By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s athleticism was on full display as the Rams hit the road for their first game of the young football season.
Three first half touchdowns helped keep the Rams in the contest, but it was two big defensive plays on Leander’s final possession that sealed the 35-34 win for Del Rio. It’s the first win of the season for the Rams and the first for new head coach Fiacro Ramirez.
Last season these two teams battled to a 34-32 decision in favor of the Lions in triple overtime in Del Rio. This year the Rams made the trip to just outside of Austin looking to exact some revenge.
Leander started things off with a steady drive that encompassed much of the first quarter. It finally ended with a short one-yard touchdown run by Braeden Lott to help stake the Lions to a 7-0 lead.
Del Rio was unable to do much on its first possession and punted back to Leander, but the Rams defense forced a three-and-out by the Lions and put the ball back in the hands of Del Rio.
This time Del Rio was able to find success on the ground. Running back Hammed Mussi and quarterback Eliseo “Cheo” Ortiz carried the ball most of the drive. At one point, the two players ran for 10 yards on three straight carries to set Del Rio up inside the Leander 25 yard line. Three plays later, Ortiz pushed the pile and moved into the end zone for the score. Rodrigo Tamez hit the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with about 10 minutes left in the first half.
After a Jacob Ortiz sack helped force a Leander punt, the Rams couldn’t take advantage and Tamez was sent out to punt the ball back to the Lions.
Leander got the ball moving again as a 34-yard run by Lott moved the Lions inside the Rams 20 yard line. Lott would get the call a few plays later, busting loose for a nine-yard gain and a Leander touchdown to help put the Lions up 14-7.
Del Rio gambled a bit on its next possession. Facing a 3rd-and-19, Ortiz called his own number and fought his way around and through Leander’s defense for a 17-yard gain to set up 4th-and-2 at Del Rio’s 38-yard line. Mussi got the carry next and bulled his way for three yards and a fresh set of downs.
On third-and-8, Ortiz took the snap, rolled out to his left and fired a pass down the sideline. Wide receiver Alan Dobbins out-leapt a Leander defender for the ball and raced to the end zone to complete a 58-yard touchdown pass. Tamez was perfect again, and the game was tied 14-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, Leander was able to get the ball to its own 46-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Zane Wooldridge got the ball, found some run around the left end and turned on the jets, outrunning everyone to the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown. Ivan Rodriguez’s kick gave the Lions the lead right back just 22 seconds after the Rams had tied up the game.
Del Rio used a fair catch on the kickoff to keep the clock in its favor and start at its own 25. A pass interference penalty against the Lions moved the Rams to the Leander 49. On the next play, Ortiz took the snap, bought some time and fired a strike to Zane Hughes. Hughes showed off his athleticism, evading one defender, spinning another defender completely around and sprinting past the final defender en route to a 49-yard touchdown. Tamez’s kick tied the game at 21-21 with just over a minute left in the half.
Leander was able to get the ball down to the Del Rio 8 in just five plays, but a final throw towards the end zone was incomplete and the game went to halftime tied.
Leander tried to catch the Rams off guard with an onside kick to start the second half, but Del Rio’s Ethan Vasquez was able to fall on the ball and set the Rams up on Leander’s side of the field. Three plays later, Brian Natividad was able to bust through the middle of the line and rumble 34 yards for the score. Tamez’s PAT gave the Rams their first lead of the night, 28-21.
Leander looked to tie the game after a 41-yard touchdown pass from Logan Mitchell to Lott, but the Rams were able to block the extra point attempt and maintain a slim 28-27 lead.
After the Rams offense was stopped, Tamez came on to punt and booted it to Wooldridge. The speedster zipped past the first wave of Rams defenders and then found a seam on the right to the end zone to help put the Lions back on top, 34-28 late in the third quarter.
The next Rams drive also ended in a punt, and Leander looked to extend its lead but the Rams’ Perry Mcintire and Luis Martinez helped snuff out the Lions’ next drive and put the ball back in the hands of the Rams offense.
Del Rio then embarked on a nearly nine-minute drive fueled by the fresh legs of Ethan Matherne. Matherne started the game at linebacker after spending the first two games at running back. Mussi was injured in the second half, so Matherne was brought back to the offense to help keep the Rams’ punishing offense moving.
And move it he did, carrying the ball five straight times for 28 yards and moving Del Rio into Leander territory. After a 16-yard run by Ortiz, it was back to the bruising Matherne for two more carries that put Del Rio inside the Lions’ 20. Five plays later, Matherne was rewarded for his heavy lifting with a two-yard touchdown run. Tamez’s kick was on target again, and Del Rio had a 35-34 lead with 5:39 to play.
Leander quickly tried to answer. Wooldridge had a 10-yard carry to open the drive, but a holding penalty against the Lions pushed them back to their own 32. An 18-yard pass to Wooldridge set up a 3rd and 2 for the Lions at the 50-yard line. On third down, Leander’s Eric Hargrave picked up one yard before all-district defensive lineman George Avalos brought him down a yard short of the first down. On the next play, Wooldridge got the call, but the Rams defense smothered the elusive back with fellow all-district standout Manuel Padilla being the first to stop him and drop him for a loss to give the ball back to Del Rio with about three minutes left to play.
Del Rio didn’t diverge from its game plan. Three runs set up fourth and three at the Leander 41. Ortiz then sealed the win by taking the snap and carrying the ball himself, fighting for four yards and the final first down of the game.
Unofficially, Ortiz rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown and threw for another 97 yards and two scores. Mussi had 39 yards before he left the game due to injury. Matherne had 53 yards in relief of Mussi.
The Rams will travel to San Antonio Friday, Sept. 15, to face the East Central Hornets at 7 p.m. at East Central Stadium.
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