Pecos River Shootout Sees Expected End
    by Jessica Ray, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, October 9, 2007

It is not easy being on the road. At week 5, Monahans had only played at home on time, and a 1-3 season record added insult to injury. After playing some tough preseason teams, the team and its loyal fans were ready to see some district action and an over due win.

Monahans went into the first quarter having lost the coin toss. Pecos decided to receive, but quickly lost possession when forced to punt. Sean Britton returned the kick-off to Pecos' 45-yardline. At a third-and-three, Quincy Titus scored his season's first touchdown, when he caught a Steven Valles pass just over three minutes into the game to give the Loboes a 6-0 lead. The kick attempt failed.

After the kick-off, Pecos took possession of the ball on their own 37. That is when the surprises began. Pecos was passing after little passing in the season. Take last week's game, for example. Out of over 60 plays in the game, only 2 were passing plays. The Eagles used this new strategy to some success. They were able to get some first downs and delve well into Lobo territory.

Two first downs later, the Eagles were facing a fourth and 12 from the Lobo 15-yard line when they decided to go for a field goal. The Loboes blocked the kick, but the official called a "roughing-the-kicker" penalty on the Loboes, which gave the Eagles another first down, this time at the Lobo 7 yard line. The defense was too resistant to allow Pecos into the Lobo end zone, so at fourth and goal, five yards from goal, they set up for another kick. This was one good, and the Eagles got on the scoreboard with 3.

It only took three first downs following the kick-off return for the Loboes to revisit the goal line. When (#8) Fabian Flores ran the ball from the 35-yard line, fans were cheering the touchdown. However, the game official called "holding" on the Loboes, who were put back at their own 45-yard line.

Pecos recovered a Monahans fumble at the Eagles' 48-yard line. After a six-yard gain, Pecos cheered a five-yard pass that gave them a first down at the Monahans 12 in the final moments of the first quarter. The Eagles were able to put a touchdown on the board in the first play of the second quarter with a pass into touchdown-land that, after the kick, gave them the 10-6 lead over Monahans.

Two plays later, second and seven for Monahans saw another fumble. The scene was all too familiar as turnover-terror started to rear its ugly head. Pecos took advantage of the possession and turned it into a touchdown with 5:37 remaining in the half.

Two Monahans possessions later, the Green began a comeback that would carry into the second half. With less than a minute left in the second quarter, Quincy Titus made his way made his way into the end zone to bring the Loboes within five points of the Eagles at 12-17.

Pecos' #4 (Jason Dominguez), intercepted the two-point conversion pass, but was not able to turn it into points After the kickoff, Pecos earned a first down at their own 15-yard line with 52 seconds remained Monahans 12, Pecos 17 at the half.

True Monahans fans were not uneasy, as all know that the Loboes play  their best football after some halftime coaching. Both Pecos touchdowns came about following Monahans fumbles.

In the third quarter, the Loboes came back a new team, and it was apparent that the difficult pre-district season paid off.

Monahans saw a lot more Stephen Neel carries in the Loboes punted in their first  possession, they soon began to take control of the field and the game.

Just under two minutes into the third, Monahans was hit with a 10-yard holding penalty, which put them at the 50-yard line with a first down. That did not stop Sean Britton from rolling into the end zone for the 18-17 Monahans lead.

Titus carried the ball in for the two-point conversion, which put the Green three-points ahead of the Purple and Gold.

In the next possession, which occurred when Pecos was unable to dig themselves out of a penalty-induced second-and-22, Titus again crossed the line for another touchdown with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter.

Another touchdown was in the works before the end of the third quarter. This time, Matthew Montoya caught a Valles' pass just two plays after a Pecos punt.

After the kick, Monahans was ahead 34-17 with 1:40 remaining in the third.

The Loboes scored twice more before the game saw its end. About two minutes into the fourth, Clay Anthony carried the ball in from  the 32 yard line for the next touchdown. The kick did not clear the goal post, but the Loboes widened their lead to 40-17.

Pecos' pass attempts were not seeing the same results in the second half, and lost its last possession after an incomplete pass in a fourth and ten, Monahans took the ball back at the Pecos 48.

Aaron Armendariz (24) ran 17-yards for a Monahans first down. Christian Poyner (33) took five more for a second-and-five. Armendariz put the Loboes at the 14 yard line, and then brought the ball into the end zone for the night's final touchdown. The kick after was good, and put Monahans at 47-17 over Pecos.

Pecos made an admirable effort to put the ball back on the Monahans side of the field in the last three minutes of the game.

Facing another fourth-and-ten, this from from their own 19 yard line, it was pass complete for the Eagles, but it was two yards short of a first down.

Monahans was penalized for holding in the n ext possession, which put them at a second-and-20.

When Tali Fletcher (#41) move the ball into a third-and-fourth with 43 seconds remaining, the Loboes knelt the ball, having shed enough Eagle feather for the night.

The long-time rivals saw a familiar end to the annual Pecos River Shootout with Monahans on top.

Monahans is now 1-0 in district, and will play in a long-awaited home game this Friday. It will be only the second home game this season for the Loboes, who will face the Clint Lions at 7:30 pm Friday.

keyed by Laura Hinojos , Junior 07'