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DISTRICT 15-3A, DIVISION II FOOTBALL

After downing Cotulla, Wolves take on Poth for District 15-3A, DII Championship this Friday.

In another contest that lived up to its annual hype, Dilley rallied from a 16-0 deficit with 23-unanswered points to top Cotulla 23-16 in the annual IH-35 rivalry game between the two neighboring schools last Friday at Gosch Field.
The Wolves had a pair of scoring opportunities in the first half but could not capitalize as Cotulla seized the early momentum.
Dilley intercepted the Cowboys at their own 18-yard line on their initial possession of the game but went backwards on penalties before turning the ball over on downs. They then drove to the Cowboys’ 16, but were again turned away on downs.
“This was a big win for us,” DHS AD and Head Football Coach David Silva said. “Especially after being down 16-0 and not being able to punch in opportunities we had. The turning point was coming out in our ‘Comfort’ set and them not being able to stop it.

Jacob Lopez goes up high for an attempted interception while defending Cotulla’s Rodrigo Mendez on a pass play last Friday at Gosch Field in Dilley. Lopez would pick off a pass late in the fourth at the ten-yard line to cement the Wolves’ 23-16 win over the Cowboys.
(CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

“We knew they were gonna power ball it, which we were more more concerned about their speed and getting outside.”
Cotulla took the early lead following the Wolves’ inability to score on their previous possession. Alex Medina and Jose Gonzalez each broke off big runs to move the Cowboys to the Dilley 12-yard line. Medina’s run came on a third down and 11 play.
Eric Aldaco punched it in from five yards out as Cotulla took an 8-0 lead with less than a minute to play in the first half.
The Cowboys’ momentum carried into the second half as their defense stuff the Wolves and forced a three-and-out. Dilley’s punt sailed high but was caught in the wind and went only ten yards.
Cotulla would once again capitalize with excellent field position. Medina found Rodrigo Mendez wide open for a 25-yard scoring pass. The Cowboys would go for two and convert to extend their lead to 16-0 early in the third.
Dilley finally mounted an offensive drive to close the third and capped it as Bubba Reyes went in from two yards out for the touchdown. Isaiah Lambert went it for two as the Wolves cut into the deficit at 16-8 with :56 seconds remaining in the third.
The offensive score seemed to send a spark to the defense as just over a minute later, linebacker Johnny Rodriguez sniffed out a Cotulla screen pass. The senior stepped in front of the receiver and picked off the pass and went 27 yards for the touchdown to open the fourth.
Reyes went in for the two-point conversion and Dilley tied the game up at 16-16 with 11:50 to play.

TOUGH RUNNING – Cotulla’s Eric Aldaco breaks into the open for several yards during a scoring drive for the Cowboys last Friday at Dilley. Aldaco ran for one of Cotulla’s two touchdowns on the night.
(CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

Cotulla then mounted a drive that took up most of the fourth quarter. They methodically moved down to the Wolves’ 33-yard line where they were eventually stopped on fourth and seven with 3:26 to play.
Dilley then moved down the field and scored as Lambert broke free on a 20-yard scamper off the left side. Santiago Cruz booted the extra point and the Wolves held a 23-16 lead with less than a minute to play.
Not to be outdone, Cotulla nearly returned the kickoff and were set up in Dilley territory with time running out.
After a pair of incompletions, Dilley’s Jacob Lopez stepped in front of a Cotulla receiver for the game-sealing interception at the 10-yard line.
The win was the first over Cotulla since a 9-6 decision in 2021 by the Wolves and is only the second victory for Dilley since 2018.
In a defensive battle, Dilley narrowly outgained the Cowboys in total offense, 152 yards to 149 yards. The Wolves found success on third down, converting six of ten while Cotulla struggled, converting only 1 of 11 third downs. Dilley also won the turnover battle, forcing three Cowboy interceptions while putting the ball on the ground only once on fourth down.
Reyes paced the offense with 55 yards rushing on 13 carries and a touchdown while Lambert added 48 yards on 12 totes and a score.

Defensively, Reyes had 11 total tackles including one for a loss while Javian Garcia had nine and one for a loss. Lopez, Leve Lopez and Rodriguez all had interceptions.
The Wolves now have a date with Poth this Friday for the District 15-3A, Division II championship. Both are 6-0 entering the contest. The Pirates are 9-0 this season and ranked third in Class 3A, Division II while Dilley sits 8-1 overall.
Poth took a narrow 10-7 win over Dilley in overtime a year ago when they went four rounds deep in the playoffs before losing a one-score decision to state semifinalist Tidehaven.
“Poth is good, but, after last years close game, our boys are not intimidated by them,” Silva said of his squad going into this week’s contest. “They’re up for the challenge and looking forward to the game and going into the playoffs.”
Game time is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, November 8 at Jack Lane Stadium in Poth.