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The Devine Warhorses improved their District 14-4A record to 3-1 last Friday with a convincing 45-22 victory over the Aggies in Poteet. Quarterback Chad Lawson and receiver Guido Zapata combined for four touchdowns through the air while Lawson rushed for another as did Mason Burford in the blowout.
“It was a good win for us on Friday against Poteet,” said Head Coach Paul Gomez in maybe the understatement of the year. “The Aggies previously lost to both Hondo and Crystal City by six-points in each game so we definitely expected them to give us their best effort.”
The Warhorses gave their best effort in the annihilation of the Aggies. For the first time this season, Devine racked up 509 yards total offense and scored over 40 points. The accomplishment of Chad and Guido combining for four scores and the Horses converting all three two-point conversion attempts was by a total team effort, including that of the offensive line.
John Schnautz, Jesus Hernandez, Tristan Ortiz, Lupe Rodriguez, and Mason Perez created holes enabling the Warhorses to rush 40 times for 227 yards. Donavon Camacho led the team with 131 yards on only 14 carries.
The big guys helped in the passing game as well. Standing in the pocket, Lawson was afforded time to deliver a perfect 14 of 14 passing performance for a season-best 265 yards. Zapata’s 8 receptions for 191 yards put him at nearly 24 yards per catch.
“I think we executed our game plan both offensively and defensively very well,” continued Gomez. “Our kids played hard and gave us great effort. We still had too many penalties; we have to clean that up. Offensive Coordinator Coach PJ Wells called a great game and let our play makers make plays.”
Lawson capped a 13-play, 70-yard opening drive by rushing 5 yards for a score. He added the two-point conversion to give the Warhorses and 8-0 lead with 5:31 left in the first quarter.
Devine quickly struck again on a Lawson to Zapata 16-yard completion 1:50 into the second quarter. Lawson scored the two-points to boost the Warhorses lead to 16-0.
With 3:38 left in the quarter, Lawson and Zapata connected once more. With the ball placed at midfield, Lawson threw a slip-screen to Zapata who was lined up on the left side of the formation. Using a good kick out block by Isaiah Oropeza, Guido outran would-be Poteet tacklers going 50 yards untouched for the Warhorses third touchdown of the half. Lawson ran in the two-pointer to put Devine up 24-0.
The only blemish on the first half scoreboard came on Poteet’s last play before intermission. An Aggie receiver was wide open in the back corner of the end zone to haul in the 18-yard pass that cut Devine’s lead to 24-8 going into the break.
Lawson and Zapata completed the ‘hat trick’ with their third touchdown connection on the night. A 44-yard pass fell perfectly into the streaking Zapata’s hands at the 19, allowing him to run it unscathed the remaining distance to increase Devine’s lead to 32-8 after Lawson completed his third two-point conversion run with 3:54 on the third quarter clock.
Burford’s 8-yard run with 1:53 to go in the third, followed by a Lawson extra point kick put the game out of reach at 39-8. The line created a seam for Burford to get to the four, and then he carried five Poteet defenders into the end zone on his tough but rewarding run.
The fourth score by a Lawson to Zapata connection and the Warhorses sixth of the night came on a 14 yard completion with 7:52 left in the game. Poteet sandwiched two scores around that Zapata score to close out the 45-22 ballgame.
“Our fullbacks blocked well all night and Donavan and Mason ran hard all night,” Gomez finished saying. “Donovan rushed for over 100yds and aggressively hit the holes all night. It was an awesome performance all-around and Lawson’s best passing game this year. He gave our receivers good passes and allowed them to make plays after the catch. Isaiah Oropeza did good things out there including a key block on one of Guido’s touchdowns. Isaiah had some good yards after catches as well. Guido’s 8 receptions for 191 yards and 4 touchdowns was icing on the cake. We just need to keep getting better offensively and keep executing; that’s the key.”
O-Line dominance
“The entire line did very well this week. The only problem we had was their #66 who was a concern going into the game after watching film all week. We kept mashing and Poteet seemed to finally give in to our dominance sometime during the 3rd quarter. We want to end our year 4-1 in district and be ready going into the playoffs.”—Right tackle “Big John” Schnautz
“I am proud of these men played. We opened up running lanes and pass blocked really well.”—Offensive line coach Devin Rotramel
“Our offensive line played well as a whole against good Poteet defensive line. Their size and punch was good but our guys were up for the challenge. We battled all night. John Schnautz and Jesus Hernandez graded out the best for the group; it was great to see their success.”—Head Coach Paul Gomez
Trick but no treat
Right defensive end Zackariuh Bocanegra jarred the ball loose from an Aggie running back on Poteet’s second possession of the game. Demi Monreal was there to recover the loose ball to give Devine the ball at the 40-yard line.
A little trickery from the Horses on their first play from scrimmage after the change of possession saw Lawson pitching the ball to tailback Mason Burford who quickly returned a pass to Lawson who made the catch and ran to the Aggie 24 for a 17-yard completion.
Although the Warhorses did not score on that particular drive, the Burford to Lawson completion enabled the perfect 15-15 passing night to remain a possibility.
Playoff possibilities
The Warhorses still have an outside shot at a Tri-District 14-4A Championship. If Devine beats Carrizo Springs and the Hondo Owls top Crystal City by two-points or less, Devine would finish at the top seed for the state playoffs. If Crystal City beats Hondo by any margin or loses by more than three points, Devine would finish in second place in district.
Devine has three positive points against Hondo while the Javelinas have four positive points on the Warhorses.
Stats
Passing: Chad Lawson 14 for 14 for 265 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions. Mason Burford 1 for 1 for 17 yards.
Receiving: Guido Zapata 8 receptions for 191 yards, 4 touchdowns; Isaiah Oropeza 4 for 34; Donavon Camacho 1 for 14; Brady Cardenas 1 for 26; Chad Lawson 1 for 17.
Rushing: Donavon Camacho 14 for 131, Chad Lawson 12 for 15, Mason Burford 6 for 32, 1 touchdown; Demi Monreal 6 for 32; Guido Zapata 1 for 13; Isaiah Oropeza 1 for 4.
Scoring summary
DEV—Chad Lawson 6-yard run (Lawson two-point run), 5:31, 1st.
DEV—Guido Zapata 16-yard pass from Lawson (Lawson two-point run), 10:49, 2nd.
DEV—Zapata 50-yard pass from Lawson (Lawson two-point run), 3:38, 2nd.
POT—Joseph Mancha 18-yard pass from Daryn Garza (Josh Hill from Garza two-point pass), 0:00, 2nd.
DEV—Zapata 44-yard pass from Lawson (Lawson two-point run), 3:54, 3rd.
DEV—Mason Burford 8-yard run (Lawson PAT), 1:53, 3rd.
POT—Ernest Davila 31-yard run (Mancha from Eric Trevino two-point pass), 11:52, 4th.
DEV—Zapata 14-yard pass from Lawson (PAT failed), 7:52, 4th.
POT—Davila 21-yard pass from Garza (two-point pass failed), 5:32, 4th.
Up next
The Warhorses close out their 2018 regular and district season at Warhorse Stadium with a 7:30pm kickoff against the Carrizo Springs Wildcats.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer