0
0-1 , 0-0
66
Winner
1-0 , 0-0
0-1 , 0-0
0
66
Winner
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
28 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 66 |
Game Recap: Football |
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – In a game nearly four years in the making, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros football team won its inaugural game, presented by Bert Ogden Auto Group, beating Sul Ross State 66-0 on Saturday in front of 12,726 fans inside Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium and approximately 20,000 fans around the stadium, including those who watched the games on screens in the tailgating areas.
Four years after the UTRGV student body resoundingly approved a referendum that included starting football and a marching band and expanding the spirit programs, the Vaqueros (1-0) came out fast, as the defense started with four-straight three and outs while the offense scored on eight of its nine drives, the first five of which averaged three plays and 1:08.
Senior Sharyland Pioneer alum Eddie Lee Marburger went 18-for-19 for 365 yards and five touchdowns, starting with a 50-yard pass to sophomore Xayvion Noland. Marburger found sophomore Ismael Smith Flores with a 6-yard pass on the next drive followed by a 3-yard angle pass to freshman Tony Diaz.
On the next drive, the Vaqueros started with a reverse to Noland with Marburger serving as the lead block to help Noland rush for 52 yards down to the 1-yard line. Junior Djouvensky Schlenbaker followed with a rush up the middle to give the Vaqueros a 28-0 lead after the first quarter.
After starting the second quarter with another stop, Marburger connected with Noland on a 76-yard touchdown to put the Vaqueros up 35-0.
Noland finished with two catches for 126 yards, part of 178 total yards, while receiving two touchdowns.
Sophomore Brysen Gardner converted the extra point on each of the first five touchdowns.
The Vaqueros’ next drive lasted 12 plays across 5:15 for 74 yards ending in a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman TJ Dement.
The Vaqueros capped the first half with a four-play, 95-yard drive over the course of 43 seconds capped by a 61-yard touchdown from Marburger to junior Tavian Cord to make the score 49-0.
The Vaqueros opened the second half with a nine-play, 67-yard drive capped by a Dement touchdown to make the score 56-0.
Dement finished with nine rushes and one reception for 38 total yards and two touchdowns.
Freshman San Benito alum Fabian Garcia rushed for a touchdown late in the third to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive and make the score 63-0.
Gardner added a field goal at the end of the third to make the score 66-0.
The Lobos (0-1) were held to 75 total yards, compared to 673 for the Vaqueros, as UTRGV’s defense racked up nine tackles for loss in the shutout. The Vaqueros tabbed four sacks and recovered one fumble. Redshirt freshman linebacker Jaiden Haygood led the defense with six tackles.
The Vaqueros play their first-ever road game on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. at Prairie View A&M in a game that can watched on SWAC TV. Fans also listen locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the Radio Para Mi app.
Support UTRGV Football | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube
