Falcon's Defense limits Hanna to 13 first half yards
September 30,2005
By Cris Cobb
The Brownsville Herald

September 30, 2005 — The Los Fresnos Falcons dug a hole that a lifeless Hanna offense was never quite able climb out of Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium.

The Falcons, The Herald’s second-ranked team in the Rio Grande Valley, took advantage of nice field position and played solid defense to beat a resilient Hanna team 31-7.

“The kids were ready to play,” Los Fresnos coach Scott Ford said. “Our defense is getting better and better.”

The Los Fresnos defense held Hanna’s offense to 13 total yards in the first half and went into the locker room with a 28-0 halftime lead.

“We were able to jump out early,” said Falcon quarterback Brandon Kretz, who finished the game 12-of-22 passing with 200 yards and a touchdown. “We took advantage of our field position.”

The Golden Eagles’ offense was non-existent, committing six turnovers and punting eight times. Hanna’s defense was credited with its only score of the game, coming on an 85-yard interception return by Edward Erosa at the end of the third quarter.

“They’re ranked pretty high up and (Hanna) proved tonight that their defense is legitimate,” Ford said. “The way our defense played we have should have scored a bunch of points tonight.”

Hanna went three-and-out on their first two possessions, allowing the Falcons to start their second drive on the Golden Eagle 31-yard line. A five-yard run by Luis Campos gave Los Fresnos an early 7-0 lead. After another Hanna punt, Campos caught a 51-yard pass from Kretz on a misdirection play to set up his second touchdown of the night and put Los Fresnos up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Falcons went up 21-0 the next time they got the ball, this time on an 18-yard pass from Kretz to Jeremy Springer and recovered a Hanna fumble on the ensuing kickoff.

Hanna’s defense held, forcing a missed Los Fresnos field goal, only to have an Eli Garcia pass get intercepted and taken 25 yards the other way by Falcon defensive back Billy Walsdorf to make the score 28-0.

“Defense has been carrying us all season,” Hanna head coach Tony Padilla said. “I know we have one of the best defenses around. We just kept them on the field too long.”

Erosa’s interception return and a late Falcon field goal made it 31-7. Padilla was frustrated with an abysmal offensive performance.

“We don’t have a passing game,” Padilla said. “But if it takes six games, I’m going to find one.”

Padilla said that their lack of a passing attack allows teams to “stack up” against them and makes every game a struggle. And despite Garcia’s five interceptions, he still has faith in the junior quarterback.

“He’s a good quarterback right now, but he’s going to be great,” Padilla said.

For Ford and the Falcons, the only damper on a solid win might have been an ankle injury to star running back Luis Campos who returned on crutches in the second half.

“I know for him to come out of the game, he’s got to be hurting,” Ford said.

ccobb@brownsvilleherald.com