Minutemen win second-straight game as Ramos passes for 200 yards and 3 Tds
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Confidence and strength are key words for Memorial this season.
They are the ingredients that have bubbled to the surface for Minutemen players this year and helped them achieve things that would have been unthinkable a short time ago. While it’s too early in the season to make too many big pronouncements for a team that claimed its first first district win on the field since 2005 Friday, one thing is clear.
Memorial (3-1, 1-0) isn’t a doormat anymore.
“It’s been very beneficial,” second-year Minutemen coach Alex Guerra said of Memorial’s two non-district wins. “They learned how to win and got confidence. The best thing is that now they expect to win. They’ve come a long way for a team that was 0-10 last year.”
The Minutemen extended their winning streak to two games with a 36-15 District 29-4A victory over Southside (0-4, 0-1) at Frank Mata Stadium. Memorial took the lead 21 seconds into the contest and only briefly relinquished it.
“This means a lot,” Memorial senior receiver Richard Casares said. “It’s my senior year and we finally have a winning team. I’m living a dream.”
Despite the final margin, the homecoming victory wasn’t assured until late in the third quarter.
The Cardinals drove to the Memorial 6. Sophomore quarterback Johnny Trevino (86 yards, 24 carries) ran for 47 yards on the first two plays of the series to the 11-yard line. Memorial’s defense stiffened there, and Southside narrowly missed a 23-yard field goal attempt.
“We were prepared for that at halftime,” Guerra said. “We knew they had a big, strong quarterback and a great line. We knew they’d come right at us. We gave up a few first downs and a few throws, but when the kids really stepped up and played, we were able to get some stops.
“But, it’s a credit to Southside. They knew what to do. They kept attacking our defense. They hit us and hit us and hit us.”
Memorial took over and launched an 80-yard, seven-play drive. Junior quarterback Alfred Ramos (10 of 23, 200 yards) covered 62 yards through the air, with completions to Casares and David Manzano. The latter went 29 yards with 4:58 left in the quarter for a touchdown that increased the Minutemen’s lead to 26-9.
“It’s not just me, it’s our line,” Ramos said of Memorial’s quick-strike capability. “We have quickness. That’s why I have confidence that my receivers can get open. Whoever’s open can make a play. I just have to make my reads.”
The quickness was in stock last season. A good offseason in the weight room, Guerra said, was critical to Memorial’s ability to compete with the teams on its schedule.
“The day after the season ended last year, they jumped into the weight room and didn’t leave,” Guerra said. “Last year, teams had trouble getting around us. But when they went straight at us, they could get away with that. That’s been the biggest difference this year – that our guys are stronger.”
Southside continued to move the ball, trailing by 17, although with a greater sense of urgency. Trevino completed passes to Noah Rangel for 16 yards and David Garza for 12 on the Cardinal’s next possession.
But when Trevino took to the air on a third-consecutive play, Memorial was ready.
“We’ve just got to execute offensively,” Southside coach Paul Haberer said, “and make plays defensively.”
Casares pulled off an interception near midfield. Two plays later, Memorial had scored the clinching touchdown.
“It felt great,” Casares said. “I got a good break on my coverage. (The receiver) made a good cut, but I had the right read. I saw the pass in the air and I got the interception.”
On first down, Ramos threw 25 yards to Ivan DeAnda. Junior back Raul Rangel (84 yards, 15 carries) busted a play up the middle, breaking two or three tackles along the way, to take care of the remaining 27 yards. With 3:20 left in the third quarter, Memorial led 33-9.
Senior kicker Gabriel Robles made a 24-yard field goal on the first snap of the fourth quarter. Southside added a touchdown with just 1:13 to play when sophomore back Timmy Rodriguez (116 yards, 20 carries) scored on a four-yard run to cap his best game of the season.
Memorial only outgained the Cardinals 283-271 total yards.
Haberer rebuilt the program at Southside into a consistent district contender. Therefore, it’s understandable he has an appreciation for what Guerra and his staff have accomplished at Memorial.
“Memorial is doing a great job of executing and playing well,” Haberer said. “They’re leaving it all on the field. That program is really shaping up.”
Southside had an uphill climb from the beginning.
The Cardinals lost a fumble on their first possession. DeAnda scooped it up and ran to the Southside one-yard line. After the Minutemen were assessed a penalty, Ramos scored on a six-yard carry with 11:39 left in the opening quarter.
Ramos also finished with three passing touchdowns.
“With the way the season’s going now,” Ramos said, “we’re winning and I’ve got confidence in the team.”
The Cardinals capitalized on a Memorial miscue to take the lead with 8:13 remaining in the quarter. Jacob Collier recovered an errant punt snap in the end zone for a touchdown and Jesus Espinosa kicked the go-ahead extra point.
Later in the quarter, a short punt from Southside left Memorial 32 yards from the goal line. A first-down pass fell incomplete, but Ramos hooked up with Casares (65 yards, 2 catches) for a 32-yard touchdown on the next play. The Minutemen had a 12-7 lead when the first quarter ended.
Memorial again had problems with its punt team in the second quarter, and Robles punted the ball out of the back of the end zone to prevent a repeat of recent history. However, it gave Southside a safety and put the Cardinals within 12-9 with 5:09 at halftime.
Southside didn’t score again for nearly 30 minutes.
“We’ve got the No. 1 defense in the district,” Casares proclaimed. “We want to keep that going.”
Just 21 seconds before the half, Ramos found DeAnda (55 yards, 4 receptions) with a 13-yard strike for a 10-point advantage.
Memorial will play host to McCollum (2-2, 0-1) Thursday in a 7 p.m. game at Mata Stadium. Once again, the Minutemen will be favored.
“We’ve put ourselves in that position, and we deserve to be in that position,” Guerra said. “I think the guys will play just as hard as the pursued as they have as the pursuer.”
Southside will try to pick up its first win with a 7 p.m. home game Friday against Uvalde (2-2, 1-0).
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