Sandman

LA JOYA - I never did get an answer from Leonel Casas as to why he wanted to play this game at 1 pm on a Friday. Whatever his reasons were, it has held down the attendance a little bit. Few people other than me work on this day but it’s still a strange time. I doubt that Casas cares about attendance, nor should he.

The weather has probably kept some fans away, too.

This also could be the last home game for La Joya as one school. Casas told me that hasn’t entered his mind, and I believe him. All of the observances of that were two weeks ago. To my knowledge, nothing is planned today.

Could someone tell me why the J in PSJA is accented on the Bears’ helmets? Is there some significance to the “Juan” I don’t know about? The only reason I can think of is that it resembles the Texas A&M helmet. Yeah, that’s probably it.

I hope coach Mel Rios doesn’t end up like coach Fran.

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up WE’VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, roll up for the mystery tour.
The magical mystery tour is hoping to take you away,
Hoping to take you away.  

LA JOYA - Hello again everybody.

We are live at La Joya Coyote Stadium for today’s 1 pm area matchup between the PSJA High Bears and the La Joya Coyotes.

This game is the first of four I’m covering this weekend. After I experience “Bear Pride” in person for the first time, I’m off to Weslaco for the McHi-Weslaco contest at 7. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the Harlingen South-Rowe game and then the Los Fresnos-Donna battle. I can think of worse ways to spend a couple days. 

For the first time this season, I’ll be at a game where the weather actually plays a role in the game. I would say the temperature is in the mid-40s with a steady drizzle. Thank goodness I had my $8 Steve & Barry’s jacket in my trunk. I’m also thankful for the heated pressbox. 

While I came prepared in terms of my jacket, I really dropped the ball when it comes to footwear. Instead of wearing a pair of loafers or my old, beloved Nikes, I went with a pair of Roos. Don’t get me wrong, they look stunning, but they have no traction. Walking up the wet aluminum bleachers here was like walking on ice. Remind me not to run down to the field after the game.

This game should be a great start to my Magical Mystery Tour. Minus, of course, the LSD.

SAN ANTONIO - Hello again everybody.

We are live at Dub Farris Field for Rowe’s battle with Eagle Pass. I am sitting in an enclosed, modern pressbox not unlike one at a college facility. Who has two thumbs and approves of the Northside ISD? This guy.

Anyways, we’re about 20  minutes from kickoff. By the way, I’m alone in the pressbox.  Could someone keep my company? Please.

-This thing’s going to be a running blog again. I think that works better.

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6:01

Eagle Pass just committed three five-yard penalties on three straight plays. Rowe takes over at the 24.

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6:11 

Why high school defenses can’t stop screens I’ll never know. Eagle Pass better find out.

Cameron Gatling just took a screen 22 yards for a TD, giving Rowe a 7-0 lead with 5:44 left. Mike Enriquez went 3-for-3 on the drive for 37 yards.

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6:16

How’s this for Rowe? There is still 2:49 left in the first and the Warriors have 8 first downs.  The Warriors are threatening again, with the ball at the Eagle Pass 25.

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6:22

Now that’s my kind of quarter.

It lasted only 22 minutes.

Rowe is probably thrilled too. They ended it up 7-0 and with the ball at the 11.

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6:24

Enriquez just hit Travis Chafin for an 11-yard score to make it 14-0. Chafin was wide open.

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6:34

Eagle Pass is 9-1 for a reason, and they finally showed it on their last drive.

Joel Cano hit John Hammock with a 24-yard floater into the end zone for a TD. Cameron Gatling had a chance to knock it down but mistimed his jump.

14-7

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6:36

So much for any momentum.

Cameron Gatling returned the ensuing kick 91 yards for a TD. With the PAT, it’s now 21-7 Rowe.

The burnt orange side of this stadium is looking pretty down right now.

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6:46

This game is starting to get, uh, wacky.

Joel Cano just threw a 29-yard TD to John Hammock. The pass was orginally dropped by Rowe’s Ricky Soto, who knocked it into the arms of Hammock.

