This game was actually closer than what the final score appears as Devine pushed across two fourth quarter touchdowns to solidify their 52-26 victory. The Colts are now 3-0 on the season with a rematch against Navarro on the horizon.
Luling took an early 8-0 lead on a 68-yard run and the following two-point conversion. Colt running back Joe Guerrero quickly countered however with a 4-yard scoring play. Christian Monreal knotted the score at 8 apiece with his conversion run.
Karter Brown intercepted a Luling pass on the next possession to give the Colts the ball back. Newcomer Cole Davis turned Brown’s turnover into six points for Devine on a 10-yard run, giving the Colts a 14-8 lead.
Brown was the one doing the throwing on the Colts next touchdown as he found receiver Bo Wheeler open for a 25-yard strike. Ray’sean Beaver added the two-pointer to push Devine’s lead to 22-8.
Luling struck next on a 63-yard pass reception to pull within 22-14 before Davis scored his second touchdown of the night on a 6-yard run. Brown hit Mario Vicented for the two-point pass to give Devine a 30-12 halftime lead. An 82-yard kick return by Guerrero was negated due to a penalty prior to Davis’s score.
In the third quarter, Luling scored on an 18-yard run to stay within striking distance of the Colts. However, Brown found Mason Beaver on a 40-yard touchdown pass play and Ryan Weinkan ran in the conversion to boost Devine’s lead to 38-20.
Luling pulled closer at 38-26 on a 51-yard pass reception but their conversion failed.
Guerrero made good on his second opportunity to return a kickoff for a touchdown as he took the ensuing kick 81-yards for the score. Lucas Rodriguez ran in the two-point conversion and Devine now led 46-26.
Devine’s Issac Espinosa had a 27-yard touchdown called back, but Monreal was able to touch end zone grass as the game clock expired and the Colt’s point total clicked past 50 at the north end of Warhorse Stadium.
“The kids came into this week with a goal of scoring 50 points, or to ‘get a 50 piece’ as they put it,” said Coach Lon Cozby. “It was tough on me at the end of the game whether I should just kneel the ball or try to score the touchdown that would get us above the 50-point plateau. I let the kids talk me into calling a run play, and we scored. The players were excited, but I’ve got to apologize for scoring late with us already up by more than enough.”
The Colts may not have needed the final touchdown to secure the win, but getting that last touchdown delighted every player without a doubt.
Football is an extremely tough sport to practice and to learn. Moments that present themselves where a high amount of joy can be felt by those players who put in so much of their after school time on this sport cannot be measured.
Middle school games go by pretty quickly anyway, so when an offense is clicking, it is hard not to stay in the moment and enjoy every minute.
“Our offense was on fire this game,” Cozby said in stating the obvious. “We kept spreading the ball around to different backs and receivers, and Luling had no idea who to key on. Both quarterbacks ran the offense great again and all the usual suspects got their carries. Ryan Weinkam, Issac Espinosa, and Tyler Hinnant all added to the mix having runs over 20 yards each.”
Not all Devine touchdowns came on the heels of an offensive snap, and the Colts actually did not run just a ton of different plays. At some point, Luling had the obligation to stop the Colt roll.
“We only run a handful of plays,” said Cozby, “but who is going to get it and how are you going to stop them?”
Aside from Cozby, coaches Jacob Sanchez, Zac Valenzuela, and Joseph Sadler have all had great influences on this young band of Colt footballers.
“Coach Sanchez has done a fantastic job with the linemen. They are tough and mean, and I think everyone of them had a pancake in this game. Also Coach Valenzuela has really helped us out this year with the backfield on both ends of the ball. He brings energy that the kids feed off and it’s contagious,” said Cozby about his co-coaches.
Defensively, Luling was able to put together a few big plays that put points on the board for the Eagles.
“We just had a few missed assignments that cost us. We will continue to get better and fix the little things,” Cozby quickly summed up that side of the ball.
Single-ton
There was only a single game this past Thursday as Luling does not have enough players to field two teams. Playing one game instead of two makes it tough on all coaches to get everyone their deserved playing time.
“We have a lot of kids out this year, which is a great thing. But trying to get everyone their due playing time is a nightmare in one game. We were able to keep getting kids in and staying competitive, and I do want to say Noah Mata is new to football this year and had a hard hit on kickoff.”
Up next
The Colts play Navarro once again this season as they take on the Panthers Thursday.
Cozby stated, “We were able to win 14-0, but we all know they will be better and ready to seek revenge. But you know what, we’ve gotten better! Looking forward to some great competition and hopefully another fun recap!”
The Colts will have four games this week with the 7th grade Gold beginning at 4:30pm.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer