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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Sports
Monday, October 25, 1999
Arnold runs over Eagles in Lions victory
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
CLINT, Oct. 25, 1999 -- After the Pecos Eagles defeated the Clint Lions
in Pecos a year ago, one of the Eagle coaches mentioned in passing that
Clint would be better off on offense if they put receiver Jeremy Arnold
in the backfield and had him run the ball more.
One year later, the Eagles became victims of that plan, as Arnold spent
most of Friday night in Clint running around and through Pecos' defense,
on his way to a three-touchdown, 207-yard rushing night, as the Lions defeated
the Eagles by a 41-18 final score.
Arnold had touchdown runs of 23 and 26 yards in the first half, when
Clint built a 20-0 lead, then went in from 37 yards out in the third quarter
to all but end Pecos' comeback hopes, after the Eagles had narrowed the
margin to 20-12 earlier in the period.
"Turnovers didn't beat us. What beat us was we couldn't stop Jeremy
Arnold," said Eagles' coach Gary Grubbs, though he did add the turnovers
"did put us in a bad position."
Both teams had three turnovers in the game, but the Lions did far more
with the Eagles' giveaways — plus one lucky bounce — than Pecos could do
with Clint's errors.
Clint's Mike Peace picked off an Alex Garcia pass in the second period
and returned it 59 yards to the Pecos 1 yard line, where quarterback D.J.
Check scored on play later, for Clint's third TD on the night. Then late
in the third period the Lions' Domingo Lozano set up two touchdowns within
a span of 1:02, recovering a Jacob Esparza fumble to set up a 27-yard scoring
drive, then doing the same after Albert Montellano hammered a line drive
into the face and hands of up-man Martin Guzman on the ensuing kickoff.
Two plays later Arnold broke around the right end for his third TD of the
game.
Check, who had been averaging over three touchdown passes a game going
into Friday's matchup, wouldn't get one on Friday until there was 2:04
to play, off an eight-yard pass to Andy Novas. He finished the night just
12-for-30 for 136 yards, but was only sacked twice by Pecos' defense and
hurt himself only once, when Mason Abila picked off a pass over the middle
in the second period that Pecos converted into their first touchdown of
the night, a 20-yard scoring run by Esparza.
"We really didn't defend the pass that badly, we just couldn't stop
the run and had some poor tackling," Grubbs said. "I felt we'd have a hard
time shutting down everything, because we had a hard time shutting down
Mountain View last week."
Len Carson had the other interception of Check, picking off a pass at
the goal line in the first period to thwart a Clint drive, while Kevin
Bates stole the ball from Arnold after a 20-yard reception just before
halftime, allowing the Eagles to keep the score at 20-6.
Abila then returned the second half kickoff 68 yards to the Clint 27,
and Esparza broke through on the right side of the line for his second
TD of the game on the next play, cutting the lead to
20-12. Pecos; defense then stopped Clint on three plays, and after taking
over at their own 20 marched deep into Lion territory.
Clint coach Bill Culpepper said he hadn't been using Arnold on defense
as much since converting him to running back four weeks ago, after D.J.
Shepard quit the team. But he was out there when the Eagles drive reached
Clint 5-yard-line and made the key defensive play of the game, as Garcia
tried to force a pass into Esparza on a 3rd-and-goal and was picked off
by Arnold, who returned it to the 12.
The Lions didn't score on the series, but Esparza fumbled on the Eagles'
next offensive play and moments later, Clint ran a pick play on Bates,
allowing Patrick Tullius to get free for a 20-yard pass play down to the
2, which set up Check's score.
Pecos' passing problems again helped kill the Eagles inside the 20-yard-line.
They were just 6-for-20 through the air in the game, and lost despite out-gaining
the Lions by one yard, 373 yards to 372.
"When you get 373 yards you should score more than 18 points," Grubbs
said. "Not getting into the end zone (off Arnold's interception) right
there hurt, but we'll regroup next week."
Pecos did suffer one serious injury, to lineman Micah Huffman, who hurt
his knee in the second period. "It looks pretty serious," Grubbs said of
the injury, the second to Huffman this season. "Ian Dominguez went in and
did a pretty good job for Micah on short notice."
The Eagles and Lions are both 2-1 in District 2-4A after the game, with
Clint going to 5-3 on the season while Pecos falls to 4-4. Clint now faces
district-leading San Elizario, which beat Fabens on Friday, while the Eagles
host Canutillo, 1-2, which lost at Mountain View in Friday's other district
game, at Clint
Pecos
0 6 6 6 -18
Clint
7 13 14 7 -41
First Quarter
Cln. - Arnold 23 run (Montellano kick), 5:57.
