EAGLES FOOTBALL GRIDIRON NEWS
Eagles pummel the
Laredo Alexander Bulldogs 31 to 20
Riojas-Torres-Eagles Def. Shine in Victory
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 coach Tom Gonzalez sporting an overall season record of 2-1 kicked-off their quest for the District 29-6A football crown on Friday, September 22, 2017 when they hosted the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs who came into this matchup sporting an 0-3 season mark in a 7:30 PM district opening gridiron encounter at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Trailing 20 to 10 at halftime the Eagles offense unleashed a relentless assault via the ground and through the airway coupled with an aggressive and suffocating Eagles defense that allowed a measly 67 total yards and allowed only one first down and no points in the second half while the Eagles offense erupted with 21 unanswered points to secure their well earned 31 to 20 victory in their first district game of the season.
The visiting Laredo Alexander Bulldogs won the opening coin flip chose to defer their option to the second half therefore the home standing Eagles received the opening kickoff which was short and set up camp at their own 34 yard line for their first offensive series of the game. The Eagles double sword offensive scheme immediately gave the Legion of Eagles faithful in attendance a preview of coming attractions as they orchestrated five play 66 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 1 yard run to pay dirt by workhorse running back Dee Andre Torres with 10:03 showing on the first quarter clock. Eagles sure footed placekick Jose Riojas split the uprights with the point after to give the Eagles the early 7 to 0 lead in this game.
The Alexander Bulldogs countered on their first offensive series with a 9 play 70 yard scoring drive that culminate with a 38 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Connor to his favorite target Albert Laurel with 5:56 remaining in the opening period. Bulldogs placekicker Sebastian Brenis tacked on the point after to knot up the score at 7 all.
In the second quarter both teams traded punts back and forth early in the period one of which would prove to be a game changer as the Eagles snap from center sailed way over punter Jose Rioas’ head and rolled all the way back deep into the red zone but he calmly recovered the errant pigskin and got his punt off under pressure to avert a potential disaster.
Late in the second quarter Eagles punter Jose Rioas uncorked a 70 yard punt to pin the Bulldogs deep on their own four line but the the visiting Bulldogs broke the 7 all tie with a 96 yard scoring drive that was punctuated with a 25 yard touchdown pass from Matthew Connor to wide receiver Albert Laurel with 5:54 showing o the second quarter clock, The point after attempt failed but the Bulldogs had now taken a 13 to 7 lead over the Eagles. The Bulldogs then padded their lead late in the second quarter with some well executed trickery as wide receiver Mark Gonzalez took the ball on an end around counter and rambled 67 yards into the end zone with 3:00 remaining before halftime. Sebastian Brenis added the point after to give the Alexander Bulldogs a 20 to 7 lead over the Eagles.
With time winding down in the first half the proud Eagle Pass Eagles answered with a 68 yard scoring drive that was capped off with a booming 37 yard field goal by Jose Riojas with only three seconds left before halftime which sure seemed to have startled the Alexander Bulldogs and was probably the momentum swing the Eagles needed as they headed into their halftime break.
During the halftime break the Eagle Pass Eagles coaching staff pulled their resources together and strategically came up with some minor adjustments that paid off dividends immediately as the Eagles offense immediately shut the door down on the Bulldogs on their first possession of the second half forcing them to punt the ball over from deep in Bulldogs territory.
The Eagles high powered offense went back to work and employed a powerful scheme in the second half utilizing the bulldozing running assault by tailback Dee Andre Torres who was simply quite a load to try to bring down. The Eagles complimented their ground attack with a relentless aerial show with quarterback Richie Luna spreading the wealth amongst his trio of wide receivers the likes of Jose Riojas, Albert Guevara and Norby Zavala which produced a 7play 58 yard scoring drive to start the third quarter of play that culminated with a one yard blast into the end zone by tailback Dee Andre Torres with 9:06 left in the third quarter. Jose Riojas remained perfect in the point after department to narrow the Eagles deficit to 20 to17.
On their second offensive series of the second half the mighty Eagles managed to take the lead over the Bulldogs with a 5 play 49 yard scoring drive with Dee Andre Torres using his elusiveness and power to plow over would be tacklers and the Eagles solid trio of receivers hauling in several sensational catches and capped off the drive with a well executed 18 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richie Luna to multi-talented slot back Jose Riojas with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter, Jose Riojas successfully converted the point after to give the Eagles a 24 to 20 lead over the stunned Laredo Alexander Bulldogs much to the approval of the partisan Legion of Eagles faithful in attendance.
Meanwhile the stingy hard hitting Eagles defense led by Sebastian Hernandez, Haran Rodriguez, Mario Torres, Moises Rocha, David Kypuros, Darwin, Roger Ulloa, Raul Lechler, Nico Moyeda, Kristian Barcena, Eric Heredia, and company completely dominated the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs offensive unit the entire second half allowing only a measly total of 67yards and only one first down and kept them scoreless in the second half with a well laid defensive scheme that produced some bone shattering tackles.
The Eagles punctuated this vital district opener with a 43 yard scoring drive culminating with a brilliant 34 yard sprint to the promise land by the game’s leading rusher Dee Andre Torres with just1:51leftin the game. Jose Riojas tacked on the final point of this contest to give the Eagle Pass Eagles the well earned 31 to 20victory over the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs. Eagles standout running back Dee Andre Torres finished the game with 182 yards rushing on 27carries and tallied three rushing touchdowns while teammate Jose Riojas led the victorious Eagles with six pass receptions for 90yards with one touchdown and was perfect in the kicking department going a perfect 4for 4 in the point after category and also converted on a 37 yard field in this game.
The Eagle Pass Eagles will now head to Laredo, Texas next Thursday, September 28, 2017 to take on the Laredo LBJ Wolves in a 7:00 PM District 29-6A gridiron matchup at the United ISD Student Activity Center.
OFFICIAL GAME TEAM STATS:
EAGLES OPPONENT
First Downs 15 7
Att./ Yds. Rushing 39/195 21/161
Yards Passing 179 167
Total Yards 374 328
Pass att./comp./int’s 15/32/0 19/35/0
Return Yards 12 00
Punts /Avg. 7/39.4 8/34.2 Fumbles/Lost 1/0 1/0
Penalties/Yards 3/15 4/25
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS:
PASSING:
#10 Riche Luna 15 comp. 32 att. 179 yds 1TD.
RUSHING:
#8 Dee Andre Torres 27 carries 182 yds. 3TD’s
#9 Jose Riojas 2 carries 1 yd.
#10 Riche Luna 10 carries 15 yds.
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RECEIVING:
#2 Albert Guevara 3 rec. 44 yds.
#8 Dee Andre Torres 2 rec. 13 yds.
#9 Jose Riojas 6 rec. 90 yds. 1TD
#11 Norby Zavala 3 rec. 27 yds.
#13 David Lopez 1 rec. 5 yds.
OFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE STATS:
#7 Haran Rodriguez 7 tackles 5assists 1 tackle for a loss
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#32 Mario Torres 7tackles 3 assists 2 tackles for a loss
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#3 Eric Heredia 5 tackles 1 assist 1 tackle for a loss
#50 Roger Ulloa 4 tackles 2 assists
#1 Ryan Chisum 3 tackles 1 assist 1 tackle for a loss
#44 Moi Rocha 3 tackles 3 assists 2 tackles for a loss 1 QB Sack
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
#14 Kristian Barcena 3 tackles 3 assists
#56 Sebastian Hernandez 3 tackles 3 assists 2 tackles for a loss
#28 Raul Lechler 3 tackles 1 tackle for a loss
#25 David Kypuros 1 tackle 4 assists
#5 Nico Moyeda 1 tackle 3 assists