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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Sports
Monday, November 15, 1999
Offensive woes end Eagles' season
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
EL PASO, Nov. 13, 1999 -- The way the 1999 football season started
for the Pecos Eagles at Ratliff Stadium back in September was pretty much
the way it finished for them Friday night at Hutchins Field in El Paso.
The Eagles gave up a first half touchdown, a late
TD and points off a bad punt snap in their season opening 17-0 loss to
Denver City. Friday night, the Eagles gave up a first half touchdown, a
late TD and points off a bad punt snap, in an 18-0 loss to the El Paso
Ysleta Indians in the bi-district round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs.
The Eagles did have better scoring chances against Ysleta than
they did 11 weeks earlier against Denver City. But with a chance
to tie the game late in the first half Pecos couldn't get the ball in on
four tries from the Indians' 5-yard-line, then were stopped on 4th-and-1
from the Ysleta 30 in the third period, after a long pass and a fake punt
run appeared to give them some needed momentum.
"They got a couple of big plays and like last week (a 12-0 loss at San
Elizario), when we get the ball down there where we had a chance to score
and couldn't get it done," said Eagles' coach Gary Grubbs. "But our kids
played their hearts out right down to the last second of the game."
Ysleta's offense was mainly the Victor Bustillos show. The senior was
hammered down by Tye Edwards while fielding a punt at the Ysleta 18 in
the second period, but on the next play broke through the left side of
the line and faked past a trio of Pecos defenders on the way to an 82-yard
touchdown.
Bustillos would add an eight-yard score with 6½ minutes
left in the game, to cap a drive that began with Ysleta's fourth
down stop on Jacob Esparza and lasted over nine minutes. The Indians would
add a field goal by Luis Islas three minutes later after a
bad punt snap from the 15-yard-line went over Daniel Terrazas' head. He
was able to run the ball back out to the 18, where the Indians took over
on downs.
We've got to have all facets of the game working - special teams,
defense and offense, and we had breakdowns in all of them," said Grubbs.
"We had a couple of good drives, but when you don't get it done it makes
it hard on the defense."
Ysleta gained 152 of their 240 yards in the first half, but overall,
the Eagles looked better on offense, but were never able to break a big
play. Bustillos' run and a 46-yarder by Jesus Montero accounted
for almost all of the Indians' first half yards, while Pecos picked to
seven first downs in the opening half, but saw their first two
drives stall out near midfield.
Pecos' line did open some holes for Esparza and Len Carson in
the early going. But their first drive stalled after a one-yard
loss by Esparza, and the second ended when Carson was stopped at
the line, and Derek Zubledia was contained on a flanker inside reserve
handoff.
The Eagles' third drive started at midfield following Bustillos'
TD, when Matthew Levario returned Islas' squib kick 25
yards. Two plays later Esparza picked up 17 on a sweep
around the right side, and after Carson ran for another first down, quarterback
Alex Garcia hit Terrazas over the middle for a 13-yard gain to the Ysleta
5.
That's the area of the field the Eagles have had problems
in all season long, and Friday night was the same story. Esparza
was stopped at the line for no gain, then tried to leap
the line on a pitch out and was slammed down by Manny Chavez for a
one-yard loss. A third down run by Carson got the ball to the four, but
on fourth down Garcia's float pass to Zubledia was too high,
and fell behind him on the left side of the end zone.
"We wanted him to run it outside, but he cut it up," Grubbs said of
the second down play by Esparza. "But overall I thought Jacob did a real
good job coming back after last week."
Pecos had 80 yards rushing in the first half, 51 of that by Esparza.
But the Eagles managed just 19 more yards in the final two
periods. Much of that was due to losses and sacks late in the fourth period,
after Ysleta's second score.
The Eagles' longest play of the night came in the third period, when
Garcia hit Ricky Plummer for 27 yards on a 3rd-and-7 from the Pecos 23.