Second Quarter
Cln. - Arnold 26 run (Montellano kick), 3:18.
Cln. - Check 1 run (kick failed), 6:39.
Pec. - Esparza 20 run (kick failed), 10:20.
Third Quarter
Pec. - Esparza 27 run (run failed), 0:20.
Cln. - Check 2 run (Montellano kick), 10:34.
Cln. - Arnold 37 run (Montellano kick), 11:36.
Fourth Quarter
Pec. - Esparza 1 run (run failed), 5:26.
Cln. - Nolasco 8 pass from Check (Montellano kick), 9:56.
Pec Cln
First Downs
20
17
Rushes-Yds
48-306 31-228
Passing Yds
67 144
Passes
6-20-2 12-30-2
Punts-Yds
2-32 4-35
Fumbles-lost
2-1 2-1
Penalties-Yds
3-22 6-50
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Pecos, Esparza 25-142, Carson 7-98,
Winfrey 10-49, Zubledia 2-22, Abila 2-4, A. Garcia 2-(-9). Clint, Arnold
23-207, Check 6-19, Montellano 2-2.
Passing - Pecos, Garcia 6-19-2-67, Zubledia 0-1-0-0.
Clint, Check 12-30-2-144
Receiving - Pecos, Payne 1-28, Esparza 1-14, Carson
1-12, Plummer 1-12, Winfrey 2-1. Clint, Arnold 2-40, Tullius 3-39, Nunez
3-23, Medrano 2-20, Torres 1-14, Nolasco 1-8.
Missed Field Goals - None.
Netters nip Fabens for regional berth
FABENS, Oct. 25, 1999 -- The Pecos Eagles tennis team had just enough players
Saturday morning to pull out a regional tennis berth over the Fabens Wildcats,
so it didn't matter later that day when they had a lot fewer players around
to face the Clint Lions.
The Eagles defeated Fabens in the semifinals of the District 2-4A Tennis
Tournament by a 10-9 final score, before several of their players had to
jump in a van and go to Odessa, to participate in the UIL area marching
contest Saturday night. That left the Eagles four players short against
Clint, and they forfeited six matches in a 9-1 victory by the Lions.
The Eagles had to default several matches a week ago in Fabens, in an
11-7 loss to the Wildcats. This time, coach Bernadette Ornelas had a full
team while Fabens was shorthanded.
"Fabens was two boys short, so they had to default a mixed doubles,
a doubles and a boys singles," said Eagles' coach Bernadette Ornelas. The
three matches were the difference this time, since the Wildcats won all
seven boys matches that were played while the Eagle girls took seven of
their nine matches for the second week in a row.
To do that though, the Eagles had to get a pair of split set victories
at No. 5 and 6 singles, by Tiffany Jarrett and Prescilla Levario. She defeated
Sonia Galvan, 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, while Jarrett also rallied to down Melissa
Salcido, 4-6, 7-6, 6-0.
"Tiffany was the last match on the court. She was down 6-5 (in the second
game) and about ready to give it up when she came back and won the last
two games," Ornelas said. "Both teams were in suspense for about 30 minutes."
The other winners on the girls' side were Teresa Minjarez, Rachel Pharoah
and Rebecca Wein in singles play, while Wein and Levario and Pharoah and
Vanessa Miranda won their doubles matches. Miranda and Pharoah also came
up with the Eagles' lone win over Clint in the afternoon match, held at
San Elizario.
The boys' closest match came at No. 5 singles, where Orlando Mendoza
was edged by Lee Mathewson, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6.
The victory moved the Eagles into regionals for the second year in a
row and the third time in six seasons. Pecos will play in the Region I-4A
Tournament at Wichita Falls on Friday, though Ornelas said she wouldn't
know who the Eagles' opponent will be until later this week.
Pecos (10) at Fabens (9)
Boys Singles
Jay Dannelley lost to Joey Pinon 6-3, 6-0; Bobby Sotelo
lost to Adrian Zavala, 6-0, 6-1; Jerry Orona lost to Jesus Ortiz, 6-4,
6-0; Michael Tremble lost to Steven Ornelas, 6-0, 6-0; Orlando Mendoza
lost to Lee Mathewson, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6; Jayson Hinojos won by default.
Girls Singles
Teresa Minjarez defeated Cindy Cordero, 6-2, 6-0; Vanessa
Miranda lost to Daisy Gonzales, 6-2, 7-6; Rachel Pharoah defeated Saminah
Ihmud, 6-0, 6-0; Rebecca Wein defeated Rebecca Campos, 6-4, 6-3; Tiffany
Jarrett defeated Melissa Salcido, 4-6, 7-6, 6-0; Prescilla Levario defeated
Sonia Glavan, 5-7, 6-4 6-0.
Boys Doubles
Dannelley and Tremble lost to Pinon and Zavala, 6-2,
6-0; Sotelo and Orona lost to Ornelas and Ortiz, 6-1, 6-2; Mendoza and
Hinojos won by default.
Girls Doubles
Minjarez and Jarrett lost to Cordero and Gonzales, 4-6,
6-1, 6-1; Miranda and Pharoah defeated Campos and Salcido, 6-4, 6-1; Wein
and Levario defeated Ihmud and Karla Roman, 6-0, 6-1.
Mixed Doubles
Sarah Metler and Anthony Casillias won by default.
Pecos (1) vs. Clint (9) at San Elizario
Boys Singles
Bobby Sotelo lost to Martin Renteria, 6-0, 6-0; Alvaro
Chacon, Cln., won by default; Steve Baca, Cln., won by default.
Girls Singles
Stephanie Marmaljo, Cln., won by default.
Boys Doubles
Sotelo and Orona lost to Renteria and Louie Morales,
6-2, 6-0; Mendoza and Robby Hanks lost to Jesus Ortega and Rigo Nunez,
6-1, 6-2; Chacon and Baca, Cln., won by default.
Girls Doubles
Minjarez and Jarrett lost to Laura Lechuga and Fay Abdelgudes,
6-1, 7-6; Miranda and Pharoah defeated Letty Alarcon and Marmalejo, 6-0,
6-1; Gonzales and Corral, Cln., won by defeault.
Mixed Doubles
Loera and Hugo, Cln., won by default.
Eagles falter, then rally at San Elizario
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
SAN ELIZARIO, Oct. 25, 1999 -- The Pecos Eagles volleyball team clinched
second place in the District 2-4A standings on Saturday, but not without
a struggle against the San Elizario Eagles.
This afternoon, San Elizario will be hoping the Eagles can pull off
another win, this time over the El Paso Mountain View Lobos, in order to
keep their hopes for a post-season berth alive.
Pecos jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first game, a 4-0 lead in the
second game and 5-0 in the third game against San Elizario, then struggled
all three times. They had a big enough lead in the opener to hold on for
a 15-7 victory, but saw t he host Eagles score eight straight points in
Game to, turning an 8-4 deficit into a 12-8 lead on the way to a 15-9 win.
Then in the deciding game, the Eagles would lead by as much as a 7-2
score, before San Elizario caught Pecos at 8-all, and then rallied again
to grab 13-11 and 14-13 leads, but couldn't put the Eagles away. Alexa
Marquez had a couple of kills, and Melanie Franco came up with a pair of
ace serves to give the Eagles a 17-15 victory, and set up a bi-district
playoff game next Saturday against the El Paso High Tigers.
"We just played with them. We slacked off an played with no intensity,"
said Eagles' coach Becky Granado."We started off real good in the first
game, and had then 11-0 and then started playing their game, and they will
beat us at their game."
San Elizario, which both came into and left the match a half-game behind
Mountain View in the race for the final playoff berth, had problems of
their own with sloppy play, especially in the first game. Eight of Pecos'
first 12 points were on unforced errors, while the others came on a block
by Philly Fobbs of Rosario Flores, a tip of an overset by Franco, and serves
by Franco and Amy Chabarria.
Pecos then had their own problems with serves, as Joanna Valadez and
Ana Morales had aces, and Flores added a kill to cut the lead to 12-7,
before the Eagles regrouped and won, off another Chabarria serve, a dink
by Fobbs and her block of Valadez.
In the second game, the Eagles were able to regroup one time, after
San Eli tied the score at 4-4. Two missed back line spikes by the host
Eagles an ace by Monica Meza and a dink by Franco widened the lead back
to four before the Eagles fell apart. A couple of bad hits by Franco, a
Flores block on Ashley Salcido and a bad relay by Lily Payen tied the game,
and kills by Crystal Morales and Franco followed as part of the game-ending
11-1 run.
Pecos had problems handling Kathy Flores serves in Game 3, when San
Eli rallied from five points down to tie. "They had some tough serves,
but we just didn't adjust to the ball," Granado said. "It seems like they're
afraid to adjust to the ball themselves. They want me to tell them when
to adjust and where to go, but there are times they have to do it on their
own."
