The annual "Battle of the River" was expected to be a hard-hitting, close contest for Goldthwaite’s homecoming. It lived up to expectations with San Saba having a 35-15 lead going into the final quarter and hanging on to win 35-29. There were several hard hits from both teams with some causing fumbles.

Goldthwaite won the opening toss and elected to receive. San Saba kicked away from the Eagle "Starburst" return by kicking the ball short, trading field position for the potential long return throughout the entire game.

Starting at the 36, the Eagles came out in the usual wishbone formation and drove to the Armadillo 45 before Rigo DelaCruz fumbled and Luke Cox recovered at the 46 for San Saba.

San Saba surprised some people by coming out in the wishbone instead of their usual I-formation. Using the running of Allan Hale and Zach Davis, the Dillos moved the ball down the field behind the blocking of Diego Montoya, Michael McKinnerney, Tanner Weyerts, Dominic Rosales and Wil Sloan. Two passes from Ryan Pannell to Luke Cox kept the drive going. Hale finished the drive with a 5-yard run and the PAT by Rodney Ortiz put San Saba ahead 7-0 with 4:32 left in the period.

The Eagles next drive ended after three plays when Armadillo defensive tackle Wil Sloan scooped up a Tyler Horton fumble and raced towards the end zone. Sloan was tackled at the Eagle 2 yard line. Hale plunged over on the next play and Ortiz made the score 14-0.

As the 2

The teams traded punts with San Saba getting the ball at the Dillo 16. The Armadillos moved the ball out to the 47 when Allan Hale broke free on a 53-yard run for the score. Rodney Ortiz kicked the PAT and San Saba lead 21-0 in front of a shocked Eagle crowd with 3:19 left in the half.

Goldthwaite showed they were not giving up by using the remainder of the half driving for a score. Tyler Horton scored with no time left in the half. Joe Perez added the PAT and the halftime score was 21-7 in favor of the Armadillos.

The second half did not start well for San Saba. The Dillos received the kick and a hard hit on Sean Argote forced a fumble that the Eagles returned to the Dillo 4. Gary Head scored on the next play. The snap on the conversion was bobbled and Tyler Horton ran it in for 2 points making the score 21-15 only 16 seconds into the half.

The ensuing kickoff was returned by Jarrett Mathis to the Armadillo 43. Mathis was in the place of Argote who was shaken up on the previous kick but did return later in the game.

The Armadillos drove to the Eagle 16 when Ryan Pannell took advantage of the height mismatch and lobbed a pass to 6’3" Luke Cox over the shorter defender for a touchdown. Rodney Ortiz added the PAT and the lead was 28-15.

The next Eagle drive ended swiftly when Clayton Perry intercepted a Horton pass on 2

San Saba used 5 plays to score after the turnover, scoring on a 29-yard pass from Pannell to Cox. The PAT made it 35-15 with 6:29 left in the quarter.

The next Goldthwaite drive took 6:09 off the clock but produced no points when the Dillo defense held on 4

San Saba started the final period with the ball but could not move it. Goldthwaite was given excellent field position when the punt snap sailed over Russell Lowe. Lowe was able to recover but only got back to the 37.

Tyler Horton got loose on an elusive run scored on the next play. Joe Perez added the PAT and the score was 35-22 with 6:08 left.

The Eagles attempted an onside kick. The ball hit a San Saba player and stopped. Kyle Moreland recovered for Goldthwaite at midfield.

The Eagles drove for the score using 4:00 off the clock. Horton scored on a 9-yard run. The Perez PAT closed the score to 35-29.

Another onside kick was tried but this time Perez did a "pooch" kick that Luke Cox caught and fell to the ground.

After gaining a first down, San Saba was able to run out the clock and the exciting 35-29 victory. It was the first time since 2003 that the Armadillos had won the "Battle."

In many ways, San Saba beat Goldthwaite at their own game. The vast majority of Dillo plays were from the wishbone formation. Allan Hale led the Armadillos with 162 yards rushing on 20 carries and 3 TDs. Zach Davis added 35 yards, including 23 on a 3

The entire Armadillo defense held the Eagles in check most of the game with big hits, turnovers and good tackling. Cox and Wil Sloan had fumble recoveries, Clayton Perry got an interception, Isaac Jimenez seemed to be everywhere from his linebacker spot. Adding to the stops and hits were Dominic Rosales, Russell Lowe, Diego Montoya, Davis, Cervantes, Tanner Weyerts, Nathan Amstead, Sean Argote and Pannell.

In other games, Ballinger fell to 0-2 after a 3-point loss to Colorado City, Hamilton got their first win of the year against Meridian, Lago Vista faced a JV team from a new school in Bastrop that is just beginning to play football, Harper beat LaPryor for its first win, Sonora went to 2-0 against Forsan, Coleman improved to 2-0 with a win against Haskell, Ozona lost in its season opener against Iraan and Junction lost big to Mason to fall to 0-2. The opponent this week is Wall, who beat Merkel to go to 2-0. The game is at Rogan Field with kickoff set for 7:30. Come out and support the Armadillos as they drive for the playoffs.

nd quarter started, Goldthwaite was facing a 4th down. Horton was back in punt formation took the snap and started to run before finally kicking the ball. The ball bounded into the end zone.nd down and returned it to the Goldthwaite 37.th and 2 at the San Saba 30.rd down play to seal the win late in the final quarter. Alex Cervantes gained 37 yards from his fullback spot, enough to keep the Eagle defense from thinking outside on all the runs. Ryan Pannell connected on his first 6 passes, all for first downs or touchdowns. Luke Cox was the receiver on 5 of the passes for 80 yards and the 2 scores.

