Post by TEAM FALCON on Sept 3, 2011 8:07:00 GMT 3
LOS FRESNOS 25, PSJA HIGH 11: PHARR – OK, so maybe Los Fresnos is pretty good after all.
Unranked in Valley Freedom Newspapers’ top 10 after they pulled off an overtime victory against Austin Del Valle last week, the Falcons ran all over the No. 8 team, PSJA High, 25-11 on Friday at PSJA Stadium.
The Falcons piled 432 yards of offense and allowed just 153 yards in demolishing the Bears, who were playing in their season-opener. The senior running back tandem of Chris Galarza (12 rushing for 204 yards) and Eduardo Ramirez (17 for 145 yards) proved to be the biggest thorns for the Bears.
When they weren’t bursting through big holes, they were fighting extra hard for yardage and breaking tackles for scores.
“Our offensive line came off the ball low and hard, and our running backs did a great job of breaking tackles,†Los Fresnos coach Clint Finley said.
The biggest score came on the first play of the second half when the diminutive Galarza broke though two piles of tacklers en route to an 81-yard touchdown run that put the Falcons in the lead, 15-3. He scored on a 60-yard run on the Falcons’ next series.
“I think we did a poor job of tackling tonight,†PSJA High coach Mel Rios said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Los Fresnos. They have a great ballclub. We could have (also) done a better job of executing on offense.â€
The Bears’ vaunted running game was nowhere to be seen. PSJA High showed a knack of pulling off big scoring runs during their two scrimmages, but on Friday the Falcons’ defense proved there is a world of difference between scrimmages and real games.
Los Fresnos was aggressive on both ends of the ball from the beginning. That aggression paid off early when they forced a safety on the game’s first possession. The Bears were pushed back to their 9-yard line and forced to punt. However, the snap went over the punters’ head and out of the zone for a safety.
The Falcons (2-0) added to that lead quickly on the next possession when Ramirez scored from 22 yards out at the 8:19 mark of the first quarter. That play was set up by Galarza’s 45-yard run on the Falcons’ first play from scrimmage.
“We dug ourselves in a hole early,†Rios said. “We were concerned about special teams the most coming into this game and we didn’t do the things we needed to do there early.â€
The Bears had their best drive on the next possession when they went 75 yards to the Falcons’ 5. However, they settled for a 22-yard field goal by Alan Gonzalez. As it turned out, those were the only points they got on offense.
The Bears’ other score came on a 94-yard kickoff return by Alexis Ruiz following Galarza’s 60-yard score in the third quarter that pulled them to within 22-11. The Falcons answered on the next drive with an 18-yard field goal by Miguel Cruz with 4:07 left in the third quarter for the final score of the game.
“Our confidence is building,†Finley said. “But we are going to have a tough one next week against (McAllen) Rowe. They like to spread you out and do some things that we have not seen yet.â€
Channel 4 clip: www.valleycentral.com/sports/video.aspx?id=659320#.TmG4HEfm-O4
