Beeville Jones eliminates Edcouch-Elsa

KINGSVILLE — Edcouch-Elsa’s hopes of making a third consecutive regional quarterfinal were crushed by Beeville Jones’ overpowering offense.

Backed up by a sufficient ground game, Beeville Jones quarterback Eric Soza picked apart the Yellowjackets’ secondary in helping the Trojans to a 35-21 win Friday at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville.

Soza had 171 yards passing in the first 24 minutes on 10-of-16 passing, and except for a few passes in the final two quarters, let the running game do must of the work after the half.

The Trojans (10-2), who racked up 389 yards of offense, advance to the third round of the Class 4A Division II playoffs where they will face the Cibolo Steele Knights while E-E ends the season 10-2.

“We cannot make any excuses,” ’Jackets coach Joe Solis said. “They were the better team tonight. They will keep on going and we’ll have to go home and start all over again.”

E-E trailed 28-7 early in the third quarter but mounted a charge. ’Jackets QB Erik Niño found tight end Aaron Tanguma with 5:33 left in the third for a 5-yard score to bring E-E to within 28-14. On E-E’s next possession, Niño punched it in from the 1 to make it 28-21 with 11:37 left in the game.

“As a coaching staff we knew E-E had done a good job coming back in their previous games,” Trojans coach Chris Soza said. “That is what tradition does for you. It can get you some wins.

“Lucky for us we were able to hold them off.”

But the ’Jackets had no answer for the Trojans offense. Beeville Jones marched 3 yards on 10 plays in 4:57, scoring on Richie Mendoza’s 1-yard run to put the Trojans up 35-21 with 6:40 left in the game.

During that drive, the Trojans faced a fourth-and-nine at E-E’s 35, but Trojans QB Eric Soza (15-of-42 passing for 235 yards and three TDs) connected with Robert Elizalde (six receptions for 196 yards, one TD) to keep the drive alive.

“I feel like we can throw the ball against anyone,” Chris Soza said. “We have a good scheme and we have real athletic seniors. The line does a good job of giving us time so I was confident we could throw the ball.”

The ’Jackets’ ensuing possession ended on a Niño interception, sealing the game.

E-E, which looked solid on the ground and finished with 336 total yards of offense, had a chance to tie the game at 14 right before the half but fell 1 yard short on fourth-and-five.

Beeville Jones then took the ball 87 yards in 1:10 that put the Trojans up 21-7 at the half.

“We had our chances in the first half and we didn’t take them,” Solis said. “We couldn’t score on that big drive at the end of the first half. I think that was one of the most critical moments of the game.”

Peter Rasmussen covers sports for The Monitor. You can reach him at(956)683-4448.