By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Del Rio football’s first encounter with another high school this year was a successful one.
The Rams freshmen, junior varsity and varsity football teams competed against their counterparts from San Antonio Jon Jay High School Saturday morning in a scrimmage at Gustafson Stadium.
According to Rams head coach Rod Taylor, the freshmen won their game 3-1, the junior varsity won its game 5-1, and the varsity team finished tied with the Mustangs 2-2 in the controlled phase of the scrimmage but won 13-0 in the live quarter.
Including the annual Blue and White scrimmage, the Jay scrimmage was the second for Del Rio football this preseason. The team will conclude its scrimmage schedule Friday evening at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium with a tri-scrimmage featuring Del Rio, Ft. Stockton and Eagle Pass C.C. Winn.
Taylor said admission to Friday’s scrimmage, which is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., would be deodorant, body wash and shampoo for the boys and girls that are playing on the Rams teams this year.
There were plenty of familiar faces that stood out for the Rams according to Taylor.
Junior wide receiver Alan Dobbins had a 65-yard touchdown catch. Sophomore Zane Hughes had a 63-yard touchdown run.
Senior Corbin Farrar nearly had a 54-yard touchdown catch but he was brought down at the one-yard line.
Junior quarterback Zack Taylor, the 30-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year last season, rushing one score and threw for two more. He also finished the game without an interception.
Junior Ethan Matherne, a relative newcomer to the varsity squad, also had a rushing touchdown. Matherne is more familiar to Del Rio sports fans for his work on the varsity baseball team last season.
Defensively, the returners helped lead the way for Del Rio.
Senior Sammy Flores had three tackles for a loss and a sack. Senior Juan “Chili” Peralta had two pass break ups.
On the defensive line, junior Manuel Padilla had two sacks and four tackles for a loss. Taylor added that senior Lonnie Green Jr., who took part in camps at UTSA and the University of the Incarnate Word, was a disruptive presence all day.
This weekend’s scrimmages should be a good final test before the Rams open the regular season next Friday at San Antonio’s Heroes Stadium against the Roosevelt Rough Riders.
Ft. Stockton is picked to finish second the District 1-4A, Div. II. The Panthers went 9-3 last season and were area finalists.
Eagle Pass C.C. Winn is picked to finish fifth in District 13-5A, Div. I. The Mavericks were 6-6 last season and were also area finalists.
—
Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
