MAVERICKS FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS
Mavericks drop heartbreaker to
Southside Cardinals 30 to 28
Inadvertent whistle costs Mavericks a victory
Pablo Garcia, Jr. & Laura Curi King and Queen
By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central
“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”
Coming off their district opening victory over the McCollum Cowboys last week, the C.C. Winn Mavericks varsity football team under the leadership of head coach Eric Villasenor resumed their District 29-6A gridiron battles on Friday, October 20, 2017 when they entertained the high scoring San Antonio Southside Cardinals in a vital 7:30 PM matchup at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. This game was also designated as C.C. Winn High School’s 2017 Homecoming Game with the coronation of the King and Queen and the Royal Court taking place during the halftime festivities.
In a true heartbreaker the Mavericks come up short in a 30 to 28 loss due to an inadvertent whistle call that cost the Mavericks a sure victory over the Southside Cardinals after the Mavericks defensive back Xavier Cerezo had clearly recovered a fumble after a hook and ladder play attempt by the Cardinals but the recovery which would have clinched a 28 to 27 victory for the Mavericks was wiped out enabling the Cardinals to continue their game winning drive to kick the game winning 36 yard field goal with only one second left in the game.
The Mavericks defense who had the challenge of trying to stop the Southside Cardinals talented running back Eddie Perez who came in averaging 236 yards rushing per game rose to the challenge and forced the Cardinals to fumble on their second offensive series of the game with the Mavericks recovering the errant pig skin at the Southside 44 yard line to set up the Mavericks offense. The Mavericks came out with a powerful running game featuring running backs Fernando Zapata and Luis Rodriguez as well as standout young sophomore quarter back Ethan Johnston who shared the load on a well executed 7 play 44 yard scoring drive capped off with a 3 yard run keeper by Ethan Johnston with 6:31 showing on the first quarter clock. Ernesto Fuentes added the point after to give the Mavericks the early 7 to 0 lead over the Cardinals.
The Mavericks then mounted very promising potential scoring drive that started at their own 21 yard line but on the 12th play of the drive disaster struck as the Mavericks fumbled the ball away at the Southside 32 yard line and the Cardinals ended up recovering the ball at their own 45yard line which seemed to have swung the momentum to the Cardinals side for they realized they got lucky from potentially being down 14 to 0 if not for that fumble recovery.
The Cardinals immediately capitalized on the turnover with a quick striking one play 55 yard touchdown pass from Alejandro Escamilla to his season long favorite target Michael Hernandez with 10:12 left in the second period. Eric Elizondo tacked on the game tying point after to make the score 7all.
On the Mavericks next offensive series Ethan Johnston’s pass attempt was intercepted by the Cardinals deep in Mavericks territory. It took the Cardinals just two plays from scrimmage to tally a 35 yard throw back touchdown pass to wide receiver Damian Castillo with 8:42 left in the first half. Eric Elizondo added the point after to give the Cardinals a 14 to 7 lead over the Mavericks.
But the proud Mavericks answered right back with a short 24 yard scoring drive that culminated with a well executed 21 yard touchdown pass from Ethan Johnston to a wide open tight end Isaac Villarreal in the end zone with :22 remaining before halftime. Ernesto Fuentes split the uprights with the point after to knot up the score at 14 all.
With time winding down in the first half the Southside Cardinals orchestrated a 69 yard scoring drive that was capped up with a 34 yard throw back screen pass to tail back Eddie Perez with only 7seconds left in the first half. Eric Elizondo converted the point after to give the Southside Cardinals a 21 to 14 lead at the half.
During the halftime festivities the much anticipated coronation of the 2017 C.C. Winn High School King and Queen and the Royal Court took center stage. The winners were announced by the Golden Voice of Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Public Address Announcer Charles “Boogie” Purcell. The 2017Homecoming Lord & Lady representing the Thundering Mavericks Band were Matthew Uriegas II &Christina Gloria. The 2017 Homecoming Count & Countess representing Basketball were Juan Castilla & Silvy Salazar. The 2017 Duke & Duchess representing the Spanish Club were Isaias Gonzalez & Latrisha Longoria. The 2017 Homecoming Prince & Princess representing Football were Antonio Flores & Sofia Gonzalez. The 2017 C.C. Winn High School Homecoming King & Queen representing Student Council were Pablo Garcia, Jr. & Laura Curi. Doing the honors of crowning this year’s Homecoming Queen was C.C. Winn High School’s 2016 Homecoming Queen Marychelo Flores who was escorted by 2016 Homecoming King Marcus Palacios.
