Category: Warhorses & Arabians

District begins Thursday with 5pm kickoff

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Dag Burn It! The JV1 Horses had a perfect 5-0 record going into their road game in Marble Falls last Thursday but came out 5-1 after the Mustangs escaped with a 28-20 win.
Devine was down but definitely not out even facing a 22-8 deficit at the break. The Horses closed to within a two-point conversion at 22-20 but could not tie it up nor take the lead before the final horn sounded.
“We kept battling all game long, even after Marble Falls had three first half touchdown passes” said Coach Lon Cozby. “We had a few injuries set us back a little, but we still had a chance late in the game and that is all I could ask for.”
Late game magic was possible, but it would have taken more than a good share of it as starting running back Ryan Weinkam exited the contest in the second quarter, and other Warhorses also were unable to continue as Devine finished the game with only seven healthy players standing on the sideline.
Marble Falls connected on their first of three first half touchdown passes to take a 6-0 lead. Weinkam intercepted their two-point attempt near the goal line and returned it 99 yards the other direction to make the score 6-2.
“Ryan was able to show off…

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Devine rallies for 28-27 win over Marble Falls

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
WOW! What a show at Warhorse Stadium last Friday night!
Freshman running back Enoch Hall scored from two-yards out to even the game at 27, then EJ Gonzalez delivered a perfect point-after snap to holder Jacob Sollock who swiftly put it down on the black tee for super-composed placekicker Teotimo Stafford to boot through the winning extra point, giving Devine a dramatic, one-for-the-ages 28-27 comeback victory over the Marble Falls Mustangs.
Warhorse players, coaches, managers, trainers, and cheerleaders all burst into celebration after Riley Gutierrez sacked the Mustang quarterback to end the game as he prepared to let a desperation “Hail Mary” attempt fly from his fingertips on what was the last play of a ballgame that was entertaining in every way possible.
The Horses ride a 5-game winning streak into Carrizo Springs Friday as District 14-4A DII action is set to begin.
Prior to Hall’s touchdown, Devine, already trailing 24-21, could not afford to let the Mustangs offense complete a drive that ended in the end zone or the chances of the Warhorses picking up their fifth win in a row would be severely hampered.
Instead, although the defense bent a couple of times on that Marble Falls drive, it came up with huge stop necessary on a Mustang fourth down and five to go on the six yard line that gave Devine…

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Varsity Warhorse #42 Gavin Socarras makes a flying tackle.

District 14-4A opener Friday night

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Preseason schedules are now completed for all District 14-4A DII football programs which allows for the real part of the season to kick off as the battle for the top spot begins.
Devine claimed the runner-up spot in 2023 as Bandera took the top honors, but the Warhorses are taking quite the roll that hopefully not only continues into their district opener Friday night in Carrizo Springs but through their remaining guaranteed games of 2024.
The Wildcats are looking to get a piece of that playoff-pie, and they know an upset on their home turf of the Warhorses would go a long way to getting them at least to the bi-district round of the state playoffs.
Devine currently sits at 5-1 on the season. After dropping their opener to Randolph in overtime, the Warhorses have reeled off consecutive wins against Jourdanton, Natalia, Hondo, San Antonio Christian, and Marble Falls.
Carrizo Springs may feel like that have a little momentum on their side after their 66-24 win over Robstown last Friday, Even with the win, the Wildcats are 2-4 on the year with their only other victory coming against Hebbronville September 13 as they took the 36-0 win.
The Wildcats opened the season with a 13-8 loss at Uvalde before Hondo blitzed them in their home opener a week later 40-6.
Following their Hebbronville win, Lytle defeated the Wildcats 19-12 as did Crystal City 23-20.
After Devine…