Four plays later, Pecos ran a fake punt on 4th-and-5 at the Ysleta 46,
with Carson just making it past the first down marker. But the Eagles weren't
as lucky on their next fourth down play, when Esparza was stacked
up at the line. The play was so close even after the chains
were brought out the officials needed 10 seconds to study the ball and
the yard marker before signaling first down for Ysleta.
Bustillos got most of his yards on the final TD drive off delays and
draws, but his touchdown came when the left side of the Indians line sealed
off Pecos' linemen and linebackers, and allowed him to walk untouched into
the end zone.
“We worked on that all week long. When they get into that set,
they run the lead or toss, but it was just a good job on their part," Grubbs
said.
Quarterback Lorenzo Villarreal also had a couple of keepers for
first downs on the drive, and threw to Montero for a two-point conversion
after the score.
Ysleta's win improved their record to 5-6 on the season, while
Pecos ended their year with the same 5-6 mark. The Indians
will now travel to Hereford for a 2 p.m. Saturday against the Whitefaces.
Hereford (10-1) won their bi-district game over Plainview on Friday, 26-15.
"I think our seniors set a good example for all of us, and we
will have most of our players coming back," said
Grubbs.
Pecos' District 2-4A rivals also saw their seasons ended in the bi-district
round on Friday. Clint's D.J. Check threw for over 300 yards and set the
all-time passing yardage record in Texas, but his Lions were
routed by El Paso Parkland for the second time this season, 53-10. District
champ San Elizario, meanwhile, saw their late comeback against El Paso
Riverside fall short, as they lost to the Rangers by a 33-28
final score.
at El Paso
Pecos
0 0 0 0
- 0
EP Ysleta
7 0 0 11 -18
Second Quarter
EPY - Bustillos 82 run (Islas kick), 1:04.
Fourth
Quarter
EPY - Bustillos 8 run (Montero pass from Villarreal),
5:18.
EPY - FG Islas 20, 8:41.
Pec EPY
First Downs
10 10
Rushes-Yds
42-99 36-224
Passing Yds
49
6
Passes
5-10-0 1-5-0
Punts-Yds
3-35.3 3-36.3
Fumbles-lost
1-0 1-0
Penalties-Yds 3-20
3-25
INDIVIDUAL
STATISTICS
Rushing - Pecos, Esparza 21-59, Carson 10-34, Carrillo
4-12, Terrazas 1-3, Zubledia 1-2, Winfrey 1-0, A. Garcia 2-(-4), Juarez
2-(-7). Ysleta, Bustillos 21-175, Montero 4-54, Villarreal 9-2, DeAnda
1-0, Najera 1-(-7).
Passing - Pecos, Garcia 5-9-0-49, Zubledia 0-1-0-0. Ysltea,
Villarreal 1-5-0-6.
Receiving - Pecos, Plummer 1-27, Terrazas 1-13, Carson
2-5, Carrillo 1-4. Ysleta, Martinez 1-6.
Missed Field Goals - None.
Shorthanded Eagle boys win meet
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Nov. 15, 1999 -- The Pecos Eagles swimming team survived the
Carlsbad Cavemen, some points lost due to a missed event and even problems
caused (sort of) by El Paso Ysleta's Victor Bustillos to take first place
on Saturday in the boys' division at the Pecos Invitational.
Carlsbad's swimmers gave the Eagles their first major challenge of the
1999-2000 season, winning five of the 12 events in the meet, but Pecos'
depth was able to carry them to a 285-214 victory, their fourth in as many
meets this season.
"We were a little flat today. It wasn't one of our best Pecos Invitationals
we've had, but overall we did pretty good," said Eagles' coach Terri Morse.
"The guys really have been up the last couple of weeks, and they did an
outstanding job under the circumstances."
The boys had to compete without their top swimmer, senior Kevin Bates.
Morse said before the meet a shoulder bruise Bates suffered in Pecos' football
game at San Elizario the previous week would probably keep him from competing
in freestyle events on Saturday. Bates aggravated the injury Friday night
trying to tackle Bustillos in Pecos' playoff loss to Ysleta, and ended
up not swimming in any event.
