Gut check time

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | September 20, 2023

PEARSALL MAVERICKS FOOTBALL

“WE WERE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY… WE DIDN’T HAVE OUR BEST PERFORMANCE ON THE FIELD,”

PEARSALL quarterback Elijah Luna cross the goal line for a score while senior lineman Ryan Hughes celebrates during the Mavs’ 6-0 victory over Poteet last Friday, September 15. Pearsall struggled with turnovers on offense while the defense kept the team in the contest by pitching a shutout and turning away several Aggie scoring attempts. (CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

Pearsall was limited to a season-low 176 yards of offense and only 11 first downs and turned the ball over three times but still managed to salvage a 6-0 victory over Poteet last week at Aggie Stadium.
The Mavericks lost two fumbles and had an interception but also put the ball on the ground three other times and had three possessions end in Poteet territory in a frustrating offensive night for the team.
“Great teams find a way to get it done when it simply isn’t your night on the field,” PHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Ruben DeLeon said. “Offensively, we were our own worst enemy, from blocking miscues, snaps, penalties, you name it. We didn’t have our best performance on the field.
“Our defense played lights out and guided us to the victory. The boys played fast and physical, they had their eyes in the right spots and read their keys all night. We only gave up one explosive play to Poteet.”
DeLeon used the frustrating night to send a simple message to his team.
“The message to the boys was simple, we needed a game like this to show we are capable of dealing with adversity and coming out on top,” he said. “This week we need to bounce back on the offensive side and move forward from this past Friday.
“All week the message will be work on the little things. We have a good undefeated Lytle team coming into town this Friday. This will show us where we stand on this young season.”
The only frustration in the early going seemed to be on the Poteet side of the field as Pearsall forced a three-and-out on the Aggies’ initial possession and a punt for minus one yard set up the Mavs at the Poteet 35-yard line.
Pearsall drove to the Aggies’ 10 but an interception at the goal line killed the possession.
Pearsall once again used a deliberate offensive attack, running the clock while eating up yards but turnovers constantly killed their momentum.
The two ended the first quarter in a scoreless tie although Pearsall seemed to be in control of the pace of the game as the Mavs’ defense was stifling the Poteet offense.
An early second quarter Pearsall possession started deep in their own end of the field but a fumble saw the Aggies recover at the 15-yard line. The Maverick defense rose to the occasion, forcing a turnover on downs.
Pearsall mounted a drive late in the half and converted on several fourth down attempts in the process. The team then scored what proved to be the only points of the night as quarterback Elijah Luna went in from four yards out on fourth and goal with :37 seconds remaining in the half.
Poteet was able to move to the Pearsall 15 as time was running out in the half but the Maverick defense once again came up big, stopping the Aggies on downs.
In a quick moving third quarter, the Mavericks again found themselves in hot water as another fumble saw the Aggies recover at the Pearsall 15. Facing a fourth and four at the nine-yard line, the Maverick defense forced an incompletion to end the Poteet threat with 2:08 left in the third.
Pearsall would mount another promising drive that went to the Aggies’ 25. Facing a fourth and one, a fumbled snap saw Luna recover but Poteet took over on downs.
The Mavericks would finally see some kind of offensive rhythm late in the game as they tried to drain the clock. Receiver Curtis Saenz would be stopped and forced out of bounds on a third down Jet sweep run but was then hit out of bounds by a Poteet defender, drawing a personal foul penalty and an automatic first down on the play. It would prove to be just enough as the Mavericks were then able to run out the clock to preserve the win.
Although limited to their lowest offensive total of the year, Pearsall ran 16 more plays than the Aggies as the defense was dominant in controlling the Poteet offense.
The Mavs rushed for 125 yards and had 51 yards passing and 11 first downs. Defensively, the team limited Poteet to 126 yards and seven first downs.
Saenz paced the offense as he ran for 70 yards on seven carries. Kingston Martinez added 48 yards on 13 carries while Eddie Martinez finished with 19 yards on four totes.
Luna struggled in the running game as sacks and fumbled snaps ate into his rushing total. He was six of ten passing, however, for 51 yards.
Pearsall will head home and regroup as they prep for the unbeaten Lytle Pirates this week. Lytle, 4-0, has quadrupled its win total from a year ago. The team is coming off a 23-14 win over rival Natalia. The Pirates opened the year with a last-second, 3-0 win over Carrizo Springs. They then topped San Antonio Kennedy 14-7 and blanked South San West Campus 33-0.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Pearsall’s Mack Laxson Field.