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Rams' historic season ends
Published November 28, 2009
Del Rio’s historic playoff run is over.
The Clark Cougars scored on three of their four first half possessions and kept Del Rio’s potent offense in check to advance to the Class 5A, Division I Region IV Finals behind a 35-14 win Friday night at San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Del Rio ends its season with a record of 10-3 and set a record for most games played in one season by a Del Rio football team.
Clark moves to 13-0, as they’ll next face the Austin Westlake Chaparrals.
The Rams deviated from their usual game plan and came out throwing on their first possession. Quarterback Michael Wancho took the game’s opening snap and fired a pass toward Cody Brooks, but the ball was long and incomplete.
After a short run by John Steed, Wancho again dropped back to pass and this time found running back Josh Washington for a 35-yard gain to the Clark 39-yard line. One Steed run later, Wancho hit Brooks for an eight-yard gain.
But Steed was dropped for a loss and an illegal procedure penalty against the Rams forced Del Rio to have to punt.
Clark wasted little time moving the ball down the field.
Led by all-state quarterback candidate Hayden Greenbauer, the Cougars used their devastating running game to churn up yards and keep the Rams defense reeling.
Greenbauer and running back Ryan Jones moved Clark to the Del Rio 36 before a chop block penalty against the Cougars pushed them back to near midfield. But Greenbauer was unfazed and fired a pass to tight end Glenn Bonner who picked up 22 yards and a Clark first down at the Del Rio 29-yard line.
On the very next play, Greenbauer took the snap, faked the pitch on an option run and raced 29 yards for the score. Webb Williams’ point after try was good and the lead was 7-0 with 2:28 left in the first quarter.
Del Rio’s second drive faltered, netting the Rams one yard before Fondren was sent back out to punt.
Clark’s second drive mimicked its first drive, but instead of Jones supporting Greenbauer it was Tevin Glasgow.
After an 11-yard run by Greenbauer moved Clark to the Del Rio 40, Glasgow followed with an 11 yard run to the Rams’ 18. Greenbauer and Glasgow pounded the ball down to the one-yard line before Glasgow finished things with a one-yard touchdown run. Williams’ kick was good and it was 14-0 with 8:30 left in the half.
Del Rio began its next possession with a 14-yard run by Washington. After an incomplete pass, and a short three-yard gain by Washington, Wancho took the snap and rolled out to try and find a receiver for the first down.
Instead he was hit will attempting to throw. The ball was ruled a fumble, not an incomplete pass, and Clark recovered at the Rams’ 38 yard line.
Del Rio tried to rally on defense as Johnny Sanders was able to bring Jones down for a loss on second down, but Greenbauer broke off a 10-yard run on the next play for the first down.
Five plays later, Glasgow capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Williams’ kick was again good and the lead grew to 21-0 with 4:13 remaining in the half, and that score was the final of the first half.
Del Rio’s defense came out fired up in the second half as Sanders and Juan “Cowboy” Sanchez stuffed Jones for a one-yard loss and then Sanders sacked Greenbauer for an eight-yard loss to force a Clark punt.
The defensive stop inspired the offense as the Rams picked up a first down on the strength of a six-yard run by Wancho. But after a penalty against the Rams pushed Del Rio back to the Clark 45, Bonner sacked Wancho for a six-yard loss and Fondren came out to punt.
Clark broke loose after the punt. On second down, Jones took the pitch from Greenbauer and shot through the defense for a 64-yard run before Brooks was able to bring him down at the Rams seven-yard line. Greenbauer went in on the next play and after Williams’ kick the lead was 28-0.
Del Rio was held to a three-and-out on its next possession and Clark down the Fondren punt at its own 46.
It didn’t take long for Clark to move into scoring position as a Glasgow carried the ball twice for 34 yards and moved the Cougars to Del Rio’s 20. Three plays later, Greenbauer scored his third touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run, and Williams kick made the score 35-0 late in the third quarter.
Del Rio went back to its passing game on its next possession as Wancho hit Washington for a 27-yard gain on first down. Wancho was then able to convert a third down with a 10-yard pass to Brooks.
After an incomplete pass to Jeff McDaniels, Wancho pulled the ball down and raced around the end to pick up 13 yards. A personal foul penalty against Clark pushed Del Rio to just outside the Clark 10.
Del Rio was able to pick up the first down, and Washington scored from one yard out. Jesus Sanchez’s kick was good and the lead was cut to 35-7.
Clark turned to its second unit, but the move backfired as running back DeAndre Holmes was hit by Ethan Durham and fumbled. Del Rio recovered the loose ball and began its next drive at its own 44.
On the first play from scrimmage after the turnover, Washington took the pitch from Wancho, found some running room and outran the Clark defense 56 yards to the end zone. Sanchez’s kick was again good and the lead was down to 35-14 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
The Rams tried to use the newfound momentum to recover an onside kick attempt, but Clark was able to corral the ball at its own 44-yard line.
The Cougars proceeded to keep the ball on the ground and behind the running of Glasgow and backup quarterback Joshua Kern chewed up the remainder of the game clock and sealed the Cougars’ 35-14 win.
Friday night’s game was the final game for seniors Josh Washington, Alex Zambrano, Mark Perez, John Steed, Jeff McDaniels, Michael Wancho, T.J. Guzman, Esteven Hernandez, Ty Fondren, Cody Brooks, Johnny Sanders, LaMik McKinnon, Alejandro Reyna, Juan “Cowboy” Sanchez, Jesse Adams, Jesus Padilla, Efrain Silva, Rey Garza, Demetrio Martinez, Ethan Durham, Francisco Coronado, Joey Guzman and Sergio Cantu.
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Editor’s Note: Del Rio News-Herald Sports Editor Brian Argabright was unable to attend Friday night’s game due to medical reasons and relied on game reports from the KTDR Power 96.3 game crew of David Ritchie, Rowland Garza and Danny Flores. The News-Herald would like to thank them for their support of Rams football.
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