Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks Stunned By Crystal City Javelinas 20-13 In Football Season Opener
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The thundering Eagle Pass C.C. Winn High School Mavericks were stunned by the never say die Crystal City High School Javelinas 20-13 in the 2017 football season opener with a fumble recovery of a Mavericks fumble at the Javelinas 32 yard line and a Javelina patented 68 yard drive culminating on a one yard touchdown plunge by Javelinas running back Jaime Nava with only 25 seconds remaining in the game followed by a two point conversion by Quarterback John Saucedo on a three yard dash to seal the 20 to 13 victory over the Mavericks.
Texas high school football aficionados witnessed a great game between the Eagle Pass Winn Mavericks and the visiting Crystal City Javelinas on Friday, September 1, 2017, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Mavericks won the coin toss and deferred to receiving the football in the second half while allowing the Javelinas to receive the opening kickoff.
The Crystal City Javelinas first possession after the kickoff started at their own 23 yard line. The Mavericks young wrecking crew defense held the Javelinas on downs and forced them to punt.
The Mavericks took possession of their first offensive drive at their own 45 yard line. The Mavericks engineered a 55 yard touchdown drive combined with key runs by running back Gustavo Cabrera and pass completions by quarterback Tony Flores, culminating in a ten (10) yard touchdown pass from Tony Flores to tight end Isaac Villarreal in the end zone and the point after attempt by place kicker Ernesto Fuentes was no good to give the Mavericks a 6-0 lead with 7:17 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Javelinas started their second possession at their own 26 yard line after receiving the Mavericks kick-off. The Javelinas used a fake punt attempt to earn a first down and keep their drive alive, marching to the Mavericks eight (8) yard line on a combination of runs by running backs Austin Sanchez and David Patino and key pass catches by wide receiver Felix Blanco from quarterback John Saucedo. Just as the Javelinas were knocking at the Mavericks eight yard line, the Mavericks defense stepped up the pressure and intercepted a Javelina pass at the eight yard line by defensive back Juan Garcia with 2:59 minutes left in the first quarter. The Mavericks wrecking crew defense stopped the potent Javelinas offensive machine with the interception.
The Mavericks took over at the eight yard line after the interception and drove to their 38 yard line before being forced to punt the football to the Javelinas.
In the second quarter, the Javelinas advanced deep into Mavericks territory at their 39 yard line, but were forced to punt by the stingy Mavericks defense led by linebackers Ernesto Villasenor, Miguel De Los Santos, Cesar De La Garza, defensive linemen Ricardo Morales, Alexis Morales, Alejandro Ontiveros, Isaias Gonzalez, and Ismael Gonzalez, and defensive backs Brandon Wheeler, J.J. Garcia, German Velasquez, Domingo Duran, Isaac Flores, and Xavier Cereso.
The Mavericks offense took possession at their own 20 yard line, but the Javelinas defense stifled the Mavericks offensive scheme and forced them to punt.
The Javelinas took possession at their own 49 yard line with 6:09 minutes remaining in the second quarter and orchestrated a 51 yard touchdown drive, resulting in a six yard dash by Javelina running back Austin Sanchez into the Mavericks end zone and the point after attempt failed tying the game at 6-6 with only 34 seconds left in the first half. The teams went into the locker room after the first half tied 6-6 in a defensive battle.
A large Crystal City Javelinas fan contingency traveled the 45 miles to attend the game and support their team. The Maverick Nation came out in full force to cheer the Mavericks. The fans were treated to a great halftime performance by the Crystal City Javelinas Marching Band and Dance Team as well as the Mavericks Thundering Band and Silver Line Dance Team.
In the third quarter, the Mavericks took the kickoff and started their drive at the 24 yard line. The Javelinas defense stopped the Mavericks offense on a fake punt attempt at the Mavericks 47 yard line with 8:40 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Mavericks wrecking crew defense was once again called to stop the threatening Javelinas, forcing them to punt after four and out.
The Mavericks offense led by quarterback Tony Flores received the football at their own 12 yard line and engineered an 88 yard touchdown drive, culminating on a seven yard touchdown run by running back Gustavo Cabrera and the point after attempt by place kicker Ernesto Fuentes was good to give the Mavericks a 13-6 lead with 4:49 minutes remaining in the third stanza.
The Javelinas offense took possession at their own 32 yard line with 4:44 minutes left in the third period and marched down the field into Mavericks territory as the third period expired. At the start of the fourth period and facing a fourth down and one yard for a first down, the Javelinas executed a perfect 22 yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Saucedo to wide receiver Felix Blanco into the Mavericks end zone and the two point attempt was no good to preserve a slim 13-12 lead with 11:50 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Both teams’ defenses stuffed the following offensive possessions. The Javelinas drove deep into Mavericks territory (20 yard line) on their following possession, but the Mavericks wrecking crew defense plugged the Javelinas offense and took over at their own 20 yard line with 5:00 minutes left in the game clinging to a narrow 13-12 lead over the Javelinas.
The Mavericks offensive machine began to effectively run the football against the tired Javelinas defense late in the fourth quarter when Mavericks running back Gustavo Cabrera busted loose on a long run up the middle of the field that had touchdown written all over it when a freak incident occurred as the referee got in the way of Cabrera and was falling backwards and held on to Cabrera to avoid falling but instead knocked the football out of Cabrera’s hands, causing a fumble that was recovered by the trailing Javelinas defenders. The never say die Javelinas recovered the freak fumble at their own 32 yard line to the dismay of the Mavericks with 3:07 minutes remaining in the game.
The Javelinas offensive machine went to work against a tired Mavericks wrecking crew defense and engineered a come from behind 68 yard touchdown drive, culminating in a one yard touchdown plunge by Javelina fullback Jaime Nava into the Mavericks end zone with only 25 seconds remaining in the game followed by a three yard run by quarterback John Saucedo for the two point conversion to take a 20-13 lead over the stunned Mavericks.
The Mavericks took the ensuing kick-off and drove deep into Javelinas territory as time expired, falling 20-13 to the Javelinas in a great football game and hard fought by both teams.
Mavericks Head Coach Eric Villasenor stated the Mavericks played with great effort and noted the Coaching staff will review the game film and work on execution this coming week in preparation for their next game against the Laredo LBJ Wolves on Friday, September 8, 2017, at 7:30 P.M. at the Laredo United Independent School District Student Activity Complex Football Stadium.
