Not only were the athletes’ parents presented on the field before the game, but the Mighty Eagles also treated the audience to a 35 to 7 victory over the visiting Laredo Cigarroa Toros.
Eagle Pass received the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field only to stall at the Toros' 16 yard line. Eagles placekicker #9 Jose Riojas came out to attempt a 33 yard field goal but had it blocked.
The Eagles defense had Toros #11 Alfredo Sepulveda on edge all night as #25 David Kypuros intercepted the ball and returned it for a touchdown. An Eagles penalty on the interception return put the ball at their own 47 yard line to start the drive. The Eagles' took 7 plays to find the end zone capped by a 12 yard touchdown pass from #10 Riche Luna to #2 Albert Guevara. Riojas added the point after and made it 7 to 0 with 1:34 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles were able to sack Sepulveda three times, and made him hurry a few throws that led to turnovers. The Toros' managed to get to the Eagles 7 yard line midway through the second quarter. A sack by Kypuros and a missed field goal that was tipped by #3 Eric Heredia kept the Toros scoreless.
With 7:40 left before the half Luna and company engineered a drive that resulted in #8 Dee Andre Torres punching it in from 1 yard out. Riojas’ point after was blocked, and with 4:38 left in the second quarter the Eagles took a 13 to 0 lead.
Laredo Cigarroa used what was left in the second quarter to drive it 75 yards on 9 plays into the end zone with 52 seconds left when Sepulveda found his running back #34 Jesus Salazar for a six yard pass play.
The Eagles took a 13 to 7 lead into the half. With the second half start, Cigarroa couldn't move the ball on the Eagles' defense; they stopped Cigarroa on a fourth down play as #54 David Santos Jr. got to Sepulveda for a sack and a 10 yard loss.
After getting the stop, Luna moved the Eagles down the field, going 4 for 5 on the drive during which he hit three different receivers. It took the Eagles 12 plays covering 52 yards, with Luna capping the drive as he weaved his way from 2 yards out with 1:10 left in the 3rd quarter. Luna, then hit his big target in the red zone, #80 Rey Mendoza, for a 2 point conversion that extended the Eagles' lead to 21 to 7.
In the fourth quarter Cigarroa had a 3, and out punted the ball that was taken by the Eagles at the Toros’ 37 yard line. A completed pass to #13 David Lopez for 12 yards and a big 17 yard run by Torres gave the Eagles a first and goal from the Toros' 9 yard line. Three carries later, Torres capped off the drive from 4 yards out for his second touchdown of the night. Riojas put the ball through the uprights, and the Eagles took a 28-7 lead with 10:42 left in the game.
Cigarroa mounted a drive late in the fourth quarter but was stopped by the Eagles defense as a Sepulveda pass was tipped on a third and 18 play. Sophomore safety #14 Kristian Barcena was at the right place to intercept the tip ball and returned it 80 yards to pay dirt. With 1:44 Riojas tacked on the extra point and made it 35 to 7.
The Eagle Pass Eagles will take on the Eagle Pass C.C. Winn Mavericks this Friday night at Cozel Foster Veterans Memorial Stadium.
