Mavs bury Pirates

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | September 27, 2023

PEARSALL MAVERICKS FOOTBALL

PEARSALL DEFENSE HOLDS LYTLE TO 99 YARDS OF OFFENSE; LUNA ACCOUNTS FOR FIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN ROUT

PEARSALL defenders Jared Leal (#55), Ace Urrea (#4), Christian Martinez (#45) and RJ Hernandez (#14 in back) combine to bring down Lytle runner Amadeus Trejo-Perez during action on Friday. The Mavs’ defense limited the Pirates to only 99 yards of offense in a 33-7 win. (CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

Pearsall bounced back from a lackluster performance the week prior against Poteet with a dominating 33-7 destruction of previously unbeaten Lytle at Mack Laxson Field on Friday, September 23.
Coupled with another stifling defensive effort, the Maverick offense, limited to six points in a narrow win over the Aggies, scored five times in rolling to the lopsided win.
Maverick quarterback Elijah Luna was the catalyst as he accounted for 340 yards of offense and five touchdowns as Pearsall improved to 4-1 for the year.
“It was a good performance for us as a team,” PHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Ruben DeLeon said. “We needed this type of bounce-back game, offensively, from last week’s horrendous performance.
“The defense continues to do what they have shown all year, flying to the ball and continuing to be aggressive.”
DeLeon said he knew last week’s 6-0 decision over Poteet was an aberation and was hoping to see his team respond in a positive way.
“As a staff, we knew that was not us from the previous week and knew this could be a statement game for us with undefeated Lytle coming into town,” he said. “All week, we preached and harped on ‘little things matter on the field’ and to focus one play at a time for us to be successful.
“The boys showed it on Friday night with the performance we had in all aspects of the game. We have to continue to grow this week before we start district October 6.”
The only drawback in Pearsall’s win over Lytle was the fact that the team lost several players to injury.
“We had some guys go down, a couple will more than likely be out this week’s game,” DeLeon said. “We are hoping to get them back for our district opener.”
Pearsall took command from the outset, driving the length of the field on their opening possession and scoring on Luna’s 22-yard pass to wide receiver Tristan Ellis. Ellis has proven to be the Mavs’ go-to weapon in the passing game, accounting for four touchdowns this season.
The extra point attempt sailed wide and Pearsall jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
A personal foul call for fair catch interference gave the Pirates the ball at the Mavs 46-yard line. A long run would put Lytle at the 31-yard line but a pair of penalties and four negative plays included a sack saw Pearsall take over on downs.
Luna connected with Andy Enriquez on third and long on the next possession and broke off 18 and 34-yard runs to set up the team at the seven. Luna would then go in from ten yards out as the Pearsall lead moved to 12-0.
Luna hit Tristan Ellis for 34 yards early in the second as Pearsall moved down to the Pirates’ 29-yard line. However, a penalty, a tackle for a loss and a sack saw the Mavs have to punt it away.
Pearsall would have another possession reach the 22-yard line but the Mavs’ only turnover, a fumble, ended that threat.
Lytle would come out strong to open the second half, marching down the field and scoring on a five-yard run by running back Amadeus Trejo-Perez. The drive was aided by a Pearsall penalty on a fourth and short situation at the Pirates own 42-yard line.
Lytle’s rally would be short-lived, however, as Pearsall needed only three plays to respond. Luna went off tackle along the right side of the line and went 50 yards for the touchdown. Kingston Martinez barreled into the endzone on the conversion attempt as the Mavs’ took a 20-7 lead.
A Pearsall penalty put Lytle at the Mavs’ 45-yard line on the next possession but the defense came up big, forcing a fumble on the next play and recovering it. Luna would break off a 17-yard run to put Pearsall at the 18 and Martinez went for ten more as the Mavs had first and goal at the four. Luna then took it around the left end for the score. The conversion attempt failed but the Maverick lead was at 26-7 early in the fourth.
A huge sack and a penalty forced a Lytle punt and on Pearsall’s ensuing drive, Luna would hit Xavier Rendon on a 49-yard strike. The senior quarterback then weaved through traffic along the right side on a 27-yard touchdown run to cap the scoring. Alejandro Perez-Moreno booted the extra point as the Mavs went up 33-7.
Pearsall’s defense swarmed Lytle’s offense once again on their next possession and picked up another sack on third and long to end the game.
The Mavs rolled up 407 yards of offense and 17 first downs while limiting Lytle to only 99 yards and nine first downs for the night. The defense also forced a pair of turnovers.
Luna went six of nine passing for 126 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 214 yards on 20 carries and four scores. He was presented with a Game Ball on Monday by the San Antonio Express-News for his efforts. Ellis had another solid receiving night with two receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Pearsall will have one of its toughest tests of the season this week as they play host to the Stockdale Brahmas. Stockdale ended Pearsall’s unbeaten season a year ago, notching a 29-0 decision over the Mavs.
Stockdale is 3-1 entering this year’s matchup having logged wins over Karnes City, Falls City and Freer. The team lost a 14-13 decision to Ingram Tom Moore in their opener and had their outing at Yorktown canceled last week.
Game time is set for 7 p.m.