THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Sharyland Pioneer High School Athletics


PIONEER DEFENSE SWARMS LOPEZ TO END COMEBACK HOPES

Pioneer defense swarms Lopez to end comeback hopes

IVAN PALACIOS

rgvsports.com | 8/26/2021

PHOTO CREDIT: M. Gonzalez- Pioneer High School

Pioneer defense swarms Lopez to end comeback hopes

Ivan Palacios
Aug 26, 2021 11:51 PM
MISSION — With one second remaining in regulation, PSJA High sophomore quarterback Jaime Lopez dropped back to pass, looking for a receiver in the end zone for the win.

Lopez was met by a trio of Sharyland Pioneer defenders before he could get a pass off, getting sacked to end the game, as the Diamondbacks held off the Bears 14-12 on Thursday at Richard Thompson Stadium.

The Diamondbacks came into Thursday night’s game looking to make a statement after graduating all but four starters from last season’s regional semifinalist squad, while also losing their head coach.

After going into the half with a 7-3 lead, the Diamondbacks came out of the break firing, with senior quarterback Angelo Bazan connecting with junior wideout Joseph Graham for a 59-yard touchdown during the opening play of the third.

Still, the Bears battled back, answering with a 55-yard drive, capped off by a 12-yard strike from Lopez to Viggo Lopez to cut into the lead 14-9 following a missed extra point.

With the lead in hand, the Diamondbacks turned to their defense and running game, milking the clock behind the powerful running of senior Jason Cavazos.

Defensively, senior defensive end Trevor Huddleston set the tone early on, recording his first sack of the season during the first quarter, resulting in a 12-yard loss and forcing the Bears to punt.

Huddleston was only getting started though, recording three more sacks before the break, sending the Diamondbacks into the break with a 7-3 lead.

Led by Huddleston, the Diamondbacks kept the pressure on the Bears’ sophomore signal-caller. On the final drive, it was senior defensive end Ismael Saldivar coming up with a huge sack, forcing Lopez to hurry to the line for the final play before being swarmed by Luis Ocanas, Alejandro Rosales and Edgar Rojas to ice the contest.

The Diamondbacks finished with eight sacks, while Bazan added a pair of touchdown passes to give Sharyland Pioneer the victory.

Next up for the Diamondbacks (1-0, 0-0) is a non-district contest against Harlingen South at 7 p.m. on Sept. 3 at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.

Meanwhile, the Bears (0-1, 0-0) look to boun... Click here to read full article

ARTICLE SOURCE:

PRIVACY POLICY | © 2024 MASCOT MEDIA, LLC