STAFF REPORTS
Pace overcame a 14-point deficit on the road and Pedro Perez hit a 41-yard field goal to defeat Edcouch-Elsa 17-14 on Friday night at Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium in Elsa.
The Vikings were down 7-0 at halftime and 14-0 during the second half before the offense got things going. The Pace defense had a stop and forced a fumble, and the Vikings turned them into a pair of touchdowns, including a reception in the end zone for a score by Gabriel Zapata to tie the game at 14 with about five minutes left.
After another stop on defense, Pace got the ball back with about 1:30 left in the game. After a couple completed passes, the offense got the ball near the red zone. But facing a fourth down, the Vikings called on Perez.
The junior nailed the field goal to give Pace a 17-14 lead.
“He did it, it was a heck of a kick,” Pace coach William Deen said. “He was calm and there was never a doubt in his mind, it was a wonderful job. It was a big kick.”
The Vikings held the Yellowjackets during the last 10 seconds to seal the road win.
“The kids did a phenomenal job,” Deen said. “I’m very proud of the way our players played. They always have a never-give-up-attitude, and I’m just proud of them, very proud.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s not easy to go into Edcouch-Elsa and win a game. It’s pretty special.”
SAN ANTONIO CENTRAL CATHOLIC 34, ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY 31: St. Joseph held a lead late in the fourth quarter, but was stunned at Bob Benson Stadium in San Antonio.
The Bloodhounds held a 31-20 lead with 1:41 left in the fourth quarter when a pair of controversial calls made the difference, St. Joseph coach Tino Villarreal said.
Central Catholic used less than a minute off the clock and scored a touchdown, adding a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 31-28.
On the ensuing kickoff, a Buttons player seemed to touch the ball on the onsides attempt before it traveled 10 yards, Villarreal said. After the ball hit a St. Joseph player it was recovered by Central Catholic, and the officials signaled the ball belonged to St. Joseph.
The Buttons coach argued the call and officials eventually reversed it, giving the ball back to Central Catholic.
On fourth down, Central Catholic threw the ball into the end zone and the receiver caught it, but the ball came loose as he landed, Villarreal said. St. Joseph thought it should have been an incomplete pass, but the catch was ruled a touchdown and the Buttons escaped with the district win.
Villarreal said St. Joseph has filed an appeal with TAPPS after the questionable calls.
“I just feel really bad for our boys, they’ve worked so hard,” he said. “It was a very ugly way to lose.”
Villarreal said the team doesn’t need to change its preparation.
“We did everything we thought we needed to do to pull off a win (Friday),” he said. “We have to regroup and not let our emotions get the best of us and get back to work.
“I’m extremely proud of our coaching staff and our players. I couldn’t ask for a better performance from our football team.”