By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Del Rio debuted a new offensive look, but it was Kerrville Tivy’s quick strike attack that proved too much for the Rams to overcome.
With what appeared to be an entire community showing its support, the Tivy Antlers handed the Rams a 41-20 loss in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Antlers Stadium.
Tivy needed less than two minutes and just six plays to march down the field and find the end zone on its opening drive, capping things with a scoring run by Aiden Zavala that put the Antlers up 7-0 early in the contest.
The game was an emotional one for both teams. A slight weather delay put a bit of a pause on the opening ceremonies to honor first responders from the area. It also delayed a pair of flyovers just prior to kickoff. As part of the ceremonies, both teams donned special commemorative jerseys to honor first responders. The jerseys will be sold and the money raised will go towards aiding Kerr County in its recovery from the tragic July 4 flood.
Tivy made it 14-0 after quarterback Colin Rose found Zavala for a three-yard touchdown pass.
After forcing a Rams punt to start the second quarter, Tivy went back on offense and resumed its assault on the end zone. Runs by Guy Flores, Rose, Zavala and Steven Collier helped set up Tivy in Rams territory. Another big run by Rose set up a touchdown pass to President Calamaco and made the score 21-0 in favor of Tivy.
Del Rio’s offense got going in the second quarter, aided by Tivy’s aggression. Twice the Antlers were flagged for 15-yard penalties and helped keep Del Rio’s drive alive.
The Rams took advantage. Jayden Mendoza’s 10-yard run set the Rams up with a first and goal from the one-yard line. He then punched it in, and Joel Renteria’s point after try was good to cut the Tivy lead to 21-7.
Tivy continued to be its own worst enemy on its next drive. Two penalties wiped away big gains for Kerrville including a 69-yard scoring pass. Del Rio’s defense then made the Antlers pay as Juan Hernandez scooped up a Rose fumble and returned it to the Tivy 39 to give the Rams another scoring chance.
Del Rio couldn’t take advantage, though, as a pair of procedure penalties helped kill the drive and forced a punt that Tivy tried to return only to have its returner dragged down at the Antlers’ 3-yard line by Dario Carrizales.
The two teams exchanged punts before breaking for halftime with Kerrville still leading, 21-7.
Del Rio’s first drive of the second half got a big boost from Casmiro Cardenas, Del Rio’s third string quarterback last season. The former signal caller weaved his way through the Antlers defense for a 16-yard gain which was quickly followed by a six-yard gain by Mendoza.
But faced with a third and long, Mendoza was flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw the ball on the run. Tivy’s Josh Wheatfall picked off the errant pass and nearly scored before Rams offensive lineman Damian Guerrero made the open field tackle.
Del Rio answered with a big defensive play of its own after Hernandez picked off Rose and, behind a convoy of blockers, returned the ball to the Antlers’ five-yard line. Four plays later, Mendoza called his own number and outran the Tivy defenders to the pylon for the score. Renteria’s kick was on target, but the Rams were flagged and he was forced to try the kick again. This time the kick was wide left and Del Rio was left down 21-13.
Tivy pushed its lead to 24-13 on a 37-yard field goal by Jake Zirkel, but the Rams weren’t ready to just roll over.
On the ensuing drive, Caleb Villa got loose for a 44-yard run that moved the Rams into Tivy territory. On the next play, Deluna found plenty of running room through the middle of the Kerrville defense and sprinted 18 yards for the score. Renteria was on target again, and the Rams were down just 24-20 late in the third quarter.
Tivy wasn’t content to sit on its lead. The Antlers’ next drive covered 60 yards and was aided by a horsecollar penalty against the Rams. Zavala scored again to help Tivy add some more distance between them and the Rams, going up 31-20.
After forcing another Del Rio punt, Tivy added to its lead with another Zirkel field goal to make the lead 34-20 in the fourth quarter.
The Kerrville lead grew to 41-20 on a 65-yard rushing touchdown by Rose.
Kerrville and Del Rio exchanged possessions following the big scoring run as both teams fumbled away their next possessions. Del Rio tired to score one last time, but the Rams were unable to find the end zone as time expired.
Del Rio hosts San Antonio Warren Friday at 7 p.m. for the Rams’ home opener at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
