Eagle Pass Eagles Crush Winn Mavericks 49-7 in Season Opener, Keep Rivalry Series Winning Streak Alive
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The Eagle Pass High School Eagles crushed cross-town rival, Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Mavericks, 49-7 in a non-district season opener for both teams on Friday, August 25, 2023, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Center’s Cozel Foster-Veterans Memorial Stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas, remaining undefeated in the Rivalry Series in its 17th year of competition.
The Mavericks took the opening kickoff of the game and started the game’s first possession at their own 30 yard line. The Mavericks offense got to a good start with a 10 yard run by running back Luis Flores, but on the ensuing play a bad snap caused them to lose 24 yards back to their own 16 yard line. After a pass completion for only two yards, the Mavericks were forced to punt on a fourth and 32 yards. The Eagles self-described “Land Shark” defense stifled the Mavericks on their first possession.
The Eagles first possession of the game started at their own 49 yard line and quickly marched down the newly dedicated “Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Field” for a 51 yard touchdown drive, culminating with a 25 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Sebastian Velasquez in the end zone with 7:54 minutes remaining in the first quarter. The point after attempt by Eagles kicker Lazaro Frausto sailed through the uprights to make it 7-0 early in the game.
The Mavericks started their second possession of the game with good field position at their own 45 yard line. The Mavericks offense combined runs by running back Luis Flores and quarterback Gabriel Balderas together with a personal foul against the Eagles to march to the Eagles 18 yard line. The Mavericks attempted a 28 yard field goal, but the kick sailed wide left and short of the goal post. The Eagles took over at their own 20 yard line.
On their second possession, the Eagles engineered an 80 yard touchdown drive utilizing a patented combination of pass completions and runs to march down the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Field, resulting in a six yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper by Andres Garcia for six yards with 1:44 minutes remaining in the first quarter. The extra point attempt by Eagles kicker Lazaro Frausto was good to increase the Eagles lead 14-0 in the first quarter.
The Eagles stingy “Land Shark” defense led by defensive tackle Izhar Mauricio, linebacker Devonte Monsivais, and defensive back Walker Finleyson forced the Mavericks to go three plays and punt on their third possession.
The Eagles received the football at their own 47 yard line on their third possession of the game and quickly struck paydirt in the Mavericks end zone, culminating on a 37 yard aerial touchdown pass from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Jose Hernandez with 11:16 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Eagles kicker Lazaro Frausto kicked the extra point to extend the Eagles lead 21-0 early in the second quarter.
The Eagles’ Land Shark defense stymied the Mavericks offense on their fourth possession, recovering a fumble by defensive end Izhar Mauricio at the Mavericks 29 yard line with 8:20 minutes left in the second quarter.
The Eagles self-described “War Eagle” offense took only two plays to punch the pigskin into the Mavericks end zone, culminating with a 14 yard touchdown run by running back Kaydrien Rodriguez and Lazaro Frausto kicked the extra point, extending the Eagles lead 28-0 with 7:56 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Mavericks offense fifth possession started at their own 33 yard line and marched down the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Field to the Eagles 32 yard line on strong runs by tailback Luis Flores, but the Eagles defense stifled the Mavericks offense on a fourth and short yards to take over the football on downs at their 32 yard line with 1:55 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Eagles’ quick strike “War Eagle” offense engineered an 68 yard touchdown drive resulting in a 19 yard touchdown run by running back Jorge Sierra and Lazaro Frausto kicked the extra point, increasing the Eagles lead 35-0 with 1:09 minutes left before halftime.
The Mavericks took possession at their own 31 yard line, but the Eagles defense held on to take a 35-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Eagles explosive “War Eagle” offense took the opening kickoff and wasted little time in punching the pigskin into the Mavericks end zone on a two play 79 yard touchdown drive, culminating with a 65 yard aerial bomb from quarterback Andres Garcia to wide receiver Wilfredo Frausto with 11:12 minutes in the third quarter, stunning the loyal Maverick Nation aficionados. Eagles kicker Lazaro Frausto point after attempt was good, extending the Eagles lead 42-0 early in the third quarter.
The Eagles’ Land Shark defense forced the Mavericks to go three plays and punt on the ensuing possession. Eagles wide receiver Sebastian Diaz returned the punt 65 yards for a dazzling touchdown return, but an Eagles personal foul penalty nullified Diaz’s touchdown. The Eagles started their next possession at the Mavericks 19 yard line.
With a strong lead in the game, Eagles Head Coach Tom Gonzalez played his second team offense to develop game time experience. The Eagles brought in reserve quarterback Javier Barrera to lead the War Eagle offense in the third quarter. Barrera took off where Andres Garcia left off and guided the Eagles to a quick two play touchdown drive, calling his own number for a 14 yard touchdown run into the Mavericks end zone with 7:39 minutes remaining in the third quarter, and Lazaro Frausto kicked the extra point to extend the Eagles lead 49-0.
The never say die Mavericks engineered an impressive 69 yard touchdown drive on the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Field on their ensuing possession, culminating on a sensational 56 yard touchdown run by tailback Luis Flores with 6:48 minutes remaining in the third quarter and Mavericks kicker Daniel Rodriguez point after attempt was good, narrowing the score 49-7. The Maverick Nation aficionados cheered their Mavericks with approval.
Both teams struggled to score any further during the late third and fourth quarters as the defenses settled down. The Eagles took the 49-7 victory over the Mavericks to remain undefeated (17-0) in the Rivalry Meeting Series between the two Eagle Pass high schools.
The Eagles offense had a total of 435 yards in the game with 21 rushes for 164 yards and three touchdowns and 12 pass completions for 274 yards and three touchdowns. The Mavericks offensive stats were not available as of press time.
The Eagles next play the Boerne Champion Chargers on Friday, September 1, 2023, at 7 p.m. at Boerne, Texas. The Mavericks host the Uvalde Coyotes at home on Friday, September 1, 2023, at 7 p.m. in a game designated as “Parents Night.”
