EAGLES FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS
Eagles scorch the
Laredo LBJ Wolves 36 to 10
TJ Mares tallies 3 TD’s
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 guidance of head football coach Tom Gonzalez hit the road on Thursday, October 3, 2019 for a trip to Laredo, Texas to battle against the Laredo LBJ Wolves in a 7:00 PM district gridiron contest at the Laredo United ISD Student Activity Center. The visiting Eagle Pass Eagles entered this game sporting and overall season record of 3 wins with two losses and a district mark of 0-1 while the home standing Laredo LBJ Wolves came in with an overall season mark of 2 wins with 3 losses and a district record of 0-1. The Eagle Pass Eagles unleashed a relentless short passing game and complimented it with a solid ground attack while the Eagles “Land Sharks” defense forced two key turnovers with their aggressive style of play holding the LBJ offensive squad to just 31 yards rushing in the second half and only 5 total yards passing in the whole game to give the Eagles a 36 to 10 victory over the Wolves.
The visiting Eagles received the game’s opening kickoff and came out with a well planned aerial assault with quarterback Allan Rodriguez utilizing nearly the entire receiving corps the likes of Carlos Santos, Dakota Kypuros, Cgc Ritchie and even tailback Isaac Caballero to matriculate down the field but it was freshmen speed merchant TJ Mares that capped off the 12 play 89 yard scoring drive with a one yard plunge to pay dirt with2:42 showing on the first quarter clock. Erick Ramirez added the point after to give the Eagles the early 7 to 0 lead.
Late in the second quarter the Eagles orchestrated a 5 play 51 yard scoring drive that culminated with freshman tailback TJ Mares taking the ball around right end showcased his speed sprinting 41 yards untouched into the end zone with 4:35 left in the first half. The point after attempt failed but the Eagles now held a 13 to 0 lead over the Wolves.
Late in the first half the LBJ Wolves finally got on the scoreboard with a 36 yard field goal by placekicker Ulises Meza with 1:01 left in the first. After the ensuing kickoff the Eagles offense fumble the ball which was recovered by Wolves defensive lineman Francisco Galaviz and returned it all the way to the Eagle Pass four yard line. Two plays later the Wolves cashed in on the turnover with a one yard run by running back Manny Rodriguez with just 28 seconds left before halftime. Ulises Meza added the point after to narrow the Eagles lead to 13 to 10. But this would prove to be all of the damage the Wolves would muster in this game as the entire second half belonged to the Eagles both offensively and defensively with the Eagles countering with 23 unanswered points during the second half.
In the second half the Eagles “Land Sharks” defensive unit continued their dominance at the line of scrimmage and continued to apply their relentless pressure scheme that paid off with a turnover as stellar defensive back Kristian Barcena intercepted an LBJ pass attempt with a sensational play to set up the Eagles offense at the Laredo LBJ 33 yard line. It took the Eagles just five plays from scrimmage to capitalize on the turnover when TJ Mares tallied his third rushing touchdown of the game from one yard out with 9:29 showing on the third quarter clock. Erick Ramirez split the uprights with the point after to extend the Eagles lead to 20 to 13.
Late in the third quarter the Eagles continued their scoring assaults with a two play 45 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a well executed 30 yard touchdown pass from Allan Rodriguez to wide receiver Jacob Ruiz with 2:21 left in that period. The point after attempt failed but the Eagles now had a 26 to 13 lead over the Wolves.
In the fourth quarter the stingy Eagles defense contributed to the scoring parade when middle linebacker Jacob Salinas picked-off a shuffle pass in midair and returned it five yards into the end zone with 7:01 left in the game. Erick Ramirez converted the point after to give the Eagles a 33 to 13 lead.
The Eagles offense then closed out the scoring for the night with a 24 yard field goal by placekicker Erick Ramirez with 2:43 left in the game. The Eagles came away with the 36 to 10 victory over the Wolves thus improving their overall season record to 4-2 and evened up their district mark at 1-1.
Freshman TJ Mares led the victorious Eagles in the rushing department with 64 yards on only 8 carries and registered three rushing touchdowns teammate Carlos Santos led the team in pass receptions and yards with 7 catches for 78 yards. Hats off go to the entire Eagles offensively line for providing the pass protection and run blocking all game long. The Eagles offense had success via the ground with over 100 yards rushing and through the airway with over 200 yards passing The Eagles defense also deserves high praise for their stellar work all game long with the likes of their talented line backing trio of Jacob Salinas, Joe Samaniego who is one of the leading tacklers in District 29-6A and Saul Peralez along with the aggressive defensive line of MJ McGehee, Charlie Schuessler, Santana Martinez and Andres Conde as well as the swarming ball hawking defensive secondary of David Lopez, Kristian Barcena, Jose Hernandez, Uriel Martinez and Eddie Sepulveda.
The Eagles will resume their district gridiron battles next Friday, October 11, 2019 when they host the tough Laredo Nixon Mustangs with their patented power running game in a 7:00 PM District 29-6A football game at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. Eagle Pass Sports Central wishes the mighty Eagles the best of luck against the Mustangs and invite the Loyal Legion of Eagles faithful as well as the entire community of Eagle Pass, Texas to come out to and support the Eagles. GO EAGLES! BEAT THE MUSTANGS!
TEAM GAME STATS:
EAGLES WOLVES
First Downs 15 10
Att./ Yds. Rushing 15/117 36/131
Yards Passing 207 5
Total Yards 322 136
Pass att./comp./int’s 16/28/0 3/14/2
Return Yards 00 00
Punts /Avg. 3/43.0 5/39.0
Fumbles/Lost 2/1 0/0
Penalties/Yards 9/65 12/100
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:
PASSING:
#7 Allan Rodriguez 15 comp. 25 att, 196 yds, 1 TD
#9 Domingo Fuentes 1 comp. 3 att. 11 yds.
RUSHING:
#3 Isaac Caballero 1 carry 2 yds,
#7 Allan Rodriguez 3 carries 20 yds,
#9 Domingo Fuentes 1 carry 1 yd.
#11 Cgc Ritchie 1 carry 8 yds.
#21 Saul Peralez 2 carries 11 yds.
#26 TJ Mares 8 carries 64 yds. 3 TD’s
RECEIVING:
#3 Isaac Caballero 3 rec. 30 yds.
#4 Jacob Ruiz 1 rec. 30 yds. 1 TD
#5 Carlos Santos 7 rec. 78 yds.
#11 Cgc Ritchie 1 rec. 6 yds.
#14 Dakota Kypuros 3 rec. 42 yds.
#26 TJ Mares 1 rec. 19 yds.
INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:
#29 Jose Hernandez 7 tackles 4 assists 1 Big Hit Co-Defensive Player of the Game
#21 Saul Peralez 7 tackles 4 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack 2 Big Hits
$1 Mando De Los Santos 5 tackles 3 assists 3 Big Hits
#28 Joe Samaniego 5 tackles 2 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack
#44 Charlie Schuessler 4 tackles 3 assists 2 tackles for a loss 1 QB Sack
#42 Andres Conde 3 tackles 5 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack
Co-Defensive Player of the Game
#55 Tommy Cantu 3 tackles 2 assists 2 tackles for a loss
#2 Kristian Barcena 2 tackles 2 assists 1 interception 1 game changer
#13 David Lopez 2 tackles 2 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 Big Hit
#34 Uriel Martinez 3 tackles 1 tackle for a loss 1 Big Hit
#45 Jacob Salinas 1 tackle 6 assists 1 interception 1 game changer
1 defensive touchdown Co-Defensive Player of the Game
#48 Nathan Aguilar 1 tackle 1 assist