LOS FRESNOS - Ball control and defense?

These aren't the same Scott Ford-coached Falcons you've come to love.

The Falcons went to the ground on offense and terrorized on defense, staying perfect on the season and handing Brownsville Pace its first loss of the season, 31-14 on Thursday. It was both squads' District 32-5A opener.

The Falcons (1-0 district, 4-0 overall) rushed for 252 yards on 35 carries and controlled the game from the beginning.

"We've been known in the past for our not-so good defense and this was our first pound-'em type of game," Ford said. "We're signing this (game) ball and putting it in out trophy case."

Not to be outdone by teammate and pal Brandon Kretz, Luis Campos made sure he'd get some ink this week.

Last week, Kretz led Los Fresnos to a win, tossing four touchdowns and 326 yards in a win against McAllen Rowe.

This time the field belonged to Campos.

The junior tailback rushed for 142 yards and all four of Los Fresnos' touchdowns on 19 carries.

"It just happens," Campos said with a smile. "One week someone has a good game and the other week someone else does. But this feels good."

For most of the night, it looked good on defense too.

Pace (0-1, 3-1) drew first blood, scoring on an Alexis Garza one-yard run with 2:59 left in the first quarter.

But Esai Rivera made sure the celebration didn't last too long. The junior returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to the nine-yard line.

Offsetting penalties nullified a nine-yard scoring run by Kretz on the first play. But it worked out for Campos, who covered the same nine yards for his first score.

From then on, it seemed like cruise control for the Falcons.

Campos scored from two yards out with one tick left in the first quarter and added a 24-yard score in the second, in which Falcon receivers did a fine job of blocking downfield.

Campos scored his fourth TD in the third from three yards with 8:59 left in the period.

But it was the Falcon defense that kept this one from turning into a shootout.

Pace quarterback Matt Wolfe completed 14-of-24 passes for 171 yards but threw three interceptions ending three threatening drives.

Billy Walsdorf picked off the first at the Los Fresnos 30 - which led to Campos' third score. The second pick - by Erbey Perez - came at the LF eight-yard line, halting another impressive Pace drive.

"We respect their offense but we didn't come here expecting to give up points and yards," Ford said. "Pace is a track-meet football team and our defense did a great job of keeping them out of the end zone."

Jonathan Campos intercepted Wolfe in the end zone to end another drive in the third quarter.

Pace added a touchdown late in the fourth. Garza, who rushed for 92 yards on 23 carries and two scores, scored from six yards with 1:26 left in the game.

"We had our chances early but little by little they started playing their game and it got out of hand for us," Pace head coach Rene Medrano said. "We played good in spurts but you can't play in spurts in this district."

Sep 23, 2005 - 09:33:43 CDT