Category: Sports

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports Editor
The Natalia Mustangs fell to the surging Devine Warhorses last Friday, 62-6. The Mustangs are now 1-1 in district play as they head into this week’s bye. A tough loss for Natalia, but head coach Jason Reynolds made sure to sing the praises of the Horses and their head coach Jacob Campsey.
“I want to give Coach Campsey, his staff and his kids a lot of credit. They are a very talented group and Coach Campsey and his staff have done an outstanding job,” Reynolds said. “As far as my initial reaction to the game is that we came out flat and just could never get anything going and that is on me as the head coach.”
The Mustangs had dropped 50+ points in their last two games ahead of their Devine matchup. They were able to move the chains down field but struggled to convert on those drives. Reynolds kept it short and simple with the areas the offense needed to improve in.
“We just have to do a better job of…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!

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
A-Orta Offense Has Heart
Devine Offensive Coordinator Devyn Orta wants to make sure nobody misses the bigger picture because when an offense piles up more than 500 yards in a 62-6 victory it is easy to focus on the players whose names show up in the scoring summary.
“The biggest thing about putting up big numbers is that it really speaks to the way our entire offensive unit has been playing,” Orta said. “Obviously, there are some guys who are going to get more attention because they’re touching the football and making the big plays, but numbers like that don’t happen without everybody doing their job and playing for one another.”
And there were certainly plenty of big-play contributors against Natalia.
Enoch Hall, Nate Valle, Brayden Mann, Payten Edwards, Kaleb Oropeza, Hayden Martin, Brody Lane, Blaze Deshotel, and Logan Alexander were among those making significant contributions to the scoreboard and stat sheet. However…
Martinez. Duncan. Urrabazo. Parker. Gomez.
Players who have not scored touchdowns or even ran the ball but have helped create the opportunities for others to do so are a fivesome who Orta calls the “unsung heroes” of the complete operation.
“I want the entire offensive line to know that we as coaches and their teammates absolutely recognize what each and every one of them mean to this offense,” Orta said Aiden Martinez, Logan Duncan, Canton Urrabazo, Kolter Parker, and Marcus Gomez.
It is difficult to argue with Orta’s assessment that “they’re the guys doing the dirty work play after play, and without them, none of this happens” as running lanes don’t simply appear, quarterbacks don’t automatically have time to throw, and big plays don’t develop by accident.
Somebody has to block.
Those blocks and their sacrifices don’t make the stat sheet or the highlight reel, but…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!

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
If there was any question whether the Warhorses remembered what happened the last time Natalia came to town, it was answered almost immediately Friday night. Devine scored on its first offensive snap, added three more touchdowns before the first quarter ended, and never let its foot off the gas pedal, rolling to a convincing 62-6 victory over the visiting Mustangs in a District 14-3A Division I showdown at Warhorse Stadium.
The victory came one year after Natalia escaped Devine with a thrilling 27-24 win. This time, however, Devine left little doubt. The Warhorses piled up 509 yards of total offense, including 296 rushing and 224 passing, while a swarming Devine defense limited Natalia to just 109 total yards including only 26 on the ground. And it all started before Devine’s offense ever took the field.
Natalia won the coin toss and elected to receive, but a little Mustang miscommunication quickly turned into a huge break for the Warhorses. Duke Wheeler and Logan Alexander raced to a bouncing kickoff, with Wheeler barreling into the returner to prevent him from securing the ball before Alexander pounced on the loose ball. Devine took over just 24 yards from the end zone with no time coming off the clock.
Offensive Coordinator Devyn Orta wasted no time taking advantage. Quarterback Nate Valle lofted a post-route throw to Brody Lane, who hauled in the 24-yard touchdown pass with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. Israel Casas added the extra point, and Devine led 7-0 before many fans’ Frito Pies had time to cool off. “Those two first big plays certainly lit the stadium and our sideline on fire,” Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey said. “Duke came put a big hit on the guy on kickoff and Logan, who seems to be Johnny-on-the-spot especially on special teams, recovered it. The next play Nate finding Brody settled us in very quickly to the game.”
Natalia managed a first down on its next possession, but the drive quickly became another Warhorse scoring opportunity. Wheeler blitzed from the defensive right side and forced a blindside fumble that Andres Padilla recovered. Four plays later, Enoch Hall powered into the end zone from 16 yards out, making it…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!

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine and Natalia both enter Friday night 1-0 in district play and if the opening week of District 14-3A DI play was any indication, this showdown in Warhorse Stadium should come with plenty of fireworks. Although both are beginning district with identical records they arrived there in dramatically different fashions.
The Warhorses opened district play by taking a 62-0 victory over Crystal City and pitching a shutout while turning the scoreboard into a very one-sided affair. Natalia, meanwhile, engaged in a much different kind of offensive fireworks display, outlasting Lytle 60-43 in a game that saw the Mustangs erupt for 38 points in the second half including 24 points in the fourth quarter alone.
And while 60 points would normally be enough to dominate the headlines, Natalia’s offensive production went well beyond the scoreboard as Mustang quarterback Leo Cortinas (#1) carried the ball 39 times for a staggering 468 yards and seven touchdowns as Natalia piled up 687 total yards against the Pirates. Cortinas earned San Antonio Express News Offensive Player of the Week for his Legacy Bowl performance against Lytle.
For Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey, slowing the Mustang attack starts with slowing down the player at the center of it. “It all starts and ends with their QB who does a phenomenal job operating their offense and is a really good leader and competitor,” Campsey said. “We have to make sure he doesn’t beat us in the run game first and foremost.”
That will be easier said than done as Campsey noted that Natalia does an excellent job creating opportunities for Cortinas in the running game, meaning the Warhorse defense will have to…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!