EAGLES FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS
Eagles outscore the
United South Panthers 35 to 31
Eagles clinch playoff berth
By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central
“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”
The district co-leading Eagle Pass Eagles varsity football team mentored by head coach Tom Gonzalez continued their quest for the 2017 District 29-6A football crown on Thursday, October 19, 2017 when they journeyed to Laredo, Texas to square off against the defending District 29-6A champion Laredo United South Panthers who were coming off a narrow 18 to 17 defeat of the pre-season favorite Laredo United Longhorns last Friday night.
The Panthers entered this contest sporting an overall season record of 2-4 and a district mark of 2-1 while the visiting Eagles came in with an overall season mark of 5-1 and an unblemished district record of 3-0. In a heavy weight fight that saw plenty of thrills, lead changes and turnovers, the Eagle Pass Eagles remain unbeaten in district play with a well earned 35 to 31 victory over the Laredo United South Panthers to clinch a post season playoff berth.
The home standing Panthers struck first in their second offensive series of the game with a 47 yard scoring drive culminating with a 30 yard field goal by Ivan Ubaldo with 5:35 left in the opening period. But the quick striking Eagle Pass Eagles immediately countered with a 3 play 75 yard scoring drive highlighted by a 70 yard pass from Richie Luna to wide receiver Rey Mendoza all the way to the United South five yard line. The drive was capped off with a one yard blast to pay dirt by Dee Andre Torres with 4:40 left in the first quarter. Jose Riojas tacked on the point after to give the Eagles a 7 to 3 lead over the Panthers. This proved to be all of the scoring produced in the first half of play as the second quarter was a defensive battle with both defensive lines dominating the line of scrimmage and both teams exchanging one interception apiece in that period.
The second half however was not for the faint of heart as both teams managed to light up the scoreboard at will and the lead exchanging hands back and forth. The Eagles who received the second half kickoff dented the scoreboard first on their first offensive series of the second half with another lighting quick 75 yard scoring drive highlighted by a sensational 51 yard run by standout running back Dee Andre Torres who up to that point had be held to a total of 17 yards rushng all the way to the United South Panthers 24 yard line. A couple of plays later Eagles quarter back Richie Luna faked a handoff to Dee Andre Torres which drew the entire Panthers defense around Torres but Luna pull up and connected with a wide open slot receiver Jose Riojas in the end zone for a six yard TD pass with 10:23 showing in the third quarter clock. Jose Riojas added the point after conversion to give the Eagles a 14 to 3 lead over the Panthers.
United South answered back with an 8 play 75 yard scoring drive that was punctuated with a 35 yard gallop to pay dirt by running back Efrain Hernandez with 6:36 left in the third period. Ivan Ubaldo added the point after to narrow the Panthers deficit to 14 to 10.
But then disaster struck the Eagles on consecutive offensive possessions. The first came when the Eagles were forced to punt from their own 14 yard line but the snap from center sailed way over punter Jose Riojas’s head and the Panthers recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown with 4:59 left in the third quarter. Ivan Ubaldo tacked on the point after to give the Panthers a 17 to 14 lead over the Eagles. After the ensuing kickoff disaster struck again as the Eagles fumbled the ball away and the Panthers recovered the errant pigskin at the Eagle Pass one yard line. Panthers tailback Efrain Hernandez tallied on the next play from one yard out with 4:38 left in the third quarter. Ivan Ubaldo tacked on the point after to extend the Panthers lead to 24 to 14 over the Eagles. In a span of less than two minutes the Laredo United South Panthers registered three touchdowns to take the lead in this game.
But true to form the Legion of Eagles faithful in attendance knew quite well that the Eagles defense would have a big say so in the eventual outcome of this contest as the patented stingy and aggressive defense picked up the tempo in the second half with a key interception by Nico Moyeda to setup a short Eagles scoring drive that was capped off with a one play 10 yard sprint to pay dirt by quarterback Dee Andre Torres with 3:01 left in the third period. (Torres took over the signal calling duties from starter Richie Luna who suffered an undisclosed injury early n the third period). Jose Riojas split the uprights with the point after to narrow the Eagles deficit to 24 to 21.
