Diamondbacks Strike Down Lobos 35-21

MISSION — The Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks advanced to the area round of the playoffs after defeating the Brownsville Lopez Lobos 35-21 in a bi-district matchup at Richard Thompson Stadium. "It was just a total team victory," said Pioneer head coach Eddie Galindo. "Offense came up big when they needed to. Defense came up big when they needed to."

The game began with the Lobos showcasing a strong ground attack, taking an early 7-0 lead with approximately eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. Pioneer responded promptly, capitalizing on an interception around the five-minute mark. With about two minutes left in the quarter, the Diamondbacks scored a rushing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

Brownsville Lopez reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter, making it 14-7. Both defenses tightened, forcing punts on consecutive drives. Late in the quarter, Pioneer leveled the score at 14-14 with a rushing touchdown. A pivotal fumble recovery by Pioneer with under two minutes on the clock set up a passing touchdown in the final minute, giving them a 21-14 lead at halftime.

Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, Pioneer extended their lead to 27-14. The Diamondbacks' defense dominated the third quarter, effectively shutting down the Lobos' offense and recovering another fumble. "Our defense stepped up big when they needed to," Galindo noted. "They had (Eddie Slovak) who was a Valley leading rusher, and we had to contain him. He got his plays in early, and we held on at the end."

In the fourth quarter, Pioneer solidified their lead with a rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, making it 35-14. The Lobos added a late touchdown but were unable to overcome the deficit. When asked about standout players, Galindo emphasized the collective effort. "We had running backs who did well, Will [Goodloe] did well, we had some receivers make some catches," he said. "It was a team victory."

Looking ahead to their next game against Corpus Christi Miller, Galindo acknowledged the challenge. "They're an explosive, veteran football team," he remarked. "They're well-coached, they have a lot of tradition, and we're going to have our hands full. We're just going to go out there and try to eliminate our mistakes, keep the ball away from them, eliminate the big plays, and just fight, grind, and try to win plays."

The Diamondbacks showcased a strong performance on both sides of the ball, particularly in the second half. Their ability to capitalize on turnovers and execute key plays secured their victory and advancement in the playoffs.