The PAT was blocked and recovered by Soto, who returned it to the EP 30. The return was called back because of a penalty.

21-13 Rowe.

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6:57

Eagle Pass just earned a first down when punter Eric Valdez took a snap and ran. He needed six but got 12.

EP is now threatening at the 23.

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7:01

If Rowe loses this game, it will rue the name John Hammock. Hammock just scored his second receiving TD of the night. EP then converted the 2-pointer to even the game at 21 with 30 seconds left.

Stay tuned.

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7:09

As well as the first half started for Rowe, it ended as ugly.

Ralph Juarez had his 42-yard kick blocked to end the half. After the play ended, Joe Rey Mendoza was ejected after an altercation with a couple Eagle Pass players.

21-21 at the half.

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7:35

Check that, Mendoza ran out of the tunnel with Rowe and looks like he’ll be playing. All the referee did was signal that somebody was ejected. Never said who or from which team.

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7:44

Take 3.

Mendoza is on the side-lines, but wearing a coat. I don’t think he’s coming back.

Back to the game, Rowe punted to start the half and EP has the ball at the Rowe 13.

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7:49

Cameron Gatling just picked off a Joel Cano pass at the 13. That was a huge play.

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7:56

Eagle Pass has squandered another opportunity. On fourth and goal, they decided to go for it and split Cano out to the right, with Agustin Barba under center. Barba overthrew a fade, giving the ball to Rowe at the 8.

That’s a head-scratcher on a couple levels.

21-21, 4:00 left.

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8:08

On a 4th and 7 at the 22, Cano hit Hammock again for a TD. This one gives EP its first lead of the night. The PAT was missed, so it’s 27-21 Eagles.

Hammock was wide open down the right side line. As he has been the whole night.

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8:17

Cameron Gatling (who else?) just scored from 4 yards out to tie the game at 27. Ralph Juarez then converted the PAT to give Rowe a 28-27 lead with 9:31 left.

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8:23

Rowe just stopped Hammack on a 3rd and 1 at the EP 45, forcing a punt. After what Hammack has done tonight, that had to feel just a little better for Rowe.

28-27 Rowe, 6:00 left.

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8:28

Rowe just punted to the EP 32 with 3:06 left, leading 28-27. This is it for the Eagles.

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8:41

4th and 12 at Rowe’s 29. It comes down to this play…

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8:42

Incomplete to Eric Valdez in the end zone. Rowe will survive to face Harlingen South.

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8:43

It’s over. Rowe wins 28-27. What. A. Game.

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CORPUS CHRISTI - We’re here live at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi. And when I say “we”, I mean a few hundred people. It is about an hour before kickoff, but I don’t foresee too many people coming. This site is about two hours from both schools, and will hold down the attendance.

I don’t have too much hope for the attendance tonight. Or the atmosphere. Oh well.

-I’m going to try to make this a running blog, instead of entering a new post each time. Let’s see how this works.

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7:23 pm

Oh great, the South fans like stomping on the metal bleachers. This will be fun…

10 minutes until kickoff, and there are a few more fans than I thought there’d be.

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7:36 pm 

Have I ever mentioned how nice it is to sit next to McHi’s Juan Medrano? The guy can give you any stat you’ll ever need. Those binoculars really help. Thanks for the assistance, Juan.

South QB Justin Sanchez tried for a sneak on 4th and 1 and was a half-yard short. Dogs’ ball at the South 40.

0-0

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7:43

Manny Udor just finished a 7-play, 40-yard drive with a 1-yd TD run. That drive was way too easy for McHi.

7-0 Bulldogs, 7:06 left.

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7:46

South’s Sean Evans just had a 65-yd return nullified by a block in the back. Panthers lost about 53 yards on the play.

The Panthers also lost a fumble at their own 23, with McHi linebacker Sam Weisman recovering the ball.

And just as I was typing that, Manny Udor just went in from 3 yards out. Plus the PAT, it’s 14-0 McHi with 4:28 left.

