The JV Mustangs travelled to Pecos on Thursday night to open the 2019 season and came home with a hard earned 38-12 win.
After the Mustang “D” forced a turnover on downs on Pecos first possession, Zach Perez scored the 1st TD of the season for the JV Mustangs on a 1 yard run. Elijah Gutierrez ran for the 2-point attempt, and the Mustangs led 8-0.
Pecos took the lead 12-8 early in the 2nd quarter, but the Mustangs responded with a 48-yard TD reception from Lance Taylor to Caleb O’Boyle. The 2-point attempt failed, and the Mustangs led 14-12.
The Big Red added another score before the half after a sack by Gutierrez, and a 32 yard return by Manny Gonzales set the Mustangs up at the Pecos 10 yard line. Taylor connected with Braden May for his 2nd TD pass of the half, this one from 5 yards out. Gutierrez converted the 2-pont try, and the Mustangs took a 22-12 lead into the half.
The 2nd half was all Denver City, as Gutierrez reached the end zone on a 24-yard run, with May picking up the 2-point conversion. The 30-12 lead was finalized with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter when May carried the ball in from 5 yards out, then added the 2-point try to push the score to the final of 38-12.
The Mustang defense was dominant, forcing 4 fumbles, and tallying 4 sacks. Jesus Trabado led the charge with 7 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Alec Martinez had 4 tackles and a forced fumble. Gutierrez also had 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 forced fumble. Gonzales had 4 tackles and the fumble recovery. Taylor, Ernesto Martinez, Tadan Tapaha, Jayden Dominguez, and Isaiah Diaz each had 3 tackles, with Martinez forcing a fumble and a sack, and Diaz adding a sack.
Also shining for the Mustangs were Elias Villalobos, Perez, and Jaden Lopez who all had 2 tackles, and Victor Villegas, Julio Gaytan, Ivan Ramirez, David Escobar, and Isaiahs Valles had 1 tackle each.
Offensively, the line of Gonzales, Tapaha, Lopez, Dominguez, Omar Larrea, Trabado, and Escobar led the way for a 290 yard effort.
May was the leading rusher with 82 yards on 6 carries and 1 TD. Gutierrez had 7 carries for 75 yards and a score. Perez carried 5 times for 10 yards and a score, Taylor had 5 yards on 3 attempts, and Villegas had 2 carries for a negative yard. Taylor was 7-17 passing for 119 yards and 2 TDs with 1 Interception. May had 2 catches for 19 yards and a score; Gutierrez had 2 for 9 yards. Nathan Gonzales had 1 catch for 14 yards, O’Boyle had the 1 TD catch for 48 yards, and Perez added 1 reception for 29 yards.
The JV Mustangs will host Littlefield in the home opener on Thursday, Sept. 5th at 6:30 in Mustang Stadium.
