San Saba's 8th Grade Dillos rolled to an impressive 24-7 win over the Johnson City Eagles last Thursday night in Johnson City.

Johnson City kicked the ball all the way into the end zone to start the game. The Dillos started on their own 20 yard line. Jordan Watson was the workhorse for the Dillos. Watson had runs of 3, 7, 2, 3, 35, & 7 yards. Kelan Verette ran for 3. Watson broke loose on a 20 yard touchdown run, the PAT came up short. Good blocking by Dallas Caldwell, Kolton Ellis, Daniel Calderon, Cosme Diaz, Asa Harbour, Ismael Ramirez, Wesley Gates, Kristian McCoury, Gunnar Hibler, and Brian Rogers sustained the 80 yard drive. San Saba led 6-0. San Saba kicked to Johnson City. The Dillo defense was up to the occasion. Led by linebackers Jordan Watson and Kolton Ellis and linemen Ismael Ramirez, Kristian McCoury and Brian Rogers, the Dillos forced an Eagle punt. The Dillo offense took over. Jordan Watson ran for 9 yards before the quarter changed.

Dallas Caldwell ran for 7 yards to open the second quarter. Watson added runs of 11 and 5 yards. A pass from Kelan Verette to Daniel Calderon netted 15 yards. Watson added runs of 5 and 4 yards before breaking loose on a 10 yard touchdown scamper. Kelan Verette added the extra points, 14-0 Dillos. Good blocking by Kolton Ellis, Ruben Aquirre, Ashton Krueger, J.T. Hibler, Dustin Sloan, Brandon Amstead, and Wesley Gates opened holes for Watson. San Saba kicked to the Eagles. Jordan Watson had a bone jarring hit on the kick off. Good defense by Ruben Aquirre, Kelan Verette, Dallas Caldwell, J.T. Hibler, Dustin Sloan, Brandon Amstead, Dylan Rosales, and Brian Rogers slowed the Eagle offense. Daniel Calderon sacked the Eagle quarterback causing a fumble recovered by Ismael Ramirez on the Eagle 24 yard line. A fixed up Dillo squad capitalized on the turnover. Jordan Watson ran for 11 yards, Caldwell added 3. Kelan Verette ran left, picked up blocks from McCoury, Gunnar Hibler, and Harbour enroute to a 10 yard touchdown. Cosme Diaz added the PAT, 22-0 Dillos. After the kickoff, the Dillo defense kept the Eagle offense at bay with good defense by Dylan Rosales, Dustin Sloan, T.J. Hibler, Kelan Verette and Dallas Caldwell. The half ended 22-0 Dillos.

San Saba kicked to Johnson City to start the second half. The Eagle offense used most of the 3rd quarter to drive down and score. The Eagles scored on a pass play from 12 yards out. They kicked the extra point, 22-7 Dillos. Even though they scored, Daniel Calderon had a big hit during the drive. Dustin Sloan had a good solo tackle. Johnson City tried an on side kick that was scooped up and returned by Ruben Aquirre to the Eagle 45. San Saba fumbled the next play but recovered it. They lost yardage the next play and then an incomplete pass added up to 4th down. Verette punted for the Dillos and nailed a good one, pinning the Eagles at their own 10 yard line. A penalty moved the ball back 5 yards. Ruben Aquirre and Jordan Watson had a good hit the next play, Kelan Verette nailed the big Johnson City running back for a safety the next play to make it 24-7 Dillos, as the fourth quarter began.

Johnson City kicked to San Saba after the safety. Kelan Verette returned the kick 15 yards to near midfield. Jordan Watson ran for 5, 4, and 6 yards. A pass from Verette to Watson gained 16 and a first down. A pass to Aguirre was incomplete. Jordan Watson gained 8 on an option play. Another Verette to Watson option gained 10. Watson ran for 2, Verette ran for 12 yards down to the 2 yard line, Watson ran for 1. Time ran out with the Dillos on the Eagle 1 yard line. 24-7 Dillos. Jordan Watson had 168 yards on 23 carries for a 7.3 yard per carry average. It was a great performance with the help of his team mates. The 8th Dillos open District play next Thursday night in Dublin following the 7th Grade game.