The Estacado Matadors Are 2-4A District Champions

The matchup between the Matadors and the Patriots started quickly when Liberty’s sophomore running back, Talon Wilcox, sprinted 63 yards into the endzone for a touchdown. Although the extra point was unsuccessful, the Patriots were on the board just 8 seconds into the game. Not to be outdone, Estacado responded swiftly as Dereon Walker connected with lead back Bobby Ross for a touchdown. The Matadors go for two, but it was unsuccessful. With 10:26 remaining in the first quarter, the game was tied 6-6.

After a turnover on downs for both teams, the ball shifted back to the Patriots’ side of the field. Liberty embarked on a lengthy drive, reaching the 16-yard line when quarterback Colton Bichard threw up a dime to receiver Will Hutson in the back left corner of the end zone. The touchdown gave the Patriots the lead at 13-6. However, the Matadors were not going to let the momentum slip away. Dereon Walker connected with Donivan Torrez to answer. Estacado converted a 2-point attempt to give the Matadors their first lead of the night with 4:57 remaining in the 1st quarter, 14-13.

Four scores were not enough to satisfy either team. With just 1:13 remaining, Liberty’s Colton Bichard connected with Talon Wilcox along the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown—Wilcox’s second of the night. After the extra point, the Patriots held a 20-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

After the field flipped, the Matadors and Patriots struggled to find a rhythm. Plagued by yellow laundry on the field, a series of frustrating penalties set both teams back. The 2nd quarter proved to be a stark contrast to the high-octane first, as both teams reached for momentum but ultimately could not break through. As the scoreboard siren wailed, the Liberty Patriots maintained their lead 20-14 at the half.

The 3rd quarter started sluggish, with both teams looking to find a way into the red zone. However, the Patriots turned things around when Bichard connected with freshman receiver JJ Thompson in the back left corner of the endzone, extending the Patriots’ lead to 27-14. With 5:52 remaining in the quarter and down 13 points, the Matadors knew it was time to regroup, implement their halftime adjustments, and bring their game to the field.

A string of successful 3rd down conversions fired up the Matadors and moved them to the 12-yard line. On 4th down, Donivan Torrez took the snap and powered his way into the endzone. Estacado opted to go for 2, and they executed flawlessly. With just 3:38 left in the 3rd quarter and momentum to make a comeback, Estacado narrowed the Patriots’ advantage to 27-22.

Estacado was energized and ready to rally behind their lead running back, Bobby Ross, who had recently surpassed 5,000 rushing yards as a Matador. On the 13-yard line, with 8:38 left in the 4th quarter, Ross took the handoff and powered through to score, giving the Matadors the lead. Although the 2-point conversion attempt fell short, the excitement on the sidelines was enough to envision the possibility of being district champions.

Liberty struggled to regain the rhythm they had in the first half, facing a formidable surge from the Matadors’ defense that kept the Patriots from crossing Estacado’s 30-yard line. Following a punt that landed near the 50, Matador Cedric Ross maneuvered through the Patriots’ defenders, weaving his way down the field and setting Estacado up in prime red zone territory. As Bobby Ross entered the field, all eyes were on him, and he did not disappoint. Another handoff at the 13-yard line saw him into the end zone for his 3rd touchdown of the night. To top it off, Ross successfully converted a two-point attempt, extending the Matadors lead to 36-27 with just 5:04 left on the game clock.

Estacado’s defense stepped up, creating a handful of challenging situations for Liberty’s offense and forcing them into tough passing scenarios. A swatted pass followed by a sack left the Patriots faced with a 4th down and another punt.

Matadors’ running back, James Bozeman, then took a handoff, followed his lineman’s blocks, Bozeman through Liberty’s defense all the way into the endzone for an impressive 58-yard touchdown. With the cherry on top, none other than Bobby Ross converted the 2-point attempt. Although 2:36 remained in the 4th quarter, the Matadors knew they had sealed their win to a District title. The clock ticked to 0, and the Estacado Matadors celebrated their hard-fought comeback against the Liberty Patriots, proudly earning the title of 2-4A District champions.

Bobby Ross took time out of the celebration to give his thoughts on his and his team’s performance after the game. Watch that interview below:

Head Coach Eric Ward proudly talked about his guys after the game. Watch that interview below:

The Estacado Matadors are off next week as they wait for the 2024 regular season to come to a close. The Matadors will be the No. 1 seed coming out of their district and will return to action in the Bi-District Round.