By JESUS SANCHEZ
Staff Writer
After trading multiple fumbles and penalties during the first half, the Pace Vikings managed to keep their emotions in check to shut out the Lopez Lobos in the second and win 28-7.
“Coming out of the bye week, we had to see how good we would come out and see if we were a little rusty, but I think the emotions got the best out of us in the first half,” Pace coach Danny Pardo said. “I think in the second half, we came out more calm and then we started doing what we normally do. Overall, a win is a win.”
Friday night’s victory over an aggressive Lopez squad now takes Pace to a 6-1 overall record and 6-0 mark in district 32-5A competition.
To start the game, the Vikings forced and recovered a fumble on Lopez’s 27-yard line only to have the Lobos’ defense return the favor on the next play and scoop up a loose ball on its own 33 after a Pace miscue.
The Lobos then traveled 67 yards, and running back Christian Gamez rushed for 1 yard to hit paydirt first.
It seemed as if the Lobos (3-5, 2-5) were set on scoring once more, but the Vikings stopped them on the Pace 22.
“Pace is a great team,” Lopez coach Armando Gutierrez said. “We made a few mistakes but I think we played hard in the beginning, but, you know, the turnovers will cost you, and getting worn down at the end of the game will cost you against a team like Pace that’s undefeated (in district) right now.”
Pace quarterback Jose Banda rushed for 14 yards to cap a 78-yard drive one possession later and put the Vikings back in the game.
Three plays after Lopez got possession once more, the Vikings’ Hector Salazar intercepted a pass from Lopez quarterback Manny Ramirez and took it back to give Pace the lead.
Banda scored on another quarterback keeper, this time from 19 yards out, and running back Matthew Cuellar ran for 4 yards to seal the deal.
“It was a well-played game,” Banda said. “On the first half we were slow, but the second half we came and, like, killed them. We’re really hyped up. It’s been a long time since Pace has been 6-0 in district and we play Mission Vets next week, so we need to get ready for that.”
The sophomore quarterback finished the game with 70 yards rushing on nine carries, and Cuellar garnered 22 yards on six carries.
For the Lobos, Gamez tallied 60 rushing yards on 14 carries. Leo Ramos added 48 yards on 10 carries and Rafael Campos had 53 yards on 12 carries.
“It was a pretty good game from both of us,” Ramos said. “It was an intense game. We have to fix a lot of stuff right now. We made a lot of mental mistakes, and that’s why we lost. We just have to keep practicing. We only have four more games left and that’s it, but we’re going to give it all and try to finish the season well.”
The Lopez coach said despite the recent losses, the Lobos remain motivated and hungry to end the season on a high note.
“We’re still getting motivated and keeping our energy across the board,” Gutierrez said. “For 48 minutes we try to preach that, but we fall short at the very, very end, but these kids don’t quit. They’re going to continue to fight regardless, but it’s something that we have to do. We have to finish off all four quarters.”
On the Pace side, Pardo said the Vikings are excited to have won and remained undefeated, but they will get back to work soon and prepare for perhaps their toughest challenge yet.
“Right now they’re all excited because they won, but come tomorrow we have to bring them back to earth because we have a big game coming up,” he said. “We need to make sure that we get ready.”
Pace next faces Mission Veterans on Oct. 27 at Sams Stadium. On Oct. 26, Lopez travels to La Joya Palmview.