Del Rio News Herald

To say tonight’s game against the San Antonio Southwest Dragons is the biggest in Del Rio football history wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

It’s been 16 years Del Rio had a one-game shot at winning district in football. In 1993 the Rams needed to defeat the Eagle Pass High Eagles to win the crown. They did that and advanced to the playoffs for what would be the last time before 2008.

Last season the Rams saw their chances at a district title take a hit with a loss to Laredo United, and then disappear altogether with a loss at Southwest.

But this isn’t last year’s team.

“It would be the biggest win since I’ve been here,” Rams head coach Steve Hoffman said. “A win against a quality football team like Southwest, and they’re as good as any team in San Antonio if not the best, and we’ll get to see just how far we’ve come.”

Both the Rams and the Dragons have already clinched a spot in this year’s playoffs, but the question remaining is who will be the district champions and who will be the runners-up. Both teams still have one game remaining after Friday night, against teams with a combined district record of 1-9, but tonight’s winner will essentially be the district champion.

“We know we’re a strong team. We face ourselves every year in the spring and in the fall so we know how good we are and we know we can play with (Southwest),” Hoffman said. “It’s a lot of fun to play a team like that. Really, you can’t go out and come up with something new every week. You have to play what you play. It will be a smash mouth game where the best team will win and that’s what you want. It’s your guys versus their guys, and I guarantee it’s going to be a physical game.”

The Rams and the Dragons are similar in a lot of ways.

They both utilize the run as their primary offensive weapon. They have mobile quarterbacks who can create plays with their legs as well as their arms. And they both have punishing defenses that can take advantage of the other team’s mistakes.

But while the Dragons have been able to score at least 31 points against each of their district opponents thus far, the Rams have held their district foes to an average of 10 points per game.

Numbers-wise, it’s a case of the unstoppable force meets the immovable object.

“Southwest is a very, very good team. They have an outstanding running back who is a big a kid with great speed and great power. He presents a big challenge to us so we need to make sure we do a good job tackling. We have to play hard every snap because that’s what it’s going to take to win,” Hoffman said.

Southwest’s offense is powered by senior running back Tre’vion Johnson. While Johnson missed the Dragons’ win against Laredo United South as he continues to recover from a deep thigh bruise, coaches from both Del Rio and Southwest expect him to suit up and take the field tonight.

On the season, Johnson has 820 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns and averages just over 8.5 yards a carry. If Johnson can’t go, then expect running back Orrin Peterson to take up the slack. Peterson rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns against South and has 416 yards and five scores on the season.

Felix Castillo will handle most of the signal calling. He doesn’t throw much, amassing 326 yards and three touchdowns during his time on the field, but he’s the field general that directs the Dragons down the field.

Castillo’s favorite target is J.C. Salinas. Salinas has 11 catches for 212 yards and two scores. He’s complemented by Aaron Kelley who has eight catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Dragons are an experienced unit with defensive lineman Herbert Gonzales, last year’s co-defensive newcomer of the year, and all district defenders linebacker Adrian Guerra, defensive end Bryan Lockridge and defensive back Steve Lacivita leading the way. They’ve allowed just over 13 points per game this season, but surrendered more points to Eagle Pass High, Laredo Alexander and Laredo United South then Del Rio did.

Del Rio’s offense runs through tailbacks John Steed, Josh Washington, Saul Sanchez and Greg Rodriguez. Running behind a tough offensive line, including senior Jesse Adams, junior D.W. Senney, senior Jesus Padilla, junior Blake DeBinski, junior Rene Marin and senior Ty Fondren, the group has led the Rams to an average scoring offense of 30.8 points per game.

Steed is the main horse in the stable, gaining 910 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns in only six games as a hand injury kept him out of two non-district games. Steed saw limited action in Del Rio’s last game against Laredo United, but Hoffman is confident he’ll be ready to go tonight.

Michael Wancho will be under center and has involved into a passing threat that is not afraid to pull the ball down and take off when the time arises. Wancho threw for two scores against United and has six passing touchdowns on the season.

But Del Rio’s calling card this season has been defense.

The “Wrecking Crew,” as they liked to be called, allows just over seven points and 162 yards of total offense per game. They feature eight starters from last season’s team including co-defensive newcomer of the year safety Kevin Pierre-Louis, first team all-district standouts defensive lineman Ethan Durham, defensive end Johnny Sanders, linebacker Washington and cornerback Cody Brooks, honorable mention linebacker Juan “Cowboy” Sanchez and safety Esteven Hernandez, and defensive lineman Joey Guzman.

But it’s Sanders who will draw the most attention tonight.

The front runner for the district’s defensive player of the year award, Sanders causes trouble whether he gets to the quarterback or not – and he’s gotten to the quarterback nine times this season already.

A capacity crowd is expected this evening at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium, and adding to the excitement will be the appearance of San Antonio television station KSAT-12 who has made tonight’s game the focus of its weekly “Big Game Coverage.”

“This is the opportunity we wanted. Sixteen years ago, when those guys won that last district championship, you know those younger guys never thought it would take this long to play for another district championship again,” Hoffman said. “You can’t take that stuff for granted. You never know when there will be another game like this. You have to go out and play as hard as you can for every single snap. Tonight, every snap will be played like it’s the last.”

Tonight’s game will be played at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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Additional stats and information provided by Maxpreps.com and the San Antonio Express-News.

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