By BRIAN ARGABRIGHT
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s last chance for a win this season may have just passed them by.
The Rams hosted the one-win Laredo United South Panthers Friday night at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium with the chance to end its eight-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Instead, South scored twice in the first half and carried that lead through the rest of the game, picking up its second win of the season and handing the Rams their ninth straight loss, 28-10.
The Rams are on a bye next week but travel to Medina Valley and then host Eagle Pass in the final week of regulation. Both of those teams are near the top of the district standings with Eagle Pass having only one district loss and Medina Valley still unbeaten in 30-6A after beating Laredo United, 38-35, Friday night.
Del Rio held its own against United South in the first quarter, keeping the Panthers out of the end zone and off the scoreboard. Offensively, the Rams were able to move the ball at times behind the running of Santiago Ortiz, whose speed and agility made him a tough target to track, and quarterback Jayden Mendoza, who often times had to change things up on the fly as his protection broke down and receivers couldn’t gain separation.
Traditionally a running team, South used its workhorse, Armando Cadena, to punch holes in the Rams defense and pick up big chunks of yards. Meanwhile, Rolando Gonzalez served as South’s quarterback for the game, keeping the Rams honest with a steady mix of handoffs and quick passes that allowed his receivers to hit the gaps use their speed to grab plenty of yards.
The Panthers scored first in the second quarter as Gonzalez rolled out to his right and tossed a 12-yard pass to a streaking Jaden Muniz in the rear corner of the end zone to help put South up 7-0.
Del Rio’s Joel Renteria cut the lead to 7-3 on a 34-yard field goal late in the second quarter, but South got those points right back, and then some, when Gonzalez found Jose Guerrero at the Rams’ five-yard line before the big receiver powered his way into the end zone for the score.
In the third quarter, Del Rio found the end zone thanks to a run-saving drive by Mendoza and then a 29-yard pass to a leaping Caleb Villa who outjumped South’s cornerback to snag the ball at its highest point.
Mendoza then strolled into the end zone on a beautiful play fake that saw the defense bite and chase after the running back, allowing Mendoza to score untouched. Renteria’s point after try made it 14-10 with 7:43 left in the third.
Cadena gave South its double-digit lead back on the Panthers’ ensuing drive with a 34-yard run through the middle of the line into the end zone, pushing South to a 21-10 lead with 4:10 left in the third.
South’s final score came late in the fourth when Gonzalez called his own number and powered his way into the end zone for a five-yard score to help make the final 28-10 in favor of the Panthers.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