"Kevin was having trouble lifting his arm," said Morse. "The doctor
said it would take about three days rest for him before he could resume
light workouts, and I want him to be ready for district."
Monahans continued to dominate in the girls division, taking the title
there by a 242-168 margin. The Eagle girls placed fourth in the meet with
122 points, despite being shut out in the 200 medley relay due to a disqualification.
"Briar (Prewit) left early in the (butter)fly leg," Morse said. "We
would have gotten fourth, and that would have probably put us in third
place overall," since the Eagles lost 20 points and ended up 16 in back
of third place Odessa High.
Despite the early mistake, Morse said, "I saw some positive things.
We still have a lot of work to do, but it's still early in the season."
The boys' win was helped by victories in two of the three relay events,
and a second place finish to Carlsbad in the other. Tye Edwards, Grant
Holland, Jason Lopez and Cortney Freeman nipped the Cavemen by .13 second
to take the 200 medley relay with a 1:49.54 time, while Edwards, Holland,
Scott Pounds and Randall Reynolds won the 400 freestyle with a 3:45.12
time.
In the 200 freestyle, Reynolds, Pounds, Freeman and Luis Nieto finished
second to Carlsbad, with a 1:40.74 time, 2½ seconds behind Carlsbad.
The Eagles' other first place finish came from Edwards, who took the
100 backstroke with a 59.83 time. He was also third in the 100 butterfly.
Holland earned a second in the 200 individual medley and was fifth in the
100 breaststroke; Reynolds place third in the 200 freestyle and the 500
free; Freeman was second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 50 freestyle;
Nieto placed fourth in the 50 free and was seventh in the 100 backstroke;
Lopez was third in the 100 breaststroke and eighth in the 100 fly and Pounds
finished fourth on Friday, in the 1 meter diving competition.
Among the other Pecos swimmers, Patrick McChesney was fourth in the
500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 free; Clayton Cox was seventh in the
200 medley and 14th in the 100 fly; Eddie Mata was 10th
in the 50 and 100 freestyles; Mike Howard was 21st in the 50
free; Gary Garcia was 22nd in the 100 breaststroke and 24th
in the 50 free; and Wesley Roberts was 10th in 1 meter diving.
Pecos' `B' relay teams were also changed up due to the `A' team moves,
and the Eagles were unable to field a second relay team in the 200 medley.
The 400 meter team of Lopez, Cox, Leroy Rodriguez and Patrick McChesney
were eighth; while Garcia, Cox, Mata and Rodriguez were 11th
in the 200 free relay.
Pecos' girls picked up a second place medal in the 400 freestyle relay
behind Monahans, with JoAnn Wein, Lauren Wein, Prewit and Sarah Flores
finishing with a 4:22.28 time 5½ seconds behind the Loboes. Flores
also picked up a third place medal one race earlier, in the 100 breaststroke
and also earned third in the 100 freestyle; while Lauren Wein was third
in the 500 free and 12th in the 200 free; JoAnn Wein was fourth
in the 100 backstroke; and Prewit was seventh in the 200 free.
Prewit, Misty Cason, Victoria Gomez and Rachelle Eisenberg were the
Eagles' other `A' relay team and finished fifth in the 200 freestyle. Pecos'
`B' relay of Ashley Carrasco, Rebecca McChesney, Rebecca Reynolds and Tina
Grice were 16th, and the 400 `B' team of Gomez, Cason, Grice
and Eisenberg ended up 11th.
Individually, Grice was 13th in the 100 butterfly and 23rd
in the 200 freestyle and; Carrasco was 21st in the 200 medley
and 22nd in the 100 breaststroke; Gomez was 10th in the 100
butterfly and 19th in the 50 free; Eisenberg was ninth in the
100 breaststroke and 26th in the 100 free; Cason was 27th
in the 50 free; Reynolds was 23rd in the 100 breaststroke and
33rd in the 50 free; and McChesney was 61st in the 50 freestyle.
