It didn’t take the Mustangs long to make a statement Friday night against the visiting Pecos Eagles ….. 12 seconds to be exact.
After Juan Herrera sent the opening kickoff three yards deep in the end zone to start the game the Eagle runner took a hit at the 20 yard line and fumbled the ball with a host of Mustangs there to pounce of the loose ball.
And then on the Mustangs first offensive play quarterback Mario Sanchez hit a streaking Aaron Mendoza across the middle for what turned out to be a 23 yard catch and run touchdown. Herrera came back on the field to convert the PAT and with 11:38 showing on the clock in the first quarter the Mustangs were on top 7-0.
And that was only the beginning. Forcing Pecos into a three and out followed by a short punt the Mustangs hit pay dirt :31 seconds later when Uriel Rodriquez took a handoff from Sanchez and swept his left side for still another touchdown on the Mustangs third offensive play. Once again Herrera was good and with 11:07 showing on the clock the Mustangs were now up 14-0 with more fans just then finding their seats.
Once again Pecos was forced into another short series and once again punted the ball. On this Mustang series Sanchez lofted a pass into the end zone where Alejandro Chavarria outjumped an Eagle defender and came down with the ball. Once again Herrera tacked on the PAT and with 5:55 still left in the first quarter the Mustangs lead had grown to 21-0.
Once again an aggressive Mustang defense forced another fumble and took possession with 5:00 left in the first quarter. This drive ended with Mendoza’s second touchdown of the game. After Herrera added his fourth PAT the lead was now at 28-0 with 3:10 left in the initial quarter.
One more touchdown by Sanchez in the 2nd quarter at the end of a 90 yard drive sent the Mustangs into halftime with a comfortable 34-0 lead after Herrera’s PAT missed the mark.
The Mustangs closed out the scoring with two more touchdowns in the third quarter for the final 47-0 score.
The Mustangs rushed for 242 yards on 30 carries for a 8.1 yards per carry average and five touchdowns. Sanchez was good on 11 of his 13 passes for an additional 136 yards, two touchdowns and a grand total of 378 yards.
Aaron Mendoza paced the Mustangs with 111 rushing yards on just 5 carries and an additional 23 yards through the air for a grand total of 134 yards and one touchdown. Sanchez finished with 43 yards on 10 carries, Chavarria had 37 yards on two carries and 34 more yards from passes for a total of 71 yards.
Also adding to the total was Rodriquez with 24 rushing yards, Michael Farrell with 16 yards, and Alexis Mendoza with 11 yards.
In the receiving side Chavarria had the one reception of 34 yards and a touchdown, Jorge Ronquilla had one reception for a minus 1 yard, Leonel Razo had four receptions for 35 yards, Enrique Banuelas had one reception for 12 yards, Aaron Mendoza had the one catch for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Alexis Mendoza had three catches for 34 yards.
Other results from week one in the Mustangs district were Brownfield lost to Post 45-14, Kermit fell to Ft. Stockton 34-14, and Tornillo lost to Alpine 55-28.
The Mustangs will be on the road the next two Fridays traveling first to Littlefield followed by a long drive to Alpine. Both games are set to start at 7:30.
