Hit the lights

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | August 25, 2022

2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Local football teams kick off 2022 season this Friday.

COTULLA defensive lineman Robert Sanchez delivers a crushing tackled to a Charlotte runner during the Cowboys’ scrimmage last Thursday, August 18 at Meyers Memorial Stadium. Cotulla opens the regular season this Friday at home against Corpus Christi West Oso.
(CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

In their final tune-up of the preseason, Pearsall, Dilley and Cotulla all prepped for this week’s season-opener with their final scrimmages of the year last Thursday, August 18.
Pearsall traveled to Freer for a matchup with the Buckaroos and head football coach Ruben DeLeon was mostly pleased with what he saw from his team.
“We did well, we cleaned up some issues on the offensive line when it came to pass protection,” he said. “We were happy about that.
“Offensively, we still have little things that are holding us back and it’s our own fault as a unit. Our defense looked good again this week, flying around to the ball and executing.”
The Mavs outscored Freer during the live quarter 6-0 as quarterback Matt Hughes went in from 15 yards out while Elijah Luna added an interception in the endzone for a goal line stop.
“The defense had a big stop and turnover at the goaline in the second quarter as time expired,” DeLeon said. “As a staff we saw what we wanted from the boys in the live quarter but we know we have much to improve on before we get into district play.
“Injury-wise, we had one guy go down, hopefully, he is not out for too long as we can not afford to lose anyone on this team for us to be successful.”
Dilley Athletic Director and Head Football Coach David Silva liked his team’s defensive play and offensive explosiveness.
“It went well,” he said of last week’s scrimmage. “Carrizo Springs always has tough, physical kids and team speed.
“I was impressed with our defensive play and aggressiveness and team tackling and offensively, we are an explosive offense with our speed and it showed versus Carrizo.”
The coach was also pleased that his team came out of the contest unscathed, injury-wise.
“I was happy coming out of the scrimmage with no injuries at the varsity level,” he said. “We’ll also get one of our starting linebackers back this week.
“This week we have our work cut out for us as Sabinal is big and physical, they’ll rely on a power run game and quarterback running the ball off the scramble,” he said. “Defensively, they get to the ball well.”
Injuries continue to plague Cotulla as AD and Head Football Coach Marcus Booker had another player go down against Charlotte.
“I thought the scrimmage went well other than my freshman tail back hurting his knee,” Booker said. “I thought we played great team defense and ran to the ball well.
“Offensively, we wanted to throw the ball a little more this week and I thought we threw it well when we had to. I’m just ready for the real season to begin, but it will be a challenge, we just found out our starting left tackle is out until Friday with COVID-19, so we’ll have to make adjustments.”
All three teams open the season at home this Friday as Pearsall hosts San Antonio West Campus at 7 p.m., Dilley will face Sabinal at Gosch Field at 7:30 and Cotulla will host Corpus Christi West Oso, also at 7:30 p.m.

DILLEY’s Wolves will hold their regular season home opening this Friday as they host the Sabinal Yellojackets to open the year. Dilley scrimmaged the Carrizo Springs Wildcats last week.
(CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

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