Dirty laundry

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | September 6, 2023

PEARSALL MAVERICKS FOOTBALL

PENALTIES HAMPER MAVERICKS IN 29-28 LAST SECOND LOSS TO COUGARS.

PEARSALL defenders (L-R) Diego Carrasco (#23) and David Hernandez (#1) drag down a Cole runner during first half action last Friday in San Antonio. The Mavericks dropped a narrow 29-28 decision to the Cougars.

Pearsall endured a rough evening at Ft. Sam Houston last Friday, dropping a heartbreaking 29-28 decision to the Cole Cougars on a night when the Mavericks were penalized 17 times.
The Mavericks had a touchdown negated by a penalty, their fourth in two games this year, and had other big plays called off due to flags on a night when the team could not manage to find any sort of rhythm on offense.
“It was a rough night for us as a team,” PHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Ruben DeLeon said. “Some calls didn’t go our way throughout the game, as well as some no calls in crucial times of the game that hurt our momentum on the field.
“It seemed every time we had a big play it was called back and set us behind the sticks.”
At one point in the contest, the Mavericks were penalized nine consecutive times in between calls against the Cougars.
“Offensively, we had some ups and downs,” the coach said. “We did a really good job running the ball but struggled throwing the ball this week. We missed guys that were open and missed on some pre snap reads, something we will clean up this week moving forward.
“As a team we need to learn and grow from these moments to prepare us for district.”
Cole’s opening possession was a precursor of things to come as the Cougars opened the contest with a two-play scoring drive. Brennan Scraggs hauled in a 68-yard pass from quarterback Jackson Freds on the second snap of the game to put Cole up early. The Cougars then went for two points and converted when Freds hit Jeremiah Johnson in the endzone as Cole took an 8-0 lead.
Pearsall would answer quickly, however, as Elijah Luna found Tristan Ellis alone along the left sideline on a 42-yard strike. The Mavs’ two-point conversion attempt failed, however, as Cole held an 8-6 lead with 9:16 to play in the first.
After forcing Cole to punt, Pearsall wasted little time cracking the scoreboard once again as Luna found a seam through the defense and raced 74 yards for a score. The Mavs could not convert for two but claimed a 12-8 lead over the Cougars just over two minutes after their initial score.
Cole mounted a promising drive of their own and moved down to the Pearsall 11-yard line where the defense forced a fumble and Kingston Martinez jumped on the loose ball for the Mavs.
Luna then found a gaping hole on the left side and raced down the sideline once again on a 78-yard touchdown run. The play would be negated, however, as officials called the Mavericks for holding on the play. Pearsall did not score on the possession and it proved to be a huge momentum swing as Cole came back down the field and scored on a one-yard run by Freds.
The score was first of back-to-back touchdowns by the Cougars following Pearsall’s negated touchdown. Freds hit Scaggs once more for a score, connecting on a 34-yard strike with 8:34 left in the first half as Cole’s lead went to 22-12.
Pearsall would regroup, however, as Luna guided the team down the field and capped the drive with a one-yard run with 2:47 to play in the second. He hit Zachary Anzua in the corner of the endzone on the two-point conversion attempt to cut the margin to 22-20.
The Mavericks then failed to capitalize on a series of opportunities late in the half as Cole turned the ball over twice. The Cougars fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Pearsall recovered but penalties stalled that possession and the Mavs turned it over on downs.
Cole would take over but fumbled the ball on their first snap to set up Pearsall once again. A turnover would kill the drive however, as the Cougars stepped in front of an errant pass went returned it to the Maverick 25-yard line. Pearsall would hold as time ran out in the half and trailed 22-20.
Play in the second half was a stark contrast the first as the defenses took over the game. Both came up with critical stops. The Mavs moved down to the 29-yard line to open the half but were stopped on downs. Cole moved all the way to the Pearsall seven early in the fourth but were also turned away on downs.
The Mavericks were finally able to gain some momentum late in the game and drove to the Cole 11-yard line with 2:04 to play. A series of runs had the Mavs inside the five-yard line where Luna went in from four yards out with 1:29 left in the game.
Pearsall seemed on the verge of sealing the win as Cole was faced with a fourth down a long but the Cougars converted on the play and moved inside Pearsall territory. From there, a 15-yard late hit on the quarterback moved the Cougars even closer to the goal line as time ran down. Freds then found Scaggs for a third time in the back of the endzone with 33 seconds to play to steal the win.
The Mavericks rolled up 354 yards of offense, including 239 yards on the ground and 13 first downs but could not take advange of three Cole turnovers. Pearsall had a single turnover but were penalized 17 times.
Luna accounted for 259 yards of offense and four touchdowns. He rushed for 143 yards on 17 carries and three scores and went six of 19 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown with an interception.
Kingston Martinez added 92 yards rushing on 19 carries. Ellis accounted for three receptions for 57 yards and touchdown while Andy Enriquez had two catches for 35 yards.
Pearsall will look to turn things around this week as they return home for the first time this season to host the San Antonio Memorial Minutemen. Memorial is 1-1 this season and coming off their first win, a 12-7 decision over Austin Navarro. Memorial dropped their open to the same Cole Cougars, falling 48-28 on August 25.
Friday’s game also marks Parents Night for Pearsall and game time is set for 7 p.m.