Broncos “Surprise” Armadillos 51 to 23
By Ray Glasscock
“In a district full of dynamic, versatile athletes, it’ll be the overlooked Armadillos that prove steady play wins,” predicted the forecasters at Dave Campbell’s TexasFootball.com. Dave Campbell picked San Saba to win our district based on the fact that San Saba returned their entire offensive and defensive lines. Throughout the first seven weeks of this season, the “experts” on most of the football Internet forums have dismissed the accomplishments of the Broncos. As I was videoing the game and listening to the San Saba radio station, the announcers kept saying how surprised they were at the speed and quickness of the Broncos. Many times they commented that they knew the Broncos could score, but they were almost continuous in their praise of the speed, quickness, and toughness of the Broncos’ defense.
The Broncos received the opening kickoff. The Armadillos disrupted the first series by effective blitzing and forced the Broncos into their first three and out since the Forsan game.
After a Clayton Parks’ punt, the Dillos started on the 50 yard line. On their second play, Ryan Pannell handed off to Zack Davis on the counter play and he gained 30 yards to the Broncos’ 20 yard line. Three plays later, Word Hudson intercepted Pannell in the end zone and returned it to 25 yard line. After a five yard run by Zach Badeaux, Imoni Cross ran wide from the “wildcat” formation and sped down the right side line for a 70 yard touchdown. Kade Wimberley (Mr. W) kicked the PAT and the Broncos led 7 to 0 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
“I have heard about this Imoni Cross. He runs like a quarter horse, can cut on a dime, and give you a nickels change!” commented the San Saba radio announcers. Later in the game, after a hard hit on a Dillo receiver by Dallas Payne, they commented, “That hit was a slobberknocker!”
The Armadillos started their next drive at their 15 yard line after Jesus Vasquez and friends stopped the kickoff return. The first two runs lost yards. This led to more compliments from the announcers. “We can’t really tell who made the tackle for the Broncos, as there are so many white shirts on each tackle. On most plays, there are three Broncos standing and the other eight are getting off our runner.” After completing a pass short of the first down, the ‘Dillos had to punt and they intentionally kicked it out of bounds keeping it out of Cross’s hands.
The Broncos started their drive at their 42 yard line. After one first down, the Dillos’ defense stepped up and stuffed some Bronco running plays. Then Parks rolled to his left and threw to Cadesman Pope. The smaller San Saba player committed pass interference, and the penalty kept the drive alive at the San Saba 35 yard line. Parks made the play of the drive when he rolled to his left and was about to be sacked for a loss when he spun away from the tacklers and started back to his right. He spotted Hudson open and threw to him. Hudson almost scored as he was pushed out of bounds inside the five yard line. On the first play of the second quarter, Badeaux scored from one yard out, as all he had to do was follow Kyle Patlan and Damon Evans into the end zone. Mr. W kicked the PAT and the score was 14 to 0 with 11:55 left in the second quarter.
Once again, the Bronco special teams stopped the San Saba returner short of the 20 yard line. Two running plays lost yardage under several Bronco tacklers. Pannell dropped to pass, and Pope hit him as he was trying to pass. The ball popped into the air, and Payne grabbed it for the easiest pick six of his career. After Wimberley’s PAT, the Broncos led 21 to 0 with 11:22 left in the second quarter.
Hagen Kennedy led the Bronco tacklers as the San Saba return man was stopped at the 21 yard line. Pannell attempted two passes. One was dropped as Hudson closed for the kill, and Cross leveled the other receiver causing him to drop the ball. On fourth down, the ball was centered over the San Saba punter’s head. The punter attempted to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone, but he whiffed. The Broncos just missed recovering for a touchdown, as the ball went out the back of the end zone. Blake Esparza was credited with the safety, and the Dillos were now down 23 to 0 with 9:27 left in the second quarter.
One minute and 27 seconds later, Cross scored on a 33 yard run, and Mr. W kicked the PAT for a 30 to 0 lead with 8:00 minutes left in the first half.
San Saba responded with a nice drive of their own marching to a first and goal. But the Bronco defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs. San Saba got the ball back as Parks threw his second interception of the season. On third and long, 6’ 3” Luke Cox grabbed a pass over 5’4” Ryan San Miguel giving the Dillos a first and goal. They scored on a dive up the middle and, after the PAT, the score stood 30 to 7 with 2:15 left in the first half.
It didn’t take the Broncos long to respond. Badeaux had a 30 yard kickoff return. Edward Garza got around the left end for a 15 yard gain. Parks threw deep to Hudson who did his patented leap over the defender to catch the pass. Then he threw the defender to ground and walked into the end zone completing a 42 pass play for a touchdown. Mr. W kicked the PAT, and the score at the half was 37 to 7 in favor of the Broncos.
In the second half, San Saba scored on a trick play. Pannell handed off to a runner who was going to his right. The runner stopped and threw back to Pannell who scored. After the PAT, the score stood at 37 to 14 with 11:11 left in the third quarter.
San Saba attempted an onsides kick after their score. The ball was kicked at their 40 yard line, and it had such a spin on it that it went out of bounds at their 40 yard line. After a five yard penalty for illegal procedure, the Broncos had a short field. Badeaux gained 17 yards on a run. Parks threw to Hudson who showed that he can also give change for a dime as he caught the ball near the 15 yard line. He head faked to his right, broke back to his left, and raced into the end zone for an 18 yard touchdown pass play. Mr. W remained perfect, and it was now 44 to 14 with 10:13 left in the third.
At 7:59 left in the third, San Miguel got his revenge. He picked off a Pannell pass and returned it 51 yards for the last Bronco score of the game making it 51 to 14.
Both teams let the reserves get some playing time, and the Dillos scored a touchdown and a safety in the fourth making the final score 51 to 23.
This week the Broncos return to Bronco Stadium to take on the Ozona Lions. Be sure and come to the game to watch the Broncos extract a pound of flesh from the Lions!