Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 14, 2004 Page: 3 of 6
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• i!
• •
rpi
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Gladiators bag Eagles 15-14 to
achieve second district victory
• I
$ BY RICKY PEREZ
< Gladiator Arena - "One game at
a time." This is part of the
philosophy head football coach
Cris Cavazos uses to manage the
mental side of football and to keep
these young Gladiators' emotions
in check. Coach Cavazos sure
found the right tonic to cure the
uneasiness his youthful cohort
assuredly felt after the previous
I* week's encounter with Edeouch-
• ;Elsa as the Gladiators edged the
• ; Mission Eagles 15-14.
\ To bounce back after being
outscored 49-0 the week before and
;*not be content with just showing
! up, but emerging victorious, speaks
•volumes for the instruction and
motivation the Gladiators are
receiving from this coaching staff.
If you by some chance failed to
attend this contest b .uuse you had
something better to do such as
viewing the Presidential debate,
well then, all I have to say is that
you missed a classic duel. You
should have TlVO'd or taped the
debate as I did for later viewing!
The Mission Eagles (0-6, 0-3)
had something to prove that
evening. They had arrived at the
Gladiator Arena in the
unaccustomed position of not
having won a single game in five
weeks of play. After forcing the
Gladiators to punt on their first
possession, the Hagles found an
offensive groove right out of the
starting blocks as they drove the
ball approximately 65 yards and
scored on their opening possession
with 7:44 remaining in the first
stanza on a I-yard run by Roel
Maldonado. Hie PAT by Carlos
Gonzalez was good.
The game settled into a
defensive stalemate as both teams
Were forced to punt on their next
three possessions. But with 5:26 to
go in the first half, Roma junior
RGC High Class
of 1990 plans
reunion
The Rio Grande City High
School Class of 1990 will he
holding its 15th anniversary class
reunion on Oct. 29-30, 2004.
All interested parties seeking
more information should call Pete
at 500-4338 or 369-5755.
I ho, 3 if dogs ever tak<> over the
world, and they chose a king,
they don't just go by size,
because I bet there are some
Chihuahuas with some good
ideas.
—Jack Handey
• •
running back Angel Cerda found
the end zone on a four-yard plunge
and the PAT by Gustavo Moran
was good, knotting the score up at
7-7.
The Eagles took the ensuing
kickoff and drove to the Gladiator
20 before being stymied by Roma's
defensive unit. With 1:47 showing
on the clock before halftime,
Mission attempted to score on a 36-
yard field goal but was
unsuccessful when the ball hit the
crossbar and bounced back.
The Eagles started the third
quarter of play after receiving the
opening kickoff and proceeded to
march 60 yards downfield usint a
mixture of passing and running
plays that kept the Gladiator
defense on their heels. With 9:35
showing on the clock, Eagle
running back Gerry Oliveira scored
on a two-yard run and the PAT by
Carlos Gonzalez was good, putting
the visitors ahead on the scoreboard
14-7.
On what arguably was the most
exciting play of the game,
Gladiator sophomore quarterback,
Mario Garcia took the snap from
center on what appeared to be a
broken play. With defenders on his
heels, he scrambled toward the
Roma sideline with seemingly no
place to go, only to find senior
running back Beto Escobar waving
in the flat. Garcia tossed a floater
over an Eagle defender while
Escobar made an over the shoulder
reception, shakin' & bakin' his way
and juking Eagle defenders on
route to a 68-yard touchdown with
5:16 remaining in the third stanza.
As if that wasn't exciting enough,
on the PAT, holder Angel Cerda
recovered a low snap and reversed
his field, shaking off two would-be
tacklers and scoring for a two-point
conversion. WOW'
With 12 more minutes yet to
play, it was time for the Gladiator
defense to take control of the game.
While both defensive units bent
during this period, they did not
break. The Ragles, however, had
one more opportunity to win the
contest. With 4:00 to play. Mission
had driven to the Gladiator 30
before Roma's defense held,
forcing the Eagles to make the
decision to attempt a field goal.
