes that paid off great dividends in the second half of this key game.

The United South Panthers received the second half kickoff but the relentless Eagles defensive pressure forced the Panthers to punt after the Panthers were held to no gain on three consecutive plays. On fourth down a bad snap from the center to the punter resulted in disaster for the Panthers as the Eagles defense completely swarmed around the punter with the Eagles standout defensive end Moises Rocha stripping the ball out of the Punter’s hands and rambled 10 yards to pay dirt with 10:59 showing on the third quarter clock. Erick Ramirez split the uprights with the point after to give Eagles a 14 to 10 lead over the Panthers and the Eagles would not relinquish that lead the rest of the game.

The Eagles defense continued to apply their relentless pressure on the Panthers and it paid off with stellar linebacker David Kypuros registering the Eagles’ third interception of the game and managed to return it to the United South 12 yard line to set up the Eagles offense with excellent field possession. The Eagles offense quickly capitalized with a three play scoring drive culminating with a six yard keeper around right end by quarterback Richie Luna with 8:39 left in the fourth quarter. The point after attempt was no god but the Eagles had now extended their lead to 20 to 10.

The rejuvenated Eagles “War Eagle” offense was not done as they mounted a well balanced 54 yard scoring drive mixing their short passing game utilizing the services of their sure handed wide receivers Oscar Castillon, David Lopez and Rey Rey Mendoza to compliment their powerful running game with running backs Jose Hernandez, Saul Peralez and quarterback Riche Luna taking turns in toting the pigskin down the field capping off the scoring drive with a six yard run by running back Jose Hernandez with 6:05 left in the game. Erick Ramirez added the point after to give the Eagles a 27 to 10 lead over the Panthers.

Once again the Eagles defense put the exclamation point on this contest as massive defensive tackle Manny Rodriguez accounted the Eagles fourth interception of the game to seal the well earned 27 to 10 victory over the United South Panthers with 27 unanswered points thus improving their overall season record to 7-1 and their district mark to 3-1 thus clinching a post season playoff berth.

The victorious mighty Eagle Pass Eagles will now reload their arsenal and venture to Laredo, Texas on Thursday, October 25, 2018 where they will tangle with none other than the current District 29-6A co-leading Laredo Alexander Bulldogs in a marquee 7:00 PM gridiron encounter at the Laredo United ISD Bill Johnson Student Activity Center with major playoff seeding riding on the line.

GAME TEAM STATS:

EAGLES OPPONENT

First Downs 10 19

Att./ Yds. Rushing 31/163 39/145

Yards Passing 76 195

Total Yards 239 240

Pass att./comp./int’s 9/19/0 17/32`/4

Return Yards 70 0

Punts /Avg. 7/32.2 5/33.4

Fumbles/Lost 0/0 2/1

Penalties/Yards 5/40 4/40

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:

PASSING:

#10 Riche Luna 9 comp. 19 att. 76 yds.

RUSHING:.

#10 Riche Luna 4 carries 12 yds 1 TD

#21 Saul Peralez 4 carries 10 yds.

#23 Jose Hernandez 23 carries 141 yds. 2 TD’s

RECEIVING:

#7 Rey Rey Mendoza 3 rec. 23 yds.

#13 David Lopez 2 rec. 9 yds.

#14 Oscar Castillon 4 rec. 44 yds.

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:

#50 Roger Ulloa Co-Defensive Player of the Game 13 tackles9 assists

3 tackles for a loss

#44 Moises Rocha Co-Defensive Player of the Game 8 tackles 4 assists

3 tackles for a loss 1 caused fumble 1 fumble recovery

returned for a touchdown 1 game changer

#45 Jacob Salinas 8 tackles 4 assists

#25 David Kypuros Co-Defensive Player of the Game 7 tackles 6 assists 1 QB Sack

1 caused fumble 1 interception 1 game changer 1 Big Hit

#31 Josh Monsivais 7 tackles 2 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 interception

1 game changer

#28 Raul Lechler 7 tackles 1 assist 1 Big Hit

#5 Nico Moyeda 4 tackles a assists

#8 Eric Heredia 4 tackles 2 assists 1 interception 1 game changer

#94 Manny Rodriguez Co-Defensive Player of the Game 3 tackles 3 assists

1 tackle for a loss 1 caused fumble 1 interception 1 game changer

#32 Jorge Gonzalez 3 tackles 3 assists

#40 Charlie Schuessler 2 tackles 1 assist

#22 Mando De Los Santos2 tackles 1 assist

#30 Joe Samaniego 2 tackles

eaglepasssportscentral.com

Eagles-Laredo United South Football Game Report: Fri. Oct. 19, 2018

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