The Eagles down 13-11 when they got kills by Salcido and Marquez to
tie the game. But San Elizario got to match point when Leslie Brown touched
a Rosario Flores kill that appeared headed out of bounds, then saw their
own serve defense fall apart. Valadez missed a tip attempt then spiked
the ball into the net, tying the score. A Marquez kill gave Pecos match
point, and after San Elizario's Flores re-tied the game on a Flores kill,
the Eagles broke serve off a Fobbs dink and won when Franco put two serves
into the middle of the court.
The win improved Pecos' record to 7-2 in District 2-4A and 18-10 overall,
while San Elizario fell to 4-6 and 16-18, but remained in the playoff picture
thanks to Clint's 15-4, 15-4 win over Mountain View.
Pecos was hoping to avoid another trip today to El Paso, but will have
to face the Lobos at 5:30 p.m. CDT. An Eagle win would force a one-game
playoff for third place on Tuesday between San Elizario and Mountain View,
which is 4-5 in district. Today's match is a make up of the Sept, 24 contest
which was canceled when the officials failed to show up.
I hope our girls come out and play, I don't want to go all the way out
there on a Monday to lose," said Granado, who added she may alter her lineup
a little to deal with Mountain View's Diana Gonzales.
As for El Paso High, the Eagles will face them on Saturday at Burges
High School at a time to be decided on Wednesday. Burges will host either
San Elizario or Mountain View in the other bi-district match, which will
be held before or after the Pecos-El Paso High contest.
Bears make short work of shorthanded Longhorns
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
BALMORHEA, Oct. 25, 1999 -- The Balmorhea Bears started strong Friday
night against the Buena Vista Longhorns — a feat that has eluded the Bears
for much of the season.
The Bears ended a three-game losing streak with a 56-6 win over Buena
Vista, and also kept their playoff hopes alive with their first district
victory of the year.
Coach Ennis Erickson's team kicked to the Horns to start the game. Four
downs later the Bear defense lead by Reggie Lozano handed the offense the
ball on the 38 yard line and the fireworks began.
Chris Cook got things rolling for the Bears with a 10-yard blast up
the middle on the first play from scrimmage, but two plays later the Bears
found themselves looking at fourth down and needing several yards for the
first down.
Cook got the call again and plunged through the middle of the line to
get the first down.
The Bears handed off to Adriel Roman after that and Roman broke loose
into the secondary and down to the 6-yard line.
Two plays later Josue Mendoza took the handoff and sliced through the
line and into the end zone. The points-after attempt failed and the Bears
led 6-0.
The lead didn't last long as the Longhorns, who dressed only seven players
for the game, came storming back.
Longhorn running back John Duckett took the kickoff at the 10 and followed
his blockers 70 yards up the left sideline to the end zone.
Arturo Rodriguez blocked the points after attempt to keep the game tied
at 6- all.
Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Billy Lozano lost the handle on
the ball and the Longhorns recovered on the Bear 35.
A flag against the Bears and a hard run by Duckett and the Longhorns
were knocking on the door and it was beginning to look like it might be
another bad start for the Bears.
Buena Vista handed off to Duckett again who ran into Bear defensive
end Larmer Lethco near the line of scrimmage. Lethco separated Duckett
from the ball with a tremendous hit and Adriel Roman recovered for the
Bears on the 12-yard line.
The offense was still sputtering however, and only managed about 8 yards
before turning the ball over to the Longhorns on downs again.
On second down the Longhorns fumbled again and this time Josue Mendoza
fell on it for the Bears.
After two short gains the Bears handed off to Cook, who slashed against
the grain for big yards down to the Longhorn 25.
Isaiah Rodriguez followed Lethco's block down to the 9 on the next play
for another first down and setting up first and goal for the Bears.
The Longhorn defense stiffened and two plays later the Bears were still
a long way from the end zone. Billy Lozano took the handoff on third down
and sprinted off right tackle and into the corner of the end zone.
Cook's points-after kick was good and the Bears led 14-6 with 45 seconds
left in the first quarter.
It was all Bears after that.
On the next set of downs Cook and the rest of the Balmorhea defense
forced a punt, and Isaiah Rodriguez returned the kick 35 yards before he
was brought down. A personal foul on the play marched the ball down to
the Longhorn 15.
The Bears capitalized on the mistake and on first down Manny Mendoza
tossed a pass to Josue Mendoza in the end zone. Cook's point's after were
good again and early in the second quarter Balmorhea led 22-6.
After the kick the Longhorns again ran into a hard-hitting Bear defense
and were forced to punt after three downs.
