Pleasanton shut out in second half to drop district opener




Pleasanton’s Louis Arguijo (77) and JJ Morales (24) make a tackle. J GARCIA | COURTESY PHOTO

Pleasanton’s Louis Arguijo (77) and JJ Morales (24) make a tackle. J GARCIA | COURTESY PHOTO

The Pleasanton Eagles (6-1, 0-1) took their first loss of the season, a 20-13 defeat against Gonzales (5-1, 1-0), after scoring the first two touchdowns of the game in the first half. The team was held scoreless in the second half, with the offense limited to 99 total yards.

The Eagles took an early lead in their opening series with an 11- play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 4th-and-goal seven-yard touchdown pass from Nathaniel Acevedo to tight end Garrett Lopez. Pleasanton converted on third down twice, including a 43-yard pass from Acevedo to wide receiver Nathan Bosquez on 3rdand 8. The drive took up 6:28 of game clock.

Pleasanton added to their lead with seconds remaining in the half on a two-yard Acevedo quarterback scramble. Earlier in the drive, the Eagles opted to go for it on 4thand 7 on the Gonzales 41. Acevedo found Bosquez for another big play, this time a 39-yard reception that brought the offense to the Gonzales 2. The senior quarterback called his own number, scrambling away from Gonzales defenders to score the touchdown. The high snap on the extra point was recovered by the Eagles, but a quick tackle in the backfield gave Pleasanton a 13-0 lead with three seconds remaining in the half.

Acevedo finished the half 8-for-16 with 124 yards and a touchdown and three rushes for six yards and a score. Bosquez had four receptions for 101 yards.

The Eagles offense stalled in the second half, gaining just 99 total yards, including 46 yards on the ground and 53 yards over the air. Acevedo struggled to get away from the Gonzales defense as he was sacked, had a pass batted down at the line and hit multiple times as he threw. The signal caller went just 4-for-11 for 53 yards passing with two interceptions in the second half. Meanwhile, Bosquez didn’t record a reception in the half, while senior wide receiver Dalton Hobbs was limited to a 10-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Hobbs finished the game with three receptions for 26 yards.

After going up 13-0, the Eagles’ offensive drives ended in a punt, interception, interception, punt and time expiring.

The Gonzales Apaches would score on a 55-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter, then later on a one-yard rush after a timely interception to go up 14-13. Then with 31 seconds remaining, Gonzales senior quarterback Heath Henke scored the Apaches’ third touchdown of the night, a three-yard dash, to give Gonzales what would be the 20-13 victory over Pleasanton.

Pleasanton hosts Boerne (4-1, 0-0) Friday, Oct. 18, for their Hall of Honor game at 7:30 p.m. The Boerne Greyhounds come off a bye.

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