By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Like two boxers with nothing to lose, the Del Rio Rams and Midland Christian Mustangs slugged it out from start to finish in Del Rio’s final non-district game of the season.
In the end it was the Mustangs landing the knockout blow as Midland Christian scored three times in the third quarter and picked up the 37-24 win. Del Rio heads into its bye week 1-4 as they’ll have two weeks to prepare for Laredo LBJ and the start of district play.
Del Rio caught the first break of the game, recovering a fumble on the game’s opening kickoff and setting up the Rams at the Midland 42-yard line. After two short runs, quarterback Eliseo Ortiz hit Zane Hughes with a quick pass and the speedy running back did the rest, hustling 40 yards for the score. Rodrigo Tamez connected on the point after try and gave the Rams a 7-0 lead.
A 34-yard run by Midland’s Brylee Perez set the Mustangs up inside the Rams’ 15-yard line, but Del Rio’s defense, bolstered by a big open field tackle by Jacob Ortiz forced the Mustangs’ Mason Horton to attempt a 27-yard field goal. The kick was good, and the Rams lead was down to 7-3.
After the Rams were forced to punt on their next possession, Midland was able to move the ball 54 yards down the field, aided by a facemask penalty against Del Rio, and capping the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run by Perez. Midland’s scoring play fooled everyone in the stadium, including the officials, who had to confer to determine if Perez scored or if the play was blown dead. The officials ruled the touchdown stood, and Horton’s extra point gave the Mustangs a 10-7 lead.
Del Rio’s next drive began with a bang as Alan Dobbins returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield. After a 13-yard run by Hughes, Ortiz connected with Hughes again, this time for a 26-yard touchdown. Tamez drilled the kick, and the Rams grabbed a 14-10 lead.
It took Midland Christian just two plays to reclaim the lead as Colton Newsome found Perez for a 73-yard scoring strike to help put the Mustangs back in front, 17-14.
Del Rio’s next drive was a grueling effort that started at the Rams’ 19. Behind the steady running of Fermin Rodriguez, the pounding of Ethan Matherne and the athleticism of Ortiz, Del Rio slowly churned up the field. On third and long, the Rams were bailed out by a pass interference call against Midland Christian. On fourth and 1, the Rams put the ball in Matherne’s hands and he clawed his way forward for that yard and a new set of downs.
After a pass to Dobbins put the Rams at the Midland 26, Del Rio’s drive was hit with a holding penalty that pushed the Rams back to the Mustangs’ 32. Once again, Del Rio took to the air and again Midland was hit with a pass interference penalty to give the Rams new hope. Del Rio had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Tamez, and the game was tied 17-17.
The Rams defense dialed up the pressure on Newsome, forcing the quarterback into three incompletions thanks to the efforts of Manuel Padilla and Matherne.
Del Rio’s ensuing drive was going the way the Rams wanted after a personal foul was called against the Mustangs and moved Del Rio into Midland Christian’s side of the field. But on the next play, Ortiz was under a tough Mustangs rush and fired a pass intended for Dobbins short and it was intercepted by the Mustangs, helping bring an end to the first half.
Del Rio had high hopes as the second half began as they’d receive the opening kickoff, but a fumble on the play put the ball back in Midland Christian’s hands. Three plays later, Perez scored on a 23-yard run, and Horton’s kick gave the Mustangs a 24-17 lead.
After forcing a Del Rio punt on its next possession, the Mustangs struck again, needing seven plays to reach the end zone, this time on a 22-yard run by Perez. The kick was again good, and the Midland lead was 31-17.
Midland wasn’t done finding the end zone in the third quarter, scoring its third touchdown of the period on a 10-yard run by Newsom. This time Horton’s kick was blocked and left the Mustangs ahead 37-17.
Del Rio would cut into the lead in the fourth quarter as Rodriguez helped power the Rams to the Midland 24 before a penalty pushed Del Rio back to the 37. Ortiz then took matters into his own hands, firing a 37-yard strike in the end zone to Dobbins. Tamez was on target again, and cut the lead to 37-24, which stood as the final.
The Rams will return to action Friday, Oct. 6 when they host the unbeaten Laredo LBJ Wolves at 7 p.m. at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