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*All former Devine Band members will be honored at Homecoming this year! You will be recognized in the stands at the HC football game on Friday night, Nov. 8th then again on Saturday, Nov. 9th at the VFW, you will be honored at the DExSTA HC Social, starting at 1:00pm. Come join us and bring pictures or old uniforms, music, etc, for our Band Memory table. If you were ever in the band, no matter how recently, or how long ago – this is for you!! Should be fun to catch up with others and see how the band has changed over the years! Pass this info on to your former band classmates too! See you on Nov. 8-9!
*For more information about this, contact Nancy Ehlinger Saathoff ’75 at 210-289-6205 or gnsaathoff@aol.com or on the FB page for the Devine Ex-Students Teachers Association.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine picked up a couple more wins last week as they defeated the Lady Pirates in Poth in two sets prior to returning to District 29-4A action to win a dog-fight against Somerset in three sets.
The Arabians were set to face Pearsall on press night to move to 5-0 in district standings and now prepare to take on possibly their biggest challenge as they face Floresville Friday night in Devine.
vs Poth
“We kind of struggled to get things going in the first set with many unforced errors due to little communication,” Coach Kara Stacy stated about her squad being down 17-11 before turning it around to win 26-24. “Finding a way to come back and fight for every single point the girls managed to pull off an intense comeback win.”
With all the energy now clearly on the Arabians side of the net, the second set was never in doubt as Devine took the set 25-11 and the match 2-0.
“Carrying the first set momentum into the second set made for a much quicker and clean set of volleyball.”
“After putting ourselves in an unnecessary position the girls did a great job fighting for the win in this game!”
vs Somerset
A three-set barnburner against the Lady Bulldogs is not what the Arabians originally had in mind, but they came out victorious and better after the battle.
“We had a solid start, coming out with good intensity and were ready to play.”
Devine won set one 25-15 and carried over a great…

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Middle blockers get some air….A’Dell Holder (on left) have both had some great blocks. Photos by KK Calame.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
With San Antonio Christian the varsity opponent and not having a JV squad to play Devine, the Horses instead traveled over to Castroville to take on Medina Valley’s JV2 team.
Devine won running away 46-12 as Ryan Weinkam had an amazing five touchdowns in his team’s victory.
Weinkam not only found himself on the scoring end of many offensive snaps, but he was also a factor in the game’s opening kickoff as he recovered teammate Alejandro Ramirez’s booted ball to start the onslaught.
Devine scored on the first snap of their previous three games, but that did not happen this week. Instead, Warhorse Nation fans had to wait all the way to the fourth snap to see Devine put points on the board as Weinkam went in from 26 yards to put his team in front 6-0 after the failed two-point try.
The Warhorse defense was up to the task of slowing down the Class 5A offense as they forced a turnover on downs.
Devine did score on the first snap of the next possession as Ramirez found an open Weinkam for a completed pass.
“Alejandro hit an open Weinkam who unleashed his speed to outrun the secondary for an 80 yard TD. Alejandro even took in the two-point run behind a great block from Johnny Davis.”
Devine led 14-0
Mediana Valley was able to get the goose egg off the board as they finally found the end zone to cut it to 14-6.
“Even though MV scored, Cole Reyes was there to break up the two-point pass attempt.”
Weinkam still had time to get his third touchdown of the opening quarter believe it or not.
“On the ensuing deep kickoff Weinkam caught it at the…

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Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
According to San Antonio’s newspaper, each week, the Express-News staff selects athletes competing in various high school sports, then turns voting over to the fans. Voting begins Tuesday afternoon and closes Thursday at 11:59pm with the Athlete of the Week winner announced each Friday around noon.
Devine’s own Airyanna Rodriguez won the vote last week, following up her Express-News Volleyball Player of the Week to garner Athlete of the Week as well.
The Express-News recognized Rodriguez for her 34 kills and 26 digs in a five-set win against Pleasanton as Devine erase a two-set deficit to remain undefeated in District 29-4A. She also had 22 kills and 17 digs in a four-set win against Carrizo Springs.
Rodriguez beat out East Central football player Isaiah Mackey who earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after he completed 20 of 27 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns in the Hornets’ 52-49 win against Boerne. He accounted for 516 of the Hornets’ 617 total yards.
Rodriguez also got the vote over Defensive Player of the Week Pieper football player Laiton Springer who recorded 18 tackles (12 solo, two for loss) and one sack in the Warriors’ 35-21 victory against Wagner.
A huge shoutout to all who voted and congratulations, Airyanna!