Happy returns: Wolves rout Yellowjackets in rounded effort

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | August 30, 2023

DILLEY WOLVES FOOTBALL

DEFENSE RETURNS PAIR OF INTERCEPTIONS FOR SCORES; ARANDA HAS PUNT RETURN TD FOR DILLEY

DILLEY’s Dorian Aranda returns a punt for a score during the Wolves’ 41-20 rout of Sabinal on Friday, August 25. Aranda also picked off a pass and ran it back for another touchdown as the Wolves’ defense and special teams account for three scores in the win. (Photo courtesy: Pete Luna, Uvalde Leader-News)

Dilley was quick out of the gates, held off a brief Sabinal rally and then rolled late to secure a 41-20 win over the Yellowjackets on the road last week in the 2023 football opener.
The Wolves dominated in all aspects of the game, scoring on offense, defense and special teams to roll past Sabinal.
“The boys got after it,” DHS AD and Head Football Coach David Silva said. “Defensively, we got to the ball like we wanted and came up big.”
The coach said his offense hasn’t come around like he has wanted but was still pleased, overall.
“Offensively, we didn’t dominate the line of scrimmage like we wanted,” he said. “Sabinal had some big boys up front. Jonathan Eguia had a tremendous game at left tackle, Ethan Santos had a few big runs and Seth Cano and Juan Garcia had some big plays.
“Overall, for our first game, I was pleased but we have to block better out in the perimeter and hit and drive better from the offensive line.”
Silva added that Jonavyn Gonzales, Roman Martel and Dorian Aranda also had big games for the Wolves.
“Our special teams did well, which always a big plus,” he said. “Santiago Cruz was five of six on PAT’s (point after touchdowns) and Dorian Aranda (punt return touchdown) did well with punting duties.”
Dilley jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the second quarter as Roman Martel took a Sabinal pass and intercepted it and went 90 yards the other way for a touchdown. Cano then finished a Dilley drive with an 11-yard touchdown run and Aranda capped an electric quarter with a 71-yard punt return for a score.
Sabinal turned things around in the second half with a pair of third quarter touchdowns to get back into the contest.
They tossed a 65-yard strike and then added a short run to cut the deficit to 20-14.
Dilley would have an answer, however, as Gonzalez hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Cano late in the third to stem the Sabinal rally.
Ethan Santos broke off a 29-yard touchdown run and Aranda added another defensive score, stepping in front of a Sabinal pass and racing 40 yards for another score and a 41-14 Wolves lead.
The Yellowjackets would add a late score to cap the scoring but the Wolves had already done their damage.
Dilley finished with 205 yards of total offense and 15 first downs behind their rushing attack. Sabinal finished with 209 yards of offense but had only six first downs.
Both teams had a pair of turnovers but Sabinal put the ball on the ground six times and both Yellowjacket interceptions resulted in points for the Wolves.
Santos led Dilley with 76 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown while Gonzalez and Garcia both ran for 22 yards apiece. Cano was six of ten passing for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Martel led the defense as he had five tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss, a fumble recovery and the interception for a touchdown. Johnny Rodriguez finished with 11 tackles while Aiden Gonzalez added nine tackles.
Dilley returns home this week for Parents Night and will host the Geneva School of Boerne. The Eagles, 1-0, are coming off a lopsided 63-0 win over Katy Harmony in their opener.
“They will be a big test,” Silva said of the Eagles. “They’re coming off a 63-0 win over Katy Harmony and their passing attack will pose a big challenge for us. Defensively, they get to the ball and their kicking game is outstanding.”