The Eagles’ hard hitting, lightning quick defense with the likes of Sebastian Hernandez, Mario Torres, Moi Rocha, Armando Monsivais Haran Rodriguez, David Kypuros, Roger Ulloa, Ryan Chisum. Josh Monsivais, Raul Lechler and company forced the first of five fumbles and recoveries on the night to set up the Eagles offense once again at the United South 31 yard line. The Eagles capped off the short scoring drive with a 10 yard pass from Dee Andre Torres to sure handed twin tower wide receiver Rey Mendoza with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter. Jose Riojas remind perfect in the point after department to give the Eagles a 28 to 24 lead over the stunned United South Panthers.
The Panthers however came back to regain the lead with a 70 yard scoring drive midway in the fourth quarter that culminated with a 40 yard touchdown pass from Ismael Contreras to his favorite target Marcos Espinoza with 6:40 left in the game. Ivan Ubaldo added the point after to give the Panthers a 31 to 28 lead over the Eagles.
With the heart of a true champion the proud visiting Eagle Pass Eagles countered back with a game winning 55 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 40 yard touchdown pass from Dee Andre Torres to his other twin tower wide receiver Albert Guevara with 5:04 left in the game. Jose Riojas converted the point after to give the Eagles a 35 to 31lead over the United South Panthers.
The game was punctuated by who else but the Eagles “Land Shark” defensive unit who forced the fifth and final fumble recovery of the game to give the Eagles the well earned 35 to 31 victory over the Laredo United South Panthers to improve their overall season record to 6-1 and remain unbeaten in district play with an unblemished 4-0 district record and thus clinch a post season playoff berth with three more district games remaining on the schedule.
The victorious Eagle Pass Eagles return home next Friday night October 27, 2017 to host the Laredo United Longhorns in a key 7:30 PM District 29-6A gridiron encounter at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. This game has also been designated as Eagle Pass High School’s 2017 Homecoming Game with the coronation of the King and Queen and the Royal Court taking place during the halftime festivities.
OFFICIAL GAME TEAM STATS:
EAGLES OPPONENT
First Downs 15 8
Att./ Yds. Rushing 25/121 24/114
Yards Passing 253 153
Total Yards 374 267
Pass att./comp./int’s 15/32/01 16/32/2
Return Yards N/A N/A
Punts /Avg. 4/40.7 5/46.2
Fumbles/Lost 3/3 5/5
Penalties/Yards 7/45 7/70
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:
PASSING
#8 Dee Andre Torres 7 comp. 12 att. 91 yds. 2TD’s:
#10 Riche Luna 8 comp. 20 att. 1 int. 162 yds. 1TD
RUSHING:
#8 Dee Andre Torres 28 carries 115 yds. 2TD’s
#9 Jose Riojas 2 carries 9 yds.
#10 Riche Luna 5 carries -3 yds.
RECEIVING:
#2 Albert Guevara 4 rec. 102 yds. 1TD .
#9 Jose Riojas 5 rec. 31 yds.
#11 Norby Zavala 1 rec. 12 yds.
#80 Rey Mendoza 5 rec. 108 yds. 1TD
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:
#23 Armando Monsivais 12 tackles 3 assists Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#44 Moi Rocha 7 tackles 4 assists 2 tackles for a loss 1 QB Sack 2 fumble revoveries
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#32 Mario Torres 3 tackles 3 assists 3 tackles for a loss 3 QB Sacks 1 caused fumble
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#31 Josh Monsivais 3 tackles 3 assists 1 caused fumble 1 interception
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#1 Ryan Chisum 6 tackles 5 assists 1 fumble recovery
#5 Nico Moyeda 3 tackles 3 assists 1 interception
#7 Haran Rodriguez 3 tackles 4 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack
#28 Raul Lechler 2 tackles 3 assists 1 tackle for a loss
#50 Roger Ulloa 1 tackle 3 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 QB Sack
#25 David Kypuros 1 tackle 6 assists
#54 David Santos 1 tackle 3 assists
#14 Kristian Barcena 1 tackle 1 assist 1 fuble recovery
#9 Jose Riojas 1 fumble recovery