In the second half the Mavericks patented hard hitting defense with the likes of their two leading tacklers linebackers Ernesto Villasenor and Miguel De Los Santos leading the way along with Xavier Cerezo, German Velasquez, Domingo Duran and company who all game long laid some punishing tackles on the Southside running back Eddie Perez holding him to a measly total of 20 yards rushing during the first half immediately gave the Mavericks offense a golden opportunity when the forced the Cardinals to fumble at the Southside 46 yard line which was recovered by Mavericks defensive back German Velasquez. For the game the Mavericks defense held the highly touted Cardinals running back Eddie Perez to 96 yards rushing which was way below his usual 236 yard average per game.
The Mavericks offense began to employ their ground game mixed in with their short passing game utilizing the services of wide receivers Jared Roiz, Luis Olvera, Jose Blanco as well as Justis Roiz to mount a impressive 46 yard scoring drive that culminated with a two yard keeper by quarter back than Johnston with 4:04 showing on the third quarter clock. Instead of kicking the potential game tying extra point the gutsy Mavericks instead stunned the Cardinals by successfully executing a two-point conversion run by Ethan Johnston to give the Mavericks a 22 to 21 lead over the Southside Cardinals heading into the fourth and final quarter of play.
Early in the fourth period the visiting Southside Cardinals culminated a 68 yard scoring drive with a two yard run to pay dirt by tailback Eddie Perez with 11:55 showing on the fourth quarter clock but the point after failed which gave the Cardinals a 27 to 22 lead over the Mavericks.
The proud home standing Mavericks supported by the large Mavericks Nation in attendance responded with what sure seemed like a game winning 43 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a one yard blast into the end zone by quarter back Ethan Johnston with only 1:31 remaining in the game. The two point pass attempt failed but the Mavericks now held a slim 28 to 27 lead over the Cardinals who were penalized with a dead ball foul on the touchdown run which meant the Mavericks would be kicking off from the Southside 45 yard line.
After the ensuing kickoff the Cardinals took possession from their own 16yard line and immediately called the infamous hook and ladder play that drew the eventual heart breaking inadvertent whistle call by the men in the zebra shirts which enabled the Cardinals tortain possession and eventually go on to kick their 36 yard game winning field goal with only one second left in the game to luckily escape with the 30 to 28 victory over the mighty Mavericks who clearly deserved a better fate but instead were denied of the victory by that costly blown call by the refs.
The C.C. Winn Mavericks will reload their arsenal and journey to the Alamo City next Friday, October 27, 2017 for a key District 29-5A gridiron match-up against the San Antonio Harlandale Indians. Kickoff time is scheduled for 7:30 PM at the Harlandale Memorial Stadium located on 4002 Roosevelt Ave.
OFFICIAL GAME TEAM STATS:
MAVERICKS OPPONENT
First Downs 14 11
Att./ Yds. Rushing 43/176 30/122
Yards Passing 130 234
Total Yards 306 356
Pass att./comp./int’s 9/18/1 11/16/0
Return Yards 00 00
Punts /Avg. 4/40.7 4/31.0
Fumbles/Lost 1/1 2/2
Penalties/Yards 5/50 6/65
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:
PASSING:
#4 Ethan Johnston 9 comp. 18 att 1 int. 130 yds. 1TD
RUSHING:
#4 Ethan Johnston 22 att. 86 yds. 3TD’s
#15 Luis Olvera 3 att. 31 yds.
#22 Fernando Zapata 6 att. 8 yds.
#36 Luis Rodriguez 12 att. 51 yds.
RECEIVING:
#6 Jared Roiz 1 rec. 10 yds.
#12 Justis Roiz 2 rec. 17 yds.
#15 Luis Olvera 2 rec. 25 yds.
#23 Raul Solis 1 rec. 15 yds.
#82 Isaac Villarreal 1 rec. 21 yds. 1TD
#88 Jose Blanco 2 rec. 42 yds.
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:
#2 Brandon Wheeler 5 tackles 1 assist
#3 Xavier Cerezo 2 tackles
#5 Domingo Duran 1 tackle 2 assists 2 tackles for a loss
#7 Juan . Garcia 1 tackle 5 assists
#21 German Velasquez 3 tackles 1 fumble recovery
#31 Azael Rodriguez 4 tackles 1 assist 1 tackle for a loss
#32 Ernesto Villasenor 1 assist 3 tackles for a loss 1 caused fumble
#33 Miguel De Los Santos 3 tackles 3 assists 1 tackle for a loss
#46 Ricardo Morales 4 tackles 1 assist 1 caused fumble 1 fumble recovery
#48 Ismael Villarreal 3 tackles 4 assists
#60 Alexis Morales 3tackls 3 assists
#92 Isaias Gonzalez 1tackle
#94 Alejandro Ontiveros 1 tackle for a loss