Trailing Pecos and Carlsbad on the boys' side in the team standings
were Lubbock High with 195 points, Andrews with 191, Monahans with 134,
Big Spring with 75, Midland Lee with 70, Hobbs with 60, Fort Stockton with
56, Abilene Wylie with 43, Odessa High with 36, Lubbock Monterey with 25,
Midland High with six and Seminole with three points. On the girls' side,
Big Spring was a point behind Pecos with 121, Midland had 109½ points,
Lubbock Coronado 91, Midland Lee 75, Abilene Wylie 69, Lubbock High 63,
Fort Stockton 60, Andrews 59, Hobbs 32½ and Lubbock Monterey had
four points.
"Some of our younger kids cut a lot of times, and the older kids did
about the same or were a second or so slower. We didn't have all our kids
and we didn't have all our relays, but I thought the kids that were here
stepped up and did a good job," said Morse, whose team will compete in
the Monahans Invitational this weekend before taking a break for Thanksgiving.
Packers disarmed by shorthanded Cowboys, 27-13
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 15, 1999 - The Dallas Cowboys broke their losing
streak and avoided another fourth-quarter meltdown. And they did it without
Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin.
Suddenly, the next seven games don't look so bleak for Dallas.
"This was a very pivotal game for us," tight end Eric Bjornson said
after the Cowboys beat Green Bay 27-13 Sunday. "Frankly, if we came out
of here with a loss, the rest of the season wasn't going to look very good."
Dallas (5-4) ended a two-game losing streak and leaped from third in
the NFC East to a first-place tie with Washington and the New York Giants,
both of whom lost Sunday.
The Cowboys could get Aikman and Smith back for Sunday's game in Arizona
and should have both for their Thanksgiving showdown with Miami and former
coach Jimmy Johnson.
Most importantly, the other players proved they can win without their
three superstars and the defense showed it doesn't quit always after the
third quarter.
"This is still a team game," said Smith, who has a broken right hand.
"It's never been and never will be about individuals. It takes all 11 guys,
not one, not two and not three."
Backup quarterback Jason Garrett showed the poise and accuracy of Aikman
and he didn't let others' blunders disrupt him. Chris Warren lost two fumbles
and Richie Cunningham missed a 22-yard field goal.
"I've had a close up view of Troy and I've seen how he deals with adversity,"
said Garrett, who was 13-of-23 for 199 yards and two touchdowns with no
interceptions. "You have to keep going out there and doing your job, just
keep playing."
This was the first time since Nov. 5, 1989, that Dallas played without
its Big Three. The Cowboys beat Washington 13-3 for their only victory
that season. So, even though it took 10 years, Dallas has a two-game winning
streak without Aikman, Smith and Irvin.
"It's really a special day to win when three of the best players to
ever play their positions in the NFL are standing on the sidelines in T-shirts
and ballcaps," Garrett said.
The Packers (4-5) have dropped three straight and four of five to fall
below .500 in the second half of a season for the first time since 1994.
A big reason is an offense that's scored just three touchdowns in 12
quarters. Brett Favre again made things interesting in the final minutes,
but Cowboys safety George Teague intercepted a pass on the sideline and
coasted 95 yards for a touchdown.
Fabens captures 4A cross country title
PECOS, Nov. 15, 1999 -- The Pecos Eagles boys' cross country team didn't
advance to post-season play, the way the Eagles' other fall sports teams
did. But the team at least knows it was running in the state's best district,
after Saturday's Class 4A finals in Round Rock.
District 2-4A champion Fabens won the Class 4A state title with 62 points,
six ahead of Lockhart, which finished with 68 points. El Paso Mountain
View placed 12th in the team standings with 283 points, while
Clint's Martin Orozco had the best individual finish of any 2-4A runner,
placing seventh over the three-mile course with a 16:05 time.
Defending state champ El Paso High failed to place at state this year,
while Region I-4A winner Martin Gallegos ended up in 10th place,
with a 16:10 time. Pete Bettman of Uvalde won the 4A title with a 15:29
time.
No district teams or runners placed in the Top 10 on the girls' side
at state. Highland Park won the 4A girls title over Southlake Carroll by
a 58-83 point margin.
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
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Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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