Eagles-Uvalde Football Game Report: Fri. Aug. 31, 2018

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EAGLES FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS

Eagles soar over the

Uvalde Coyotes 42 to 14

Peralez & Mendoza go over 100 yards

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

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

The defending District 29-6A co-champion Eagle Pass Eagles varsity football team under the direction of 13th year head football coach Tom Gonzalez hit the road on Friday, August 31, 2018 when they ventured to Uvalde, Texas to kickoff their 2018 Texas High School football season with a 7:30 PM non-district gridiron encounter against the always tough Uvalde Coyotes at the famed Honey Bowl.

The Eagles entered into this season with their sights set on winning the District 29-6A football crown. The Eagles-Uvalde matchup marked the 52nd ever meeting between these longtime foes with the Uvalde Coyotes leading the all-time series winning 29 of those games and the Eagle Pass Eagles winning 17 times and there have been 5 ties in this series. First game ever played between these two teams took place on November 9, 1909 with Uvalde winning that game 17 to 6. The potent high scoring Eagles offense and hard-hitting stingy defense proved to be too much to handle for the Coyotes as the Eagles come away with a convincing 42 to 14 victory.

It did not take long for the potent well-balanced Eagle Pass Eagles offense and the Eagle Pass Eagles very fast, hard hitting and swarming defense supported by a large sized Loyal Legion of fans in attendance to showcase their gridiron talent out of the field at the famed Honey Bowl. Midway in the opening quarter the Eagles double sided razor-sharp offense utilizing the power running game of tailback Saul Peralez along with the pass of standout quarterback Richie Luna and the pass receiving skills from Rey Rey Mendoza, David Lopez, Isaac Caballero, Oscar Castillon and Isaac Gonzalez to churn up big yardage which kept the home standing Coyotes on the sidelines for the majority of this game with precision ball control.

With 5:45 showing on the first quarter clock the Eagles capped off a long drive with an 8-yard keeper to pay dirt from quarterback Richie Luna with David Lopez tacking on the point after to give the Eagles the early 7 to 0 lead in this game. The visiting Eagles continued their relentless offensive attack late in the opening period capping off another scoring drive with a sensational 42-yard sprint through the heart of the Coyotes defense and into the end zone by tailback Saul Peralez with 1:50 left in the first quarter. David Lopez tacked on the point after to extend the Eagles lead to 14 to 0.

In the second quarter the Eagles took to the airway to march down the field deep into Coyote territory and culminated another scoring with a well executed 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richie Luna to his very tall prime target Rey Rey Mendoza with 6:12 showing on the second quarter scoreboard clock. David Lopez split the uprights with the point after to pad the Eagles lead to 21 to 0 over the Coyotes.

The Eagles continued their scoring assault with another impressive drive that was capped off with a short five-yard TD pass from Richie Luna to Rey Rey Mendoza with 1:12 remaining before halftime. Davis Lopez closed out the scoring in the first by converting the point after to give the Eagles a comfortable28 to 0 lead at the end of the first half of play.

During that entire first half the Eagles stingy swarming defense turned in a magnificent performance allowing just one first down and very minimal yardage to the Coyotes with the Eagles dominating the defensive line of scrimmage stopping the Coyotes three times on fourth down with short yardage to gain with defensive linemen David Santos and standout Moises Rocha coming up with big tackles. The Eagles speedy hard-hitting secondary featuring Josh Monsivais, Eric Heredia and Ryan Chisum also came up with some big plays and big hits on the Coyotes receiving corps and also provided solid run support.

During the halftime break veteran head coach Tom Gonzalez along with his offensive coordinator Javier Cardenas and defensive coordinator Roger Olivas made minimal additions to their second half game scheme that they implemented immediately after the second half kickoff.

As the old saying goes “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” The Eagles continued to find success with their short passing game with Richie Luna spreading the wealth amongst his sure handed receiving corps featuring Davis Lopez, Oscar Castillon and his main target Rey Rey Mendoza to pick up key first down to sustain several drives. J. Herrera and Isaac Caballero took over the running back duties for the Eagles in the second half and they too had success in toting the pigskin. The Eagles first scoring drive of the second half was capped off with a well-placed 7-yard TD pass from Richie Luna to wide receiver David Lopez who made a great catch in traffic with 3:56 left in the third quarter. David Lopez split the uprights with the point after to give the Eagle a 35 to 0 lead in this game.

The home standing Uvalde Coyotes averted a possible shutout late in the third quarter when their featured running back Sotero Martinez tallied from two yards out with 2:05 left in the third quarter. Coyotes’ placekicker Matthew Avila tacked on the point after to make the score 35 to 7 in favor of the Eagle Pass Eagles.

