By Brian Argabright
In 1920, Del Rio High School and Eagle Pass High School met to play a friendly football game for the first time.
Now, 100 years later, those two teams will meet again Thursday in Eagle Pass with a district championship in the balance and a whole lot of emotion fueling both teams.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, the go-to resource for all things football in the Lone Star State, ranked the Del Rio and Eagle Pass rivalry as one of the all-time top 100 high school rivalries in the state. That says a lot.
This will be the 98th meeting between the two teams, and while Del Rio holds a 72-21-5 edge between the two teams, the Eagles can boast a current three-year winning streak against the Rams that began with a 30-0 shutout at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium in 2017.
So what does this game mean to the Rams? A win means the end of a miserable streak, it means redemption after falling in overtime last season and it means the team, especially the senior class, gets to claim a share of Del Rio’s first football district championship since 2016.
What does it mean to the Rams alumni? Hear it from some of Del Rio’s men who played in this classic rivalry.
1993
Del Rio beat Eagle Pass, 34-0, in 1993 to secure a 10-0 regular season, the only undefeated regular season team in Rams history.
“I have many memories of when I played with the Class of ‘94. Two of my sons also played – my oldest, Wesley Ritchie (wide receiver, Class of 2012) and David A. Ritchie (linebacker, Class of 2017). I’m proud to say as a family, we never lost to Eagle Pass and we were all three members of district champion teams.” – David Ritchie, left guard, Class of 1994
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“I broke my leg, at the knee, in Eagle Pass as a freshman. After crazy workouts to come back from it, that game marked not only the comeback, but the perseverance our team showed until graduation in ‘94.” – Gregg Morgan, inside linebacker/tight end, Class of 1994
1995
In 1995, Del Rio beat Eagle Pass, 7-6. The Rams finished the season 7-3, but it would be the last winning season for Del Rio until 2008.
“My first varsity game as a senior. I was starting after having back surgery the previous year. We beat them at old Eagle Stadium. My quarterback stepped on my leg to jump over the goal line, and I still have the scar. You may lose your other games, but not this one! Not ever!” – Robert Cruz, offensive line, Class of 1996
1999
In 1999, Del Rio beat Eagle Pass, 35-32, to snap a 24-game losing streak, one of the longest in the state at the time and the longest in school history. The streak was part of a three-year stretch in which the Rams were 1-29.
“We beat them our senior year and it was Coach (Eddie) Baca’s first win. A classic memory.” – Michael Jewell, offensive line/defensive line, Class of 2000
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“Varsity squad 98-00. We beat Eagle Pass in game one of the ’99 season to break the losing streak. It was awesome breaking the losing streak and beating the defending champs from their district. No handshake after the game. Haha. I remember the ride home … you couldn’t see the end of all the headlights following us home. We had just as many fans in the stands as they did. Playing Eagle Pass every year since seventh grade made it a game we looked forward to every year.” – Joey De Luna, defensive tackle, Class of 2001
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“I played from 1998 to 2000 under (Joe) George, (Eddie) Baca, and (Steve) Heryford. The memories – not winning a single game with George; Baca, snapping the losing streak in Eagle Pass; and Heryford, beating Eagle Pass at home as a senior one last time. Being part of this rivalry and history is what I cherished most.” – Pablo Martin del Campo, defensive tackle/linebacker, Class of 2001
2006
The Del Rio/Eagle Pass rivalry took a two-year break in 2006 and 2007 after the Eagles were re-districted out of District 28-5A and back to 29-5A. The teams did not play in non-district, but resumed their meetings in 2008 when the Rams joined 29-5A. Del Rio won that game, 28-21.
“I played varsity during 2005 and 06. I don’t recall anything exciting. We just beat them. I don’t recall ever losing to them seventh grade through senior year. (I did not play sophomore year). One memory I have is playing them very well in eighth grade after Abel Ojeda Jr. passed away. I just remember it being very lopsided in our favor and it was something we all wanted to accomplish, in his memory, for that season. It was always a fun and exciting week before the game. I miss that feeling!” – Michael Joseph Hanson, Class of 2007
2012
In 2012, Del Rio beat Eagle Pass, 49-0, en route to winning its first district championship since the 1993 season.
“My sophomore year … when we both broke out our pre-game ‘hive’ and took the field and met in the middle and almost began to fight. Ended up putting a good spanking on Eagle Pass.” – Rick Rivera Jr., linebacker, Class of 2015
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“2012/2013 junior year. Personally, it was the first championship I’d won. Secondly, it was an awesome team win, and one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt.” – Ben Hartman, tight end/defensive end, Class of 2014