The Bear offense marched the ball to the 28-yard line behind the running
of Cook and Jerry Mendoza before Arturo Rodriguez reeled off a pass to
Kevin Rodriguez.
Longhorn defender James Heritage dragged Rodriguez down 7 yards short
of the goal line, but two plays later Lozano took the handoff and plunged
up the middle for the score. Cook made the extra points kick and with 5:57
left in the 2nd quarter the Bears led 30-6.
After the kick the Horns came up short on downs again and gave the ball
to the Bears at midfield. On first down Cook scrambled out of the backfield
in what looked like a broken play and rambled to the 11 before Heritage
brought him down from behind.
Josue Mendoza got the call on first down and sprinted into the end zone
behind two Bear lineman.
Longhorn Robert Tarin blocked the points-after and the score was 36-6.
Billy Lozano added another touchdown before the end of the first half
and this time the points after kick was good.
With time running low in the half the Bears kicked off once more to
the Horns who brought it out to the 30. Three hard runs by John Duckett
earned about 8 yards and the Horns lined up in punt formation again.
This time the Horns faked the punt and Leroy Jurado hauled in a pass
on the 22-yard line, but the clock was ticking down.
The Horns recovered their own fumble on first down and tossed another
nice pass, this time top Josh Duckett who advanced the ball to the 12 and
set up first and goal.
With less than 20 seconds left John Duckett ran the ball to the seven.
Rushing through their huddle the Horns snapped the ball on 2nd down just
before the horn sounded but it was in vain. Long Horn quarterback Robert
Tarin's pass missed its mark and the half ended.
The second half was short and sweet for the Bears who took the opening
kickoff and marched the length of the field before Josue Mendoza broke
loose for a touchdown from 25 yards out.
After the kick the Horns handed the ball to John Duckett on first, second,
third and fourth down. Four yards at a time Duckett earned a first down
despite a swarming Bear defense. But three downs later the Horns were again
in a fourth down situation. This time an incomplete pass ended the possession.
On first down Josue Mendoza scrambled down to the Longhorn 36 and then
on second down Adriel Roman busted loose again for another touchdown making
the score 56-6 and ending the game on the 45-point rule.
The win raised Balmorhea's record to 3-3 and 1-2 in district, and while
the Bears remained in the playoff chase, they were hurt by Sanderson's
72-36 victory over Grandfalls, one of the teams the Bears have lost to
in district play. Sanderson and the other team to beat the Bears, Dell
City are tied for first with 3-0 records, with Balmorhea going to Sanderson
this Friday for a must-win game.
Lost offense rediscovered by Cowboys
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
IRVING, Texas, Oct. 25, 1999 — Albert Connell and Michael Westbrook
tried challenging Deion Sanders with words and actions. They lost in both
areas.
Sanders was his usual solid self at cornerback and he recovered from
a head-rattling hit on a punt return to take his next return 70 yards for
a game-sealing touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins
38-20 Sunday.
"I know a lot of people want to make a name for themselves off me because
I'm a big game player," Sanders said. "But I can still hunt, too."
While Sanders led the defense and special teams, Troy Aikman took care
of the offense as Dallas snapped a two-game losing streak.
Aikman led the Cowboys (4-2) to 17 points on their first three drives,
then threw a touchdown and ran for one in the second half to hold off a
Redskins rally.
It was quite an awakening for a Dallas offense that had scored two touchdown
and 20 points over the last two games, both losses to NFC East foes. The
Cowboys and Redskins are now tied for the division lead.
"Considering the fact that we lost the last two, this game might have
been a little bigger. Everybody knew that," said Aikman, who finished 20-of-32
for 244 yards and ran for a touchdown. "I don't think anybody was questioning
themselves. We just needed to go out and do it as a group."
The Redskins hadn't lost since falling 41-35 to the Cowboys in overtime.
Their NFL-leading offense was making them cocky, so much so that Connell
and Westbrook said during the week that Sanders couldn't handle them.
Sanders fired back by daring Washington quarterback Brad Johnson to
throw his way.
Sanders showed how fired up he was by stuffing Stephen Davis for a 4-yard
loss on the game's first play. It was just the fourth tackle for a loss
in his career. On the next play, he punched Connell — one of the loudest
squawkers — and got away with it.
Midway through the first quarter, Sanders was knocked senseless. On
his second punt return he was crunched by Dan Turk and hit again by Mike
Sellers, leaving him with what was announced as a mild concussion.
Sanders didn't return until midway through the third quarter — and it
was without permission.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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