Midway in the fourth quarter the Coyotes tallied another score mostly against the Eagles defensive backups who played the entire fourth quarter to gain valuable playing experience. Coyotes’ quarterback Donovan Davila connected with his main pass receiving threat D’Andre Carroll from 17 yards out with 5:18 left in the game. Matthew Avila added the point after to narrow the Coyotes deficit to 35 to 14.

But the Eagle Pass Eagles answered right back with one final scoring drive with 2:41 left in this season opener when backup tailback Isaac Caballero found pay dirt from two yards out. Backup placekicker Erik Martinez closed out the scoring for the night by adding the point after attempt to give the mighty Eagle Pass Eagles a convincing 42 to 14 victory over the Uvalde Coyotes much to the approval of the Loyal Legion of Eagles fans in attendance.

This was simply a total team effort with the high scoring Eagles “War Eagle” offense showcasing the talent but hats off has to go to the entire Eagles stingy defensive “Land Sharks” unit comprised by the fearsome foursome defensive line of the one man wrecking crew Moises Rocha, David Santos, Manny Rodriguez and Jorge Gonzalez. As well as their bone shattering line backing corps of David Kypuros, Jacob Salinas and Roger Ulloa along with Nico Moyeda who alternated as a linebacker as well as in the secondary. Last but certainly not less the ball hawing secondary crew of Joshia Monsivais, Raul Lechler and their stellar and swift twin safeties Eric Heredia and Ryan Chisum who broke-up several Coyote pass attempts with excellent coverage.

The mighty Eagle Pass Eagles will hit the road once again this coming Friday, September 7, 2018 when they head to the Alamo City of San Antonio Texas to tangle with their former fellow District 29-6A Co-champion the Southwest Dragons who have now been realigned to compete in District 14-5A Division I this season in a 7:30 PM non-district gridiron matchup at Dragons Stadium. Eagle Pass Sports Central wishes the mighty Eagle Pass Eagles the very best of luck against the Southwest Dragons and would like to invite the entire Loyal Legion of Eagles fans as well as the entire Community of Eagle Pass, Texas to make the trip to San Antonio and support the mighty Eagle Pass Eagles. GO EAGLES! BEAT THE DRAGONS!

Arriba los Eagles!

(Stats provided by James Volz-Uvalde Leader News)

EAGLES OPPONENT

First Downs 25 12

Att./ Yds. Rushing 38/230 28/62

Yards Passing 216 158

Total Yards 446 220

Pass att./comp./int’s 18/33/1 17/43/0

Return Yards 0 0

Punts /Avg. 4/32.0 8/29.7

Fumbles/Lost 1/1 0/0

Penalties/Yards 5/80 8/60

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:

PASSING:

#10 Riche Luna 18 comp. 33 att. 1 int. 216 yds. 3 TD’s

RUSHING:

#10 Riche Luna 7 carries 17 yds. 1 TD

#15 Isaac Caballero 6 carries 45 yds. 1 TD

#21 Saul Peralez 15 carries 112 yds. 1 TD

#23 Allan Rodriguez 1 carry 4 yds.

#24 J. Herrera 7 carries 52 yds.

RECEIVING:

#7 Rey Rey Mendoza 8 rec. 141 yfs. 2 TD’s

#11 Isaac Gonzalez 2 rec. 16 yds.

#13 David Lopez 3 rec. 12 yds. 1 TD

#15 Isaac Caballero 1 rec. 2 yds.

#21 Saul Peralez 1 rec. 6 yds.

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:

#1 Ryan Chisum Co-Defensive Player of the Week 7 tackles 1 assist 1 Big Hit

#5 Nico Moyeda 7 tackles 1 assist 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack

#25 David Kypuros 4 tackles 4 assists 1 tackle for a loss

#44 Moises Rocha Co-Defensive Player of the Week 4 tackles 3 assists 1 tackle for a

loss 1 QB Sack

#14 Eric Heredia 4 tackles 3 assists 1 Big Hit

#22 Mando De Los Santos 4 tackles 2 assists

#50 Roger Ulloa 3 tackles 3 assists 2 tackles for a loss

#31 Josh Monsivais Co-Defensive Player of the Week 3 tackles1 assist

#45 Jacob Salinas 2 tackles 4 assists 2 tackles for a loss

#54 David Santos Co-Defensive Player of the Game 2 tackles 2assists 2 tackles for a loss 1 Big Hit 1 Game Changer

#40 Charlie Schuessler 1 tackle 1 assist 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack

#99 Martin Rodriguez 3 assists

#30 Joe Samaniego 1 assist

#52 Raul Olivas 1 assist

#55 Chance Perez 1 assist