Warhorses walk the Bulldogs 23-14

#7 Rowdy Esparza with a quick catch and smooth route into the endzone with QB Nate Valle cheering close behind during Devine’s victory over Marion. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Warhorses saved one of their most valuable lessons for their third and final nondistrict game which is adversity does not have to become an avalanche. Devine overcame two separate deficits Friday night before rallying for a 23-14 victory over previously undefeated Marion. The Horses travel to Crystal City to open District 14-3A D1 this Friday.
Devine continually showed the ability to remain composed when things were not going its way, including the Bulldogs scoring first midway through the first quarter on a 64 yard touchdown play that should have ended back in Marion territory soon after the catch was made.
“I really felt like we did a much better job of not riding the emotions of the game from early on,” Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey said about his players composure being tested early. “We didn’t always play our best but we stayed the course and played complimentary football.”
Devine answered before the quarter ended as quarterback Nate Valle went 9 yards for a touchdown with 41 seconds left, and Israel Casas’ extra point tied the game at 7-7.
The Bulldogs regained the lead when Eli Parker scored on a 10-yard run with 8:39 remaining in the second quarter, but Devine again refused to panic. The Warhorses’ ability to create momentum was evident on a night when Devine also unveiled its first true trick play of the season.
A Valle to Enoch Hall handoff followed by his flip to Rowdy Esparza on a reverse resulted in a game-changing touchdown that tied the game at 14-14.
Campsey credited Offensive Coordinator Coach Devyn Orta for recognizing an opportunity and making the necessary adjustment. “A lot of credit goes to Coach Orta on that play. He had it dialed up for a little different situation but really pivoted there when we needed a big play. Coach Orta liked the look Marion was giving the Warhorses on the backside of the play and believed there would be no defender home, which there wasn’t.”
Devine took their first lead to open the second half as Hall capped the possession with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 8:58 mark. Casas added his third PAT giving Devine its first lead at 21-14.
For Campsey, the response represented a significant step forward from Devine’s earlier nondistrict loss at San Diego that opened the season. “I felt like how we responded to being down now, versus how we did in San Diego where we let things avalanche was a major improvement. Against Marion, we played the…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!