Penatlies Cause Lubbock Estacado to Stumble Against Sweetwater

The action quickly intensified after the Estacado Matadors secured the kickoff return from the Sweetwater Mustangs. A promising drive down the field turned chaotic when a dogpile resulted in a fumble, giving the Mustangs possession near midfield. With just over seven minutes left in the first quarter, the Mustangs found gaps in the Matadors' defense and advanced the ball to the 2-yard line. However, a defensive strip by the Matadors led to an impressive 98-yard touchdown run by junior Donivan Torrez, shifting the momentum in Estacado’s favor early in the game. A blocked extra point left the score at 6-0 for the Matadors.

After a quick turnover on downs by the Mustangs, the Matadors took over and quickly got to work. Senior running back Bobby Ross proved to be unstoppable, helping the team rack up several first downs. As they pushed into the red zone, Ross bulldozed his way into the end zone with the help of his offensive line. A successful extra point put the Matadors up 13-0 with 6:45 left in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the action slow down due to a string of penalties. The Mustangs fought hard to reach the 8-yard line, eager to get on the scoreboard. Senior running back Korda Moore pushed through to score their first touchdown of the night. Even with a successful two-point conversion, the Matadors held onto the lead at halftime, 13-8.

A muffed kickoff by the Matadors handed the ball back to the Mustangs to start the second half. Seizing the opportunity, Sweetwater charged down the field and found the end zone for a touchdown. They successfully converted the two-point attempt, taking the lead for the first time in the game and slightly shifting the momentum in their favor.

The Matadors bounced back, marching down the field. A high snap found its way to Bobby Ross, who powered into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. A missed 2-point conversion still allowed Estacado to take the lead once again, 19-16, with 8:27 left in the third quarter. 

Although the Matadors enjoyed the lead, Sweetwater quickly retaliated. Capitalizing on a series of penalties against Estacado, the Mustangs scored two more touchdowns—one just before the fourth quarter with a successful two-point conversion and another shortly after, shifting momentum back in their favor with the score at 31-19 in the fourth quarter.

To keep pace with the Mustangs, Matadors quarterback Christian Martinez connected with Cedric Ross for an impressive 65-yard touchdown with just 2:45 left on the clock. Even though the Matadors tried hard to get the ball back, they had a tough time finding any openings as the Mustangs shut down their efforts. Sweetwater then ran down the game clock, securing their victory. The Estacado Matadors ultimately fell short against the Sweetwater Mustangs, finishing the game 39-25.

Lubbock Estacado Matadors head coach Eric Ward addressed the team's high penalty margin, emphasizing the need to return to practice, refine their skills, and prepare for future games. Watch that interview here:

The Lubbock Estacado Matadors travel north to Canyon to take on the undefeated Randall Raiders on Thursday, September 26, at Happy State Bank Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.