Cowboys upend YMLA, face showdown with Dilley

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DISTRICT 15-3A, DIVISION II FOOTBALL

Cotulla rolls to 27-0 halftime lead, stroll to 35-0 win over YMLA as they head into annual IH-35 Dilley contest.

Despite what their coach called a flat start, Cotulla notched another district win last week, dispatching of San Antonio YMLA 35-0 to remain a game behind first place Poth in the District 15-3A, Division II standings.
Cotulla raced to a 27-0 halftime lead while the defense harassed the Lions all night, recording three sacks and forcing four turnovers in the shutout win.
“Our boys got off to a slow start against YMLA, we came out flat to start the game,” Cotulla AD and Head Football Coach Esteban Rodriguez said. “In the first half, we did a great job of executing the game plan and capitalizing on turnovers.
“We did not deviate much from our bread and butter, we were looking to continue improving on what we do best.”
Rodriguez said that his team had some missteps in the second half that nixed scoring opportunities but noted that the effort was there all night.
“We had a few hiccups in the second half that cost us some points, and good field position,” he said. “However, our boys never stopped playing hard for all four quarters.”
Consecutive wins over struggling teams that are a combined 2-14 was just what the Cowboys needed heading into the final district stretch after the offense had struggled in its three prior outings. The team averaged 12.6 points per game in two wins over Nixon-Smiley and Stockdale and a loss to Poth. Cotulla has averaged 37.5 points in its last two outings.
The team is also rounding into form just in time for its annual rivalry contest against Dilley this week. The Wolves are 5-0 in league play and tied for first with Poth. The two meet in the regular season finale, possibly for the district title unless Cotulla has anything to say about it.
Cotulla has owned the season series of late, winning four of the last five contests. Dilley’s last win in the series was a 9-6 decision in 2021.
This year’s game has added meaning as playoff seeding hangs in the balance for both squads. Cotulla can finish as high as tied for first with Poth or as league runner-up and even possibly fourth in the standings depending on outcomes over the final two weeks.

Cotulla’s Eric Aldaco bowls over a YMLA runner during the Cowboys’ 35-0 shutout win last Friday.

With a win, Dilley could have a shot at the district title next week or finish as low as third in the standings.
“We are looking to have a great week of practice as we prepare for Dilley,” Coach Rodriguez said. “We will need to minimize penalties and self inflicted mistakes that have hampered us throughout the season.
“It is always fun to play in rivalry games, we are looking forward to the matchup.”
In the win last Friday, senior fullback Eric Aldaco paced the team on offense with 131 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns. He ran for 53 yards and two scores and hauled in three passes for 78 yards and another touchdown. Defensively, he also finished with 12 total tackles, one for a loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback pressure.
“It was a great all around performance from our senior captain,” Rodriguez said of Aldaco’s night.
Senior quarterback Alex Medina accounted for 137 yards passing on four completions and two touchdowns. He also ran for 26 yards on four carries.
Sophomore Frank Torres spelling Medina at quarterback and went five of ten passing for 83 yards with an interception.
Cotulla opened the scoring with a 54-yard strike from Medina to sophomore Ryan Sanchez. The defense then forced and recovered a YMLA fumble at the seven-yard line to set up a short touchdown and a quick 14-0 Cowboys’ lead.
Linebacker Ricardo Ruiz then scooped up another Lions fumble and went 68 yards for a defense score as Cotulla increased the margin to 20-0.
The turnover was one of three the Cowboys forced as YMLA was moving into possible scoring position.
Medina would toss his second touchdown pass of the night in the second as he hit Aldaco for a 59-yard score to make it 27-0.
The Cowboys would add a fourth quarter touchdown to cap the scoring for the night.
Cotulla finished with 337 yards of total offense. They passed for 232 yards and rushed for 105 yards.
The Cowboys will look to become the first team in the series to win three straight games since the Wolves did it from 2011-2013.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Gosch Field in Dilley.