Patriots look for first win against Golden Eagles
Progress Times photo by Mario Magallon.
Tonight at Tom Landry Stadium, the 0-5 Veterans Memorial Patriots face off against the 1-4 Hanna Golden Eagles. Both teams are looking to gain momentum heading into district play, making this final non-district game a must-win for each side. While the Patriots have struggled through five consecutive losses, the Golden Eagles enter the game fresh off their first win of the season, itching to build a winning streak.
One thing both teams have in common is a challenging non-district schedule. Both the Patriots and the Golden Eagles have faced some tough opponents in their first few games. Patriots head coach David Gilpin told Progress Times about the importance of playing tough competition early on. “It’s by design that we schedule this kind of schedule in non-district play,” Gilpin went onto say, “We’ve always done it. We’re going to schedule the best teams that we can schedule. When we say: Anybody, anywhere, anytime, we mean it.”
Gilpin acknowledges that this approach has resulted in losses, but he’s confident that it will pay off in the long run. “It’s going to end up in some losses. It’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt, but we know that going into it. Our program is measured by championships won. Are we happy to be 0-5? No, we are not. We are wounded. Our pride is wounded. We’ve taken some losses, but we are not dead.”
Despite the winless start, Gilpin remains optimistic about the team’s chances moving forward. “Whether we’re 0-6 or 1-5 after Hanna, our record after that is 0-0,” The Patriots will then begin district play. Gilpin continued, “Mission Veterans Memorial will be ready, and we expect to go out there and play for a district championship over the course of those four games. We expect to be in the playoffs and we expect to win in the playoffs.”
The Patriots have shown flashes of potential, particularly when moving the ball downfield, but turnovers have plagued them this season. Costly mistakes have often given opponents extra opportunities to score, and cleaning up those errors is a priority heading into tonight’s game. “We’re turning the ball over at an alarming rate to say the least, and that has to stop.” Gilpin knows that if his team can eliminate those mistakes and find consistency on offense, then they’ll be able to put everything together and come out with a win.
Despite the tough start, Gilpin is proud of the way his team has handled adversity. “The attitude of our kids is phenomenal. Our kids are still all in. Our coaching staff is still all in,” He told us, “We’re still looking to go out there and compete for a district championship and for playoff wins. For us to stay together and hold it together speaks volumes about our coaching staff and our kids. They’re not letting adversity get to them.”
The Hanna Golden Eagles have found success on the ground this season. Their rushing attack has been the foundation of their offense, accounting for 960 of their nearly 1,300 total yards. Seven of their nine touchdowns this season have come from running the ball, and they’ll likely continue to rely on their ground game tonight.
The Patriots’ defense will have their hands full trying to contain the Golden Eagles’ rushing attack. Leading tackler Aiden Uribe and linebacker Ryan Guerra will be key in stopping the run. Up to this point, the Patriots’ defense has done well against the run, but tonight’s matchup will be a big test for this defense before heading into district play.
The Golden Eagles will need to hold off the Patriots high-powered passing attack. Quarterback Cameron Sarinana has thrown for over 900 yards, recording five touchdown passes and