By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
A win is a win, and the Del Rio Rams were happy to escape Laredo with one Thursday night.
Quarterback Zack Taylor scored the eventual game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a nine-yard run that lifted Del Rio to a tough 24-19 win over the Laredo LBJ Wolves.
The win moves the Rams to 2-3 on the season and 1-0 in District 30-6A. LBJ falls to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in district.
LBJ built a 19-0 lead in the first half on a pair of field goals and a pair of touchdowns off interceptions. But the Wolves would be shutout of the end zone for the remainder of the game as the Rams played catch up from the second quarter on.
Del Rio’s first drive of the game looked promising as Taylor completed his first five passes of the game and the Rams worked their way to the LBJ 4-yard line, but the drive stalled there and Del Rio turned the ball over on downs.
After the two teams exchanged punts, LBJ got on the board first thanks to a four-yard punt by the Rams and a 43-yard field goal by Brandon Mares.
On the very first play of the second quarter, LBJ’s defense came up big as Sebastian Palacios picked off Taylor and weaved his way through the Rams defense for a 36-yard pick-six and a 9-0 Wolves lead.
It was the opportunistic Wolves defense that struck again on Del Rio’s next possession as Luis Pablo Galaviz fumbled on his fifth carry of the season. The ball was recovered by LBJ’s Zaid Costilla and set the Wolves up deep in Del Rio territory.
Thursday’s game marked the first of the season for the senior Galaviz, who had missed the first four games due to academic issues. He would finish the game with 27 yards on eight carries and gained an additional 23 yards on four receptions, but he would fumble twice including once on a punt that bounced and struck him in the leg and was recovered by LBJ.
LBJ turned Galaviz’s first fumble into points as their drive was capped by a 25-yard field goal by Mares to increase the Wolves’ lead to 12-0 with 7:54 left in the half.
Del Rio’s turnover woes continued on its next possession. On the Rams’ next offensive play, Taylor tried to hit Zane Hughes with a short pass, but the ball bounced off Hughes’ hands and into the hands of LBJ’s Sebastian De Leon, who trotted just a few yards into the end zone for the Wolves’ second pick-six and a 19-0 lead.
Things seemed to get worse for the Rams as on the ensuing kickoff, Alan Dobbins collected the ball, stumbled and downed himself at the Rams’ own 2-yard line.
Then Taylor showed off his athletic ability as he found a hole in the line, raced to his left and then outran the defense for a 98-yard touchdown. Del Rio went for two and failed and remained down 19-6.
The Rams got the ball back as Sammy Flores intercepted LBJ’s Raul Cantu at the Del Rio 41. After Taylor was sacked for a six-yard loss by LBJ’s Roy Rangel, the sophomore passer found Hughes who turned on the jets and raced 65 yards to the touchdown. Julian Rivera’s kick was blocked, but the Rams went into halftime down just 19-12.
The third quarter was a war of attrition for both teams. LBJ’s first drive was derailed by a Jesus De Luna sack, but then Taylor was sacked by LBJ’s Jose Quintero to help bring an early end to the Rams’ drive.
Later in the third quarter, a bad snap over the head of Del Rio punter Corbin Farrar set LBJ up at Rams’ 11-yard line. Nathan Mayes helped derail LBJ’s drive by dropping Gerardo Menchaca for an 8-yard loss. LBJ would settle for a field goal attempt, but the Rams blocked the try and took over at their own 19.
Five plays later, facing a fourth and 1 at his own 46, Taylor called his own number and picked up the first down. However, he wouldn’t stop there and Taylor rumbled for 54 yards and his second touchdown of the game. Rivera’s kick missed again, and Del Rio trailed 19-18.
Another big sack, this one by Manuel Padilla and Lonnie Green Jr., forced an LBJ punt that was downed at the Wolves’ 24. Del Rio worked the ball to the 19-yard line and lined up for a 34-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-5, but Elian De La Paz took the snap, just avoided falling onto his backside, and recovered to rush for nine yards and a Rams first down.
Three plays later, Taylor outraced the Wolves defenders around the right side of the line and followed Hughes into the end zone for his third touchdown and Del Rio’s first lead of the game, 24-19.
LBJ tried to answer, but the drive was eventually brought to an end by a four-yard tackle for a loss on fourth down by Del Rio’s Diego Piña and his teammates with 2:25 left to play.
The Wolves wouldn’t get the ball back as a 10-yard run by Taylor on third and four sealed the win.
Taylor finished with 383 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. He was 13 of 24 passing for 207 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He also rushed 17 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
Six different Rams recorded receptions led by Galaviz with four catches for 23 yards. Hughes, Dobbins, Mitch Melton and De La Paz each had two receptions, and Farrar and one. Hughes led the team with 70 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Del Rio will host Laredo United Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium. Tickets for the game will go on sale online Monday afternoon.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
