By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It was a game that came down to the wire, but didn’t end in the Rams’ favor.
Zack Taylor’s desperation heave into the end zone was batted down with no time remaining, allowing Laredo United South to escape with a 20-19 win Friday night at Walter Levermann Rams Stadium.
The loss drops the Rams to 1-6 on the season and 1-1 in District 30-6A. South improves to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in district.
After each team traded punts on their first possessions, South was able to get its offense going. Behind the running of Brandon Benavides, South capped its first scoring drive with a touchdown pass from Luis Cisneros to Carlos Segovia. David Diaz’s extra point attempt sailed wide left, leaving the Panthers up 6-0.
Del Rio answered just over a minute later when Taylor hit Jovahn West for a 74-yard catch and run touchdown. Rodrigo Tamez’s kick was on target, and Del Rio took the lead 7-6.
The Rams’ next scoring drive began late in the first quarter and ended with running back Zane Hughes outrunning the Panthers’ defense 35 yards for the score 39 seconds into the second quarter. The Rams lined up for the extra point, but instead Del Rio tried to run the ball in for two. Del Rio was stopped short of the goal, and the Rams’ lead remained 13-6.
Like a fight between two heavyweights, South answered Del Rio’s score with a big blow of its own as the Panthers turned to its ground and pound running game led by Benavides who went in from four yards less than three minutes after the Rams’ score. Diaz’s kick was good this time, and South tied the game 13-13.
The teams continued to trade punts, but it was the Rams’ defense that helped set up Del Rio’s final score of the first half when Dakar Cadena and Jayden Rivera to sack Cisneros for a big loss and force a punt from deep inside South’s end of the field.
The Rams were able to move the ball well thanks to runs by Hughes and Taylor and catches by Corbin Farrar. When the drive stalled at the United South 14-yard line, Tamez came on and connected with a 31-yard field goal that put the Rams back on top, 16-13.
The third quarter was more of the same for the Rams as they were able to move the ball well but were unable to cash in. After reaching the Panthers’ seven-yard line, the Rams could move no closer and Tamez was sent out for a 24-yard field goal attempt. His kick was again good, and the Del Rio lead grew to 19-13.
South was able to counter behind Benavides’ strength and speed. The bruising back eventually helped move the Panthers to Del Rio’s three-yard line, but it was Segovia who did the rest of the damage, scoring on the three-yard run. Diaz’s kick then put the Panthers ahead, 20-19, with just under a minute left in the third.
Del Rio found itself in trouble as an attempted run by West resulted in a big loss, but Taylor and Farrar hooked up for a big gain on third and long that set the Rams up with a first down at South’s 31-yard line.
On the last play of the quarter, Taylor directed a pass towards the front corner of the end zone. It appeared as though the Rams had come down with the ball for the touchdown, but amid the chaos South was able to intercept the ball and would start the fourth quarter at its own 20-yard line.
The fourth quarter was a war of attrition for both teams as field position came at a premium. It wasn’t until Del Rio was able to put together one of its better drives of the game that it appeared the Rams would be able to take the lead once more.
Hughes was handed the ball but was spun by the Panthers defense. The ball was ripped from his arms and South recovered inside their own 20-yard line with 2:26 left to play.
Del Rio’s defense came up big again, shutting down South’s offense and forcing a punt with less than a minute to play. Needing just a field goal to win, the Rams appeared to catch a big break when Ethan Matherne reeled in a Taylor pass and rumbled to inside South’s 30-yard line, but the play was called back due to holding.
The Rams were able to again move the ball thanks to a pass to Angel Martinez, but with seven seconds to play, and no time outs, Del Rio opted for the Hail Mary which did not connect and sealed South’s win.
Del Rio will look to regroup and win on the road when they travel to Laredo Saturday, Oct. 22, to face the Laredo United Longhorns at 7 p.m. at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex.
—
Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
