Post by urbuddha on Aug 31, 2013 1:27:06 GMT -6
Tivy linebacker Kyzar Myer tackles Del Rio returner Tyler Bradshaw at the Rams’ three-yard line during the first quarter of Friday’s game in Del Rio.
By Brian Algabright
DEL RIO — Tivy’s season debut wasn’t as impressive as last year, but it was effective.
The Antlers picked off Del Rio Rams quarterback Gus Sandoval four times and made two big special team plays en route to a 25-0 shutout Friday night at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium in Del Rio.
Tivy struck first in the opening quarter as the Antlers put together an 11-play drive that stalled at the Rams’ 19-yard line, resulting in a 37-yard field goal attempt by Brad Mitchell.
The kick sailed wide left, but Del Rio was called for running into the kicker and Mitchell was given a second shot.
This time, the kick split the uprights from 32 yards out and Tivy took a 3-0 lead.
After burying Del Rio deep in its side of the field on the ensuing kickoff, the Antlers got the ball back when Josh Appel picked off Sandoval and returned it 23 yards for an apparent score.
But the Antlers were called for an illegal block and were set up for a first and 10 at the Rams’ 18-yard line.
Four plays later, Adrian Medran punched the ball in from two yards out for the score.
On the ensuing point-after try, Tivy went for two, but the pass attempt was incomplete. However, Del Rio was called for a personal foul penalty on the try and Tivy was given another chance at the point.
Mitchell came on and hammered the ball for the extra point and a 10-0 Antlers lead.
The Antlers special teams got in on the act on the Rams’ next possession.
After holding Del Rio on a third and 14 to force a punt, Kerrville’s J.T. White rushed in from the left side and blocked a Braxton Bradley punt. The ball bounced away and Tivy’s Brennon Scheidle fell on it to give Kerrville the ball at Del Rio’s 41-yard line.
Medran struck again three plays later, scoring on a 17-yard run. He then forced his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion and an 18-0 Tivy lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The two teams traded possessions for the remainder of the first half, but Tivy brought an early end to Del Rio’s final drive of the half when Sean Foreman sacked Sandoval for an 11-yard loss on the final play of the first half.
Del Rio was able to stop Tivy on its opening drive of the second half and moved the ball to the Kerrville 16-yard line before opting for a field goal.
The Rams’ Colby Childress lined up to kick, but Connor Gawryszewski beat his blocker on the left side of the line and blocked the try, giving the ball back to Tivy.
After Tivy turned the ball over on downs, the Antlers defense got the ball right back when Kyzar Meyer picked Sandoval off at the Antlers’ 49-yard line.
Tivy eventually punted, but the defense came up big again when Aaron Ozuna ripped a pass away from Del Rio’s Elijah Brooks and came down with the ball at the Tivy two-yard line.
The Antlers’ final score came with just over eight minutes remaining in the game as quarterback Ryon Mays hit William Randal for a nine-yard touchdown pass.
Tivy’s defense sealed the shutout when junior cornerback Duncan Miller intercepted Sandoval to kill the Rams’ final drive.