When I arrived at the stadium, Dave Ostmo, the producer asked me to keep track of of each teams starting yard line so we can get an average. I never tracked this in the past, but I can always add something else to my stat board. It took me a few minutes to figure that calculation out! Boy, I sure do hope my math was correct! A few games ago, Dave wanted me to keep track of percentage of running and passing plays. That was really easy for me.
I am very glad I was inside since it was very very very windy! I probably would have floated away and landed at the San Antonio Zoo (the zoo is across the street from the stadium)!!!! Both teams had punts and the wind carried the football to the 1 yard line!
So, at 7:00pm, we are live on TV with the opening graphics. Ernie and Dean had like 30 seconds before they went on the air and my stupid phone rang!!! It was my mom calling me! Doesn’t she know I am working? She was probably watching the game and forgot for a split second! I ignored the call and sent it to voicemail. My mom’s message was, “I have to tell you something!” Really!!! Wow! Unbelievable. I called my mom the next day and she was like stupid mark isn’t picking his phone up and then my dad said look at the television, he is working!!! Oh, and what she had to tell me was a friend of mine had a death in the family.
The Lanier Voks have already clinched a playoff spot in district 29-4A and Edison really needed a win to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.
Lanier’s running back, Isaac Cervantes, had 2 rushing touchdowns in the 1st quarter.
Seth Henry, an Edison wide receiver, had 2 touchdown receptions in the 2nd quarter. At halftime, it was tied at 14!
During the halftime, I provided Dave the average starting yard line, the percentage of running and passing plays, and anything stat wise that pops out to me.
Edison took the lead in the 3rd quarter with a 4 yard run from there quarterback, Joe Alvarez.
In the 4th quarter, Stephen Veliz, another running back for Lanier, scored 2 rushing touchdowns. This gave Lanier a 7 point lead with 5 minutes to go. Earlier in the broadcast, there was a graphic saying that past Edison and Lanier games on TNL have gone into overtime! Edison had 5 minutes to keep that tradition alive!
Edison scored on a 4th and goal with about a minute remaining and the extra point was good!!!
I got my 2nd overtime game of the year! Awesome! This was going to be a great finish. Stephen Veliz scored for Lanier in the 1st overtime. Edison ran a few plays but fumbled the ball and Lanier recovered! Game was over! Wow, what a tough way to end a game! Lanier won 35-28 over Edison in overtime.
Isaac Cervantes had 28 carries for 210 yards and 1 touchdown. He injured his knee late in 3rd quarter and he looked like he was a lot of pain. Ouch!!! The tackle could have been called a horse collar, but no penalty was thrown. Really sad to see injuries. Especially when it happens to the star player. Cervantes leads the team with 236 carries for 1813 yards and 25 touchdowns! His back-up was Stephen Veliz. Before he replaced Cervantes, Veliz had 1 carry for 5 yards. Veliz ended the game with 28 carries for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cervantes is a Junior and Veliz is a Sophomore! Impressive stats for those 2 players!
Edison’s quarterback, Joe Alvarez, was 6 for 16 passing for 93 yards with 2 interceptions and 3 touchdowns. He also had 24 carries for 100 yards and 1 touchdown. Andre Richardson, the running back, had 13 carries for 76 yards and 2 catches for 51 yards and 1 touchdown. Seth Henry, a wide receiver, had 3 catches for 25 yards and 2 touchdowns.
We gave the player of the game to Isaac Cervantes. I hope he is OK.
When I got home from the game, my sweet wife was waiting for me. She had dinner made! Matzah ball soup and turkey burgers!! I have a great life and wife!!!