Mavericks fall to high-flying, high scoring Hawks 70-39

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PEARSALL FOOTBALL

Defensive injuries, inconsistent play hamper Pearsall in non-district loss to Zapata.

A rough defensive first half put Pearsall in a hole but the team displayed a measure of resilience with a strong second half effort in a 70-39 loss to Zapata last Friday in non-district action at Mack Laxson Field.
Having been hampered by injuries over the last four weeks, Pearsall was hoping to get healthy by the time district play rolled around. In a bit of wicked irony, the team had a pair of starters return from injury for the Zapata game but lost four defensive starters for the outing.
“Our youth showed on defense this past Friday,” PHS AD and Head Football Coach Ruben DeLeon said. “We were out a handful of starters on the defensive side of the ball and it showed.
“We have to continue to coach up our boys to be ready Friday night for our district opener against Bandera.”
Jarren Cabasos led the Mavs with 296 total yards of offense and two touchdowns while Kingston Martinez added 196 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.
Zapata raced to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and led 35-0 in the second before the Mavericks cracked the scoreboard.
Much like the Lytle game the week prior, Pearsall was driving following Zapata’s first score and were at the Hawks’ 24-yard line when the possession stalled on downs. The Hawks answered in four plays to go up 14-0.
Following a Pearsall three-and out, the Hawks struck again, needing only one play to go 75 yards through the air and a 21-0 lead.
The Mavs were their own worst enemy with turnovers. Pearsall turned it over on the first play of their next possession, leading to a short Zapata score and a 28-0 lead.
Another Zapata drive in the second went to the Pearsall 12 but the defense forced a fumble and recovered. The Mavs would, again, fumble it right back on the very next play. Another short Hawks touchdown run made it 35-0 with 8:58 left in the half.
The teams would then exchange five touchdowns over the next six minutes in an offensive display, although the Hawks scored three of those in the span of less than a minute total.
Kingston Martinez put the Mavericks on the board with a tough 27-yard scoring run.
Zapata needed only 13 seconds to respond as they went 51 yards for a score on their next possession.

Kingston Martinez barrels over a Zapata defender on a 27-yard touchdown run during the Mavs’ non-district loss last Friday. (CURRENT Photo: Manuel Azocar III)

Following a Jarren Cabasos six-yard touchdown run that made it 42-12, Zapata needed only one play, going 64 yards for another score.
Pearsall threatened yet again with 21 seconds left in the half, moving to the Zapata 31-yard line but the drive stalled on downs.
The Hawks then proceeded to go 69 yards in two plays to increase the lead to 56-12 going into the half.
Pearsall made some offensive adjustments at the half and managed to outscore the Hawks in the second half.
Martinez added a pair of scores in the third and another in the fourth as the Mavs pulled within 56-24. Zapata would add a short scoring pass to go back up 63-24 to close the third.
Abel Elizondo hauled in a 36-yd pass from Jarren Cabasos to cap the scoring for Pearsall.
Zapata’s two second half scores and 70 total points were the most allowed by Pearsall since the 1919 team lost 80-6 to Hondo.
Cabasos went 10 of 26 passing for Pearsall for 174 yards and a touchdown. He also added 122 yards rushing and another score.
Martinez ran for 163 yards on 27 carries and four touchdowns. He also hauled in three receptions for 33 yards.
Elizondo had three receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Logan Rodriguez added two receptions for 45 yards.
Despite the lopsided score, Pearsall rolled up 482 yards of offense and 27 first downs on 78 plays. The team ran for 308 yards but had two costly first half turnovers. Zapata tallied 579 yards of offense, 342 of which came through the air and 18 first downs.
Pearsall opens District 14-4A, Division II play this week as they host Bandera in the opener. The Bulldogs are 4-2 this season having won decisions over Poteet 29-22, Ingram 28-21, Hondo 38-6 and Comfort 35-29. They lost a 24-21 decision to Lytle and were upended 27-21 by San Antonio Cole.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Mack Laxson Field.