Stunned: Last minute Buda Johnson field goal stuns Falcons, ends season in Round 2
SAN ANTONIO — With less than two minutes left in regulation, Buda Johnson Joe Margiotta lined up for a 32-yard field goal to give his team the lead.
On the opposite side stood the RGV’s last football team standing, the Los Fresnos Falcons, looking to block the field goal and keep their third round hopes alive.
Their hopes were not to become a reality, with the senior nailing the field goal and the Jaguars defense forcing a turnover on downs on the ensuing drive to end the Falcons season with a 23-20 loss in the Class 6A DI area round Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ,” Los Fresnos junior quarterback Robert Pineda said. “Even if we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, I want to thank everyone on this team. We didn’t get that outcome, but the effort was amazing. I wouldn’t trade this team for the world. I love every single one of these guys. I love all my coaches. It was just an amazing feeling. You can’t even be sad about it because we tried so hard.”
After a slow first half, the game turned into a track meet during the third quarter, with the two teams combining for 28 points during the period.
A three-yard touchdown pass from Pineda to Salazar opened the second-half scoring for the Falcons, with the junior-to-junior connection giving Los Fresnos a 13-6 lead.
A 99-yard touchdown return by Buda Johnson’s Tim Mata on the ensuing kickoff quickly erased the Falcons lead, tying the game at 13 midway through the quarter.
Los Fresnos wasted no time in answering, with Pineda hitting sophomore Diego Torres in stride for a 71 yard touchdown to put the Falcons back on top 20-13 with 6:13 left in the third.
Buda Johnson followed with an explosive play of its own, with running back Kael Hatnot taking a carry 57 yards all the way down to the nine before finding the end zone two plays later on a nine-yard touchdown run to tie the game 20-20 heading into the fourth.
Both offenses stalled out during the final period, neither able to muster first downs for three straight drives resulting in a string of three consecutive punts.
A short field with less than five minutes left in the game, however, allowed the Jaguars to move the ball just enough, marching 33 yards on nine plays to set up the go-ahead score with 1:44 remaining.
Los Fresnos got one last chance at the rally, driving all the way to their opponents 41 before turning it over on downs to end the game and effectively end the football season in the RGV. Several hundreds of fans were in the stands during the game.
“It is a beautiful thing to see all the community,” Pineda said. “For everyone to rally for the Valley. We left on Friday at 1 and it was like a parade out there. This is a beautiful thing for the Valley. I’m sorry I let them down. Hopefully we can get a different outcome next year. I’m thankful for everyone who came out. We wouldn’t be who we are without them.”
Pineda finished the game with 146 yards and three touchdowns through the air, also adding 127 yards on the ground. Salazar added three catches for 18 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore Diego Torres accounted for 117 total yards and one score.
Pineda, Salazar and Torres are just three of several players set to return for the Falcons next year.
“To the seniors, goodbye and I love y’all,” Salazar said after the loss. “The upcoming underclassmen, y’all get ready because we’re coming.”