Eagle kicker, Carlos Gonzalez had
plenty of leg to score but his 48-yci
attempt hit the left upright and
failed.
The Gladiator offense set up a
drive of its own, marching down to
the Eagle 20 with about two
minutes to go in the game Roma's
Jesus Reyna attempted a 28-yard
field goal that fell short.
The game was not over. With
less than two minutes to play, the
Eagles began what would be their
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final offensive drive of the evening.
With the seconds ticking away and
already in Gladiator territory at the
35-yard line. Eagle quarterback
Mario Cardenas heaved a pass to
the end zone hoping for a "Hail
Mary" reception, but the unlikely
hero at that moment vvas Roma
senior defensive back. Charlie
Gonzalez, III. who intercepted the
aerial at the goal line thus ensuring
the Gladiator victory.
Roma had a total of 10 first
downs to Mission's 17. The
Gladiator offense netted 216 total
rushing yards while holding
Mission to 170, adding 95 net yards
passing to 165 for the Eagles. This
was Roma's best offensive output
thus far with 3 11 net yards. For
Roma, senior running back Beto
Escobar led the attack with 232
total yards and one touchdown
while junior running back Angel
Cerda added 57 with one
touchdown and a two-point
conversion score. Quarterback
Mario Garcia completed 2 of 8
passing attempts with one
• interception for 95 net yards.
I he Gladiators face another
struggling football program
searching for its first win of the
season as they prepare for the
arrival of the Mercedes I igers (0-6.
0-3) Friday evening, Oct. 15. Once
again, the coaching staff will have
the task of reminding these young
Gladiators that the excitement and
jubilation of this last victory is now
over and the time to prepare for a
wounded and seemingly dangerous
cat is at hand The Tigers would
like nothing more than to jump-
start their season against Roma. If
memory serves me correctly, it was
the 1996 season when Roma
finished 4-3 in district play and tied
for third place with Mercedes.
This Gladiator team can take
heart in knowing that they have
proven they can fight back in the
lace of adversity. While no team in
District 32-4A is proving to be a
pushover, the Gladiators are
declaring their stake in the district
race. An air of confidence
permeates throughout
Gladiatorland. District foes take
heed!
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at The
Gladiator Arena! Arrive early and
wear your Red-Out shirts!
"Be I here, or Be Square!"
The Rio Grande Herald-Thursday, October 14, 2004, Page 3
Turnover-troubled Rattlers
defeated by Mustangs 24-13
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
The McAllen Memorial
Mustangs used a potent ground
game and a turnover-urcing defense
to build a solid first half lead and
defeat the Rio Grande City Rattlers
24-13 in the District 30-5A opener
for both teams at Joe R. Sanchez
Stadium Friday night.
The Mustangs got off to a red-hot
start as standout sophomore
tailback Bradley Stephens threw a
64-yard scoring pass on the game's
first play from scrimmage. The
Rattlers responded almost six
minutes later as Ruben Montalvo
took a short pass 53 yards for a
score. The Mustangs took
command in the second quarter with
two touchdowns and went into
halftime with a 21-7 advantage.
A watershed play for the Rattlers
occurred on a fourth down play at
the Memorial 10 in the final
seconds of the first half when the
ball was spiked to the ground,
enabling the Mustangs to take over
on downs at that point. This
episode ended one of two Rattler
drives inside the Mustang 20 that
proved fruitless in achieving points.
Errors plagued both teams in the
second half, with no scoring taking
place until the Mustangs booted a
field goal with just over seven
minutes left in the contest. The
Rattlers quickly answered when
Octavio Rios returned the kickoff
85 yards for a touchdown to narrow
the deficit to 24-13. Confusion was
then evident over a short bouncing
kickoff that was seemingly
recovered inside the Memorial 40
by the Rattlers, but the officials,
after several minutes of discussion,
awarded possession to the
Mustangs.
Rattler victory hopes were dashed
by six turnovers as Rio coughed up
three fumbles and three
interceptions.
The Rattlers collected 236 yards
of total offense, with 136 yards
coming through the air.
Quai terback Al varo Venecia rushed
for 94 yards and completed 8 of 24
passes for 136 yards. Ruben
Montalvo caught two passes for 70
yards and a touchdown.
The Mustangs returned the
opening kickoff to their 36 alter
two previous kickoffs were nullified
due to offside penalties against the
Rattlers. On the first play from
scrimmage. Bradley Stephens took
a pitchout to the right, but pulled
up and threw a deep pass that was
caught by a wide open Curtis
Glasper inside the Rio 40. and the
receiver raced down the right
sideline into the end zone for a 64-
yard touchdown pass with 1 1:40
left in the first quarter. The extra
point kick by Thomas Freeland
sailed between the uprights to give
the Mustangs an early 7-0
advantage.
The Rattlers were unable to move
on their first possession, but forced
the Mustangs to set up shop at
their 20 after a 51-yard punt. The
Mustangs were soon forced to punt
and the Rattlers returned the
bouncing kick eight yards to the
Rio 47.
On the first play, quarterback
Alvaro Venecia threw a swing pass
to the right to Ruben Montalvo.
who caught the ball at the line of
scrimmage, slipped by a would-be
tackier, and motored down the right
sideline, outracing all pursuers for a
53-yard scoring pass with 6:03 left
in the first period. Fabian Zamora
booted the extra point to deadlock
the game at 7-7.
When the Rattlers got the ball
back. Venecia kept the ball around
right end, dodged several Mustang
defenders, and cut back to the
middle for a 29-yard pickup to the
Memorial 39. On the next play.
Venecia threw a high arching pass
down the right sideline and Danny
Garza made a lunging catch at the
Mustang 20 for a 19-yard
completion.
One play later, a pitchout to the
right went awry and the Mustangs
recovered the loose ball at their 23.
ending a serious drive that seemed
destined to give the Rattlers the
lead.
Mustang quarterback Michael
Bunger then connected with Jon
Ray Dougherty for a 15-yard
completion to the Memorial 3<S.
Ryan Reed then exploded through
left tackle for a 17-yard gain to I ho
Rattler 45 Two plays later
Stephens ran a sweep around leii
end and motored down the sideline
for a 2 I-yard gain to the Rio IX.
On third and I I. Bunger threw a
short pass near the left sideline that
was caught by Stephens at the 15
for a four-yard reception. The
Mustangs then lined up Tor an
apparent 32-yard field goal attempt,
but the holder an to the right and
tried to throw the ball back to the
left, and a Rio defender batted awa\
the ball, turning the ball over to the
Rattlers on downs.
Three plays later. Venecia
scrambled toward the left sideline
for an 11-yard advance to the Rio
28. On third and seven from the 31.
Venecia tried a high, arching screen
pass to the left, but a Mustang
lineman intercepted the aeiial inside
the 25 and returned the ball to the
19.
On first down. Stephens took a
handoff around left end and scooted
down the sideline Tor a 15-yard gain
to the 4 On first and goal.
Stephens raced around left end and
tightroped his way down the
sideline just across the goal line
into the end zone for a Tour-yard
scoring scamper with 8:51 left in
the second quarter. The successful
extra point kick by Thomas
Freeland provided the Mustangs a
14-7 edge.
On their next possession. Bungei
connected with Dougherty and
Robbie Salinas Tor completions of
12 and 23 yards to advance the
Mustangs to the Rio 30. Two plays
later. Ryan Reed took a handoff
around left end and cut back slightly
for a 15-yard pickup to the 9.
Stephens then slammed through left
tackle for a seven-yard gain to the
2
On second and goal. Reed blasted
through left tackle for a two-yard
scoring run with 1:54 remaining in
the second quarter The extra point
kick by Thomas Freeland was on
target to boost the Mustang lead to
21 -7.
The Rattlers launched a drive
(See RATTLERS, Page 4)
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 14, 2004, newspaper, October 14, 2004; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196290/m1/3/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.