EAGLES FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS
Eagles pummel the
S.A. Southwest Dragons 42 to 14
Allan Rodriguez rushes for 122 yds.
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 leadership of head football coach Tom Gonzalez resumed their 2019 high school football schedule on Friday, September 6, 2019 when they entertained the San Antonio Southwest Dragons in a 7:00 PM non-district gridiron matchup at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium. This game was designated as Parents night with the Eagles players honoring their respective parents during pre-game festivities. The Eagles unleashed a well balanced offensive attack finding success through the ground and via the airway and the Eagles youthful stingy defense forced the Dragons to abandon their usual ground and pound offensive scheme with some bone rattling tackles to give the Eagles the well earned and much deserved 42 to 14 victory.
The home standing Eagle Pass Eagles supported by their Loyal Legion of faithful fans forced the Dragons to punt after receiving the game’s opening kickoff. The Eagles offense took possession at the Southwest 42 yard line and immediately employed their well balanced offensive attack through the ground and through the airway to tally the first score of the game when starting quarterback Fernando Sarabia connected with sure handed wide receiver Dakota Kypuros from 22 yards out with 6:42 showing on the first quarter clock. Eagles’ placekicker Erick Ramirez split the uprights with the point after to give the Eagles the early 7 to 0 lead.
The Southwest Dragons countered with a 59 yard scoring drive that was capped off with their lone successful running play of the entire night when the limned up their massive middle linebacker Jesse Hernandez at tailback and he rambled 51 yards to pay dirt with 4:22 left in the first quarter. Dragons’ placekicker Oscar Jimenez added the point after to knot up the score at 7 all.
The proud Eagles stormed back with a well executed 65 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 5 yard TD pass from Allan Rodriguez to Carlos Santos with 5:47 left in the second quarter. Erick Ramirez converted the point after to give the Eagles a 14 to 7 lead over the Dragons.
Late in the first half the Southwest Dragons mounted a 78 yard scoring drive that had them facing a first and goal at the Eagle Pass one yard line the Dragons wanted no part of the Eagles hard hitting and stingy from seven who played the run extremely tough the entire first half. So instead of employing their patented ground and pound offense the Dragons went to the airways but the Eagles defensive front seven of MJ McGehee, Santana Martinez, Charlie Schuessler, Andres Conde and the solid line backing trio of Joe Samaniego, Jacob Salinas and Saul Peralez held their ground and did not budge an inch but on fourth down the Dragons finally cashed in with a one yard pass from Michael Luna to Jake Friesenhahn with only seven seconds left before halftime. Oscar Jimenez added the point after to knot up the score at 14 all heading to their respective halftime locker room.
During the first half the Eagles defense held the Dragons to just 2 first downs and 65 yards rushing with 51 of those yards coming on one play which meant that the rest of the entire first half saw the Dragons rush for only a measly 14 yards. Towards the end of the second quarter Eagles starting quarterback Fernando Sarabia suffered an injury and did not return back into this game so Allan Rodriguez was pressed into taking over the signal calling duties and did more than an amicable job of doing so.
The Eagles received the second half kickoff and it took them just two plays from scrimmage to score an apparent 66 yard touchdown pass from Allan Rodriguez to Carlos Santos but the score was wiped out by a penalty. In their third offensive series of the second half the Eagles orchestrated a time consuming 14-play 65 yard scoring drive that culminated with a 6 yard scamper into the end zone by tailback Jose Hernandez with 2:40 showing on the third quarter clock. Erick Ramirez tacked on the point after to give the Eagles a 21 to 14 lead.
The Southwest Dragons tried to answer back but the Eagles swarming defense negated any hopes they had by forcing the Dragons to turn the ball over on downs at the Eagle Pass 27 yard line. The Eagles however turned the ball back to the Dragons on an interception but the hard hitting Eagles defense got the ball right back by forcing and recovering a Dragons fumble.
Early in the fourth quarter the Eagles offense erupted with a 75 yard scoring drive capped off with a sensational 74 yard keeper around right end by quarterback Allan Rodriguez who out ran the entire Dragons defense on his way to the promise land with 9:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles continued to mix up their running and passing game to mount a 52 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Allan Rodriguez to the swift sure handed wide receiver Cgc Ritchie with 4:50 left in the game. Erick Ramirez added the point after to give the Eagles a convincing 35 to 14 lead over the stunned Dragons.
The Eagles defense set up the final touchdown o this game when linebacker Joe Samaniego intercepted a Dragons pass attempt and nearly returned it all the way back but gave the Eagles offense excellent field possession. The short scoring drive was highlighted by a sensational short run by reserve tailback Isaac Caballero who simply blasted over the Dragons defensive back decleating the defender in midair. Isaac Caballero punctuated the Eagles victory with an 8 yard touchdown run with 1L42 left in the game. Erick Ramirez closed out the scoring for the night with the point after giving the Eagles the well earned and much deserved 42 to 14 victory over the Southwest Dragons.
The Eagles will resume their non-district gridiron schedule next Friday, September 13, 2019 when they square-off against the cross town C.C. Winn Mavericks in the 14th ever matchup between the two local schools. Kickoff time is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium.
TEAM GAME STATS:
EAGLES SOUTHWEST
First Downs 14 6
Att./ Yds. Rushing 36/246 19/103
Yards Passing 131 152
Total Yards 377 255
Pass att./comp./int’s 14/20/1 11/26/1
Return Yards 00 00
Punts /Avg. 2/33.0 4/39.0
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 2/1
Penalties/Yards 4/35 8/60
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:
PASSING:
EAGLE PASS
#7 Allan Rodriguez 9 comp. 13 att, 1 int. 78 yds, 2 TD’s
#16 Fernando Sarabia 5 comp.`` 7 att. 53 yds. 1 TD
RUSHING:
EAGLE PASS
#3 Isaac Caballero 5 carries 42 yds, 1 TD
#5 Carlos Santos 1 carry (-)3 yds.
#7 Allan Rodriguez 7 carries 122 yds, 1 TD
#9 Domingo Fuentes 2 carries 7 yds.
#16 Fernando Sarabia 6 carries 34 yds.
#29 Jose Hernandez 15 carries 44 yds. 1TD
RECEIVING:
EAGLE PASS
#5 Carlos Santos 2 rec. 13 yds. 1 TD
#11 Cgc Ritchie 4 rec. 59 yds. 1 TD
#14 Dakota Kypuros 7 rec. 62 yds. 1 TD
#18 Chris Hiller 1 rec. 6 yds.
INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:
#1 Mando De Los Santos 6 tackles 6 assists 1 caused fumble 1 Big Hit
Co-Defensive Player o the Game
#28 Joe Samaniego 6 tackles 5 assists 2 tackles for a loss 1 interception 1 Big Hit
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#45 Jacob Salinas 5 tackles 3 assists 1 tackle for a loss 1 Big Hit
#44 Charlie Schuessler 4 tackles 2 assists 3 tackles for a loss 1 QB Sack
Co-Defensive Player of the Game
#24 MJ McGehee 3 tackles 3 assists
#2 Kristian Barcena 3 tackles 3 assists 1 Big Hit
#13 David Lopez 3 tackles 1 assist 1 Big Hit
#56 Santana Martinez 2 tackles 3 assists
#40 Eric Lara 2 tackles 2 assists
#42 Andres Conde 1 tackle 3 assists 1 fumble recovery
#48 Nathan Aguilar 1 tackle 2 assists 1 caused fumble 2 Big Hits
#23 Henry Browning 1 fumble recovery