By Brian Argabright
Del Rio’s four-year absence from the high school football playoffs is over.
Behind a rushing attack that racked up 200 yards, the Rams (3-3 overall, 3-1 in district) throttled the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs (1-3), 36 to 7, and secured a spot in the postseason Friday night at the SAC in Laredo.
With two games remaining in the season, the Rams are 3-1 in District 30-6A. If Del Rio wins out, the Rams will also share the district championship with Eagle Pass and possibly Laredo United depending on how the Longhorns’ season plays out.
Aiden Huerta and Ricky Haynes scored a pair of touchdowns each, and the defense got in on the scoring action when Diego Piña snared a fumble out of the air and returned it 24 yards for the score.
Behind the blocking of Del Rio’s offensive line, which included Abraham Rosas, Anthony Huizar, Gabriel Aguirre, Isaac Salazar and Diego Garcia, and often times tight end/fullback Angel Martinez, the Rams controlled the line of scrimmage and dominated throughout the contest. Huerta finished with 103 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries while Haynes had 24 yards and two scores on five carries.
Alexander’s lone score came late in the second quarter when Jay Santos hit Iker Jaimes for a 37-yard touchdown pass between a pair of Rams defenders.
It would be one of the few mistakes the Del Rio defense made.
While the defensive score was icing on the cake, the Rams’ defenders left their mark on the game with a stand that began at their own four-yard line.
Facing a first-and-goal situation from their own four-yard line, Del Rio’s big blue wrecking crew allowed just one yard over the next four plays. Linebacker Andrew Garza made the first big play, sacking Santos for a seven-yard loss on second and goal.
After pressure from Jaden Talamantez, Nathan Mayes and Luis Roberto Chavarria forced Santos to throw the ball away on third and goal, Talamantez and Alejandro De Luna teamed up to shut the door on the Bulldogs’ scoring chance, sacking Santos for a 10-yard loss on fourth down.
The Rams will host the Laredo United South Bulldogs Friday night at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium at 7 p.m.