This is why the running clock was invented.

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7:56

La Joya 17, Laredo United 0? Really?

Here, it’s 14-0 with 2:08 left in the first

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8:01

Brandon Rock just hit a 36-yard field goal with 1:05 left in the first. 17-0 McHi.

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8:05 pm

One quarter is done, and it’s 17-0 McHi with South on the move at the Bulldogs’ 37.

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8:07

The Panthers just punted to the McHi 5. Sorry to get United South fans’ hopes up in that last post.

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8:19

The South fans really don’t look happy, and with good reason. McHi linebacker Sam Weisman just returned an INT 24 yards to make it 24-0.

I’d hate to see this happen, but I think the running clock could be making an appearance soon. The South offense has no traction, and the defense can’t stop Manny Udor (10 carries, 58 yards, 2 scores).

Weisman, by the way, has been a beast tonight. In a good way for McHi.

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8:27

If there’s been one positive for South, it has been the punting. Jonathan Carrera has put two inside the 10-yard line.

McHi, however, is already at their own 44.

Still 24-0 McHi

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8:35

If this were a fight, the ring-side doctor would be stopping the match. Aaron Correa just scored on an 8-yard run to make it 31-0. The run came on a beauty of a reverse.

31-0, 2:12 left.

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Now that’s gotta really hurt for South.

The Bulldogs got the ball with about 15 seconds left at their own 20 and tried two passes. On third, the hand-off went to Manny Udor, who took it 80 yards for a score to end the half. Brandon Rock missed the PAT, but it shouldn’t matter.

37-0 McHi at halftime.

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What have I been saying about the running clock? Manny Udor just scored again to make it 44-0. This run was from 14 yards out with 10:56 left.

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All that’s left to say is the score is now 51-0 with 8:19 left. Sal Limon just caught a 6-yd TD pass from Adrian Leal. Guys, my deadline is 11:30 and I don’t want to submit a straight play-by-play gamer. Let’s hurry up.

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9:38 pm 

I don’t think we’ll see Manny Udor again. Andrew Balderas just took every carry on McHi’s previous drive, which ended on a Balderas fumble.

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9:43

This has gotten uuugly here. Stephen Menchaca just blocked a Jonathan Carrera punt and returned it 35 yards to make it 58-0 Bulldogs.

What are Joe Sendejas and his kids thinking?

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9:53 pm 

Here’s one from the good-to-see category:

Edgar Villasenor just scored from 1 yard out to make it 58-7 McHi. That seven must feel great for the Panthers.

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10:05

6:50 left in the 4th and its still 58-7. Manny Udor is back in the game. Why? I don’t know, actually.

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10:11 pm

McHi just started kneeling. With 3:40 left. I haven’t seen a kneel that early in a long time.

58-7

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10:13

We have a final, and it’s 58-7 McHi.

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LA JOYA - It’s been a final for a while. 37-7 McHi.

LA JOYA - 37-0 McHi with 1:55 left. Not a good way for La Joya to wrap its history.

LA JOYA - McHi leads 31-0 and is driving toward another score. This one is getting ugly, and in a pretty way for McHi.

12:00 left.

LA JOYA - It’s officially scoreboard-watching time in La Joya.

Adrian Leal just threw a 66-yard TD pass to Aaron Correa, making it 21-0. Correa had a couple steps on the nearest La Joya defender, but had to wait for Leal’s pass to come down.

La Joya can still make the playoffs if Sharyland and RGC lose, which they both are right now.

Just as I was typing this, Udor scored on another screen pass, this one from 31 yards. McHi got the ball after La Joya fumbled the kickoff.

28-0 McHi, 7:23 left.

LA JOYA - Sergio Castillo just recovered an onside kick for the Coyotes. Yes, Castillo is the kicker. They have the ball at the McHi 31.

LA JOYA - The PA man just announced the two new La Joya teams will be called the Lobos and the Huskies. I didn’t catch which school gets which nickname.

Anyways, McHi to receive the kick, leading 14-0.