The annual "Battle of the River" was expected to be a hard-hitting, close contest for Goldthwaite’s homecoming. It lived up to expectations with San Saba having a 35-15 lead going into the final quarter and hanging on to win 35-29. There were several hard hits from both teams with some causing fumbles.

Goldthwaite won the opening toss and elected to receive. San Saba kicked away from the Eagle "Starburst" return by kicking the ball short, trading field position for the potential long return throughout the entire game.

Starting at the 36, the Eagles came out in the usual wishbone formation and drove to the Armadillo 45 before Rigo DelaCruz fumbled and Luke Cox recovered at the 46 for San Saba.

San Saba surprised some people by coming out in the wishbone instead of their usual I-formation. Using the running of Allan Hale and Zach Davis, the Dillos moved the ball down the field behind the blocking of Diego Montoya, Michael McKinnerney, Tanner Weyerts, Dominic Rosales and Wil Sloan. Two passes from Ryan Pannell to Luke Cox kept the drive going. Hale finished the drive with a 5-yard run and the PAT by Rodney Ortiz put San Saba ahead 7-0 with 4:32 left in the period.

The Eagles next drive ended after three plays when Armadillo defensive tackle Wil Sloan scooped up a Tyler Horton fumble and raced towards the end zone. Sloan was tackled at the Eagle 2 yard line. Hale plunged over on the next play and Ortiz made the score 14-0.

As the 2

down. Horton was back in punt formation took the snap and started to run before finally kicking the ball. The ball bounded into the end zone.

The teams traded punts with San Saba getting the ball at the Dillo 16. The Armadillos moved the ball out to the 47 when Allan Hale broke free on a 53-yard run for the score. Rodney Ortiz kicked the PAT and San Saba lead 21-0 in front of a shocked Eagle crowd with 3:19 left in the half.

Goldthwaite showed they were not giving up by using the remainder of the half driving for a score. Tyler Horton scored with no time left in the half. Joe Perez added the PAT and the halftime score was 21-7 in favor of the Armadillos.

The second half did not start well for San Saba. The Dillos received the kick and a hard hit on Sean Argote forced a fumble that the Eagles returned to the Dillo 4. Gary Head scored on the next play. The snap on the conversion was bobbled and Tyler Horton ran it in for 2 points making the score 21-15 only 16 seconds into the half.

The ensuing kickoff was returned by Jarrett Mathis to the Armadillo 43. Mathis was in the place of Argote who was shaken up on the previous kick but did return later in the game.

The Armadillos drove to the Eagle 16 when Ryan Pannell took advantage of the height mismatch and lobbed a pass to 6’3" Luke Cox over the shorter defender for a touchdown. Rodney Ortiz added the PAT and the lead was 28-15.

The next Eagle drive ended swiftly when Clayton Perry intercepted a Horton pass on 2

down and returned it to the Goldthwaite 37.

San Saba used 5 plays to score after the turnover, scoring on a 29-yard pass from Pannell to Cox. The PAT made it 35-15 with 6:29 left in the quarter.

The next Goldthwaite drive took 6:09 off the clock but produced no points when the Dillo defense held on 4

and 2 at the San Saba 30.

San Saba started the final period with the ball but could not move it. Goldthwaite was given excellent field position when the punt snap sailed over Russell Lowe. Lowe was able to recover but only got back to the 37.

Tyler Horton got loose on an elusive run scored on the next play. Joe Perez added the PAT and the score was 35-22 with 6:08 left.

The Eagles attempted an onside kick. The ball hit a San Saba player and stopped. Kyle Moreland recovered for Goldthwaite at midfield.

The Eagles drove for the score using 4:00 off the clock. Horton scored on a 9-yard run. The Perez PAT closed the score to 35-29.

Another onside kick was tried but this time Perez did a "pooch" kick that Luke Cox caught and fell to the ground.

After gaining a first down, San Saba was able to run out the clock and the exciting 35-29 victory. It was the first time since 2003 that the Armadillos had won the "Battle."

In many ways, San Saba beat Goldthwaite at their own game. The vast majority of Dillo plays were from the wishbone formation. Allan Hale led the Armadillos with 162 yards rushing on 20 carries and 3 TDs. Zach Davis added 35 yards, including 23 on a 3

down play to seal the win late in the final quarter. Alex Cervantes gained 37 yards from his fullback spot, enough to keep the Eagle defense from thinking outside on all the runs. Ryan Pannell connected on his first 6 passes, all for first downs or touchdowns. Luke Cox was the receiver on 5 of the passes for 80 yards and the 2 scores.

The entire Armadillo defense held the Eagles in check most of the game with big hits, turnovers and good tackling. Cox and Wil Sloan had fumble recoveries, Clayton Perry got an interception, Isaac Jimenez seemed to be everywhere from his linebacker spot. Adding to the stops and hits were Dominic Rosales, Russell Lowe, Diego Montoya, Davis, Cervantes, Tanner Weyerts, Nathan Amstead, Sean Argote and Pannell.

In other games, Ballinger fell to 0-2 after a 3-point loss to Colorado City, Hamilton got their first win of the year against Meridian, Lago Vista faced a JV team from a new school in Bastrop that is just beginning to play football, Harper beat LaPryor for its first win, Sonora went to 2-0 against Forsan, Coleman improved to 2-0 with a win against Haskell, Ozona lost in its season opener against Iraan and Junction lost big to Mason to fall to 0-2. The opponent this week is Wall, who beat Merkel to go to 2-0. The game is at Rogan Field with kickoff set for 7:30. Come out and support the Armadillos as they drive for the playoffs.