Half a hundred

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | September 15, 2022

PEARSALL MAVERICK FOOTBALL

Mavericks roll to 3-0 in 50-0 rout of Memorial; unbeaten Poteet awaits this week.

PEARSALL running back Joey Ramirez plows over a pair of Memorial defenders for a touchdown during the Mavs’ 50-0 rout of the Minutemen last Thursday. Ramirez rushed for 167 yards and three scores in limited action. The Mavs will host unbeaten Poteet this week in the first real test of the season for Pearsall. (CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

Pearsall continues to improve and impress this season as the team rolled to a 36-0 first half lead, en route to a 50-0 shutout win over San Antonio Memorial on Thursday evening, September 8 at Edgewood Veterans Stadium.
Unlike the week prior, the Mavericks never let off the gas and built a 50-0 lead by the third quarter. Pearsall led San Antonio Cole 22-0 last week before the Cougars rallied to cut it to 22-12 in the second half before the Mavs held on for the 36-20 win.
“It was a game where we ran away early, something we did not expect,” PHS Head Football Coach Ruben DeLeon said. “Our boys played physical and fast early and I think that set the tone for the game.”
While the Mavs’ schedule was built to accomodate a team coming off an 0-10 campaign, no one saw the Mavericks rolling to a 3-0 start and outscoring their opposition by a margin of 128-26. Thursday’s outcome was so lopsided early on that many reserves were seeing action before halftime.
“There will always be something to build on no matter the score of a ball game we are in,” DeLeon said. “We are always going to look to improve as a team. It always helps to see what the role players bring to the table and how they can help later on down the road when we need them to step in and play in big situations.
“My biggest take away is we continue to get better every week,” he said. “I think last week’s game with Cole showed us we cannot ease off in a ball game and the boys took the feedback and it showed against Memorial.”
Unlike a week ago where tailback Joey Ramirez dominated the Cougars with nearly 300 yards of offense and five touchdowns, three other players were in on the scoring against Memorial le the defense even set up a safety as well.
Ramirez still had a big night in limited action as he ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns on only ten carries.
Senior quarterback Matt Hughes finished with 200 yards of total offense to lead the Mavs. He rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns and was a perfect six for six passing with 134 yards and another touchdown. Hughes connected with four different receivers but hit Corbin Norris three times for 51 yards, including a juggling catch down the middle to set up Hughes’ first score.
Eduardo Martinez also topped 101 yards on 14 carries in just over a half of work.
Junior Charlie Martinez led an opportunistic defense that forced numerous turnovers. He finished with eight tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup.
Pearsall led 14-0 at the end of the first on Ramirez’ 13-yard touchdown run, safety and a one-yard Hughes run.
The lead ballooned to 34-0 at halftime as Kingston Ramirez plowed in from five yards out, followed by Ramirez’ second score from 11 yards and a Hughes 68-yard strike to Brian Gandara down the sideline.
Pearsall capped the scoring in the third as Ramirez took the first play from scrimmage 75 yards for his third score of the night and Hughes went in from 11 yards out with help from his offensive line.
“I’m proud of the boys and our staff at the start we are having, but we are still not even close to our goals as a team,” DeLeon said. “Next week will be a good test against a very good Poteet ball club.”
This week’s home contest will be Pearsall’s biggest of the young season as the Mavs host 3-0 Poteet in a non-district tilt. The Aggies are coming off a 21-12 win over Uvalde last week and topped Bandera 34-13 in their opener and Goliad 16-13.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Mack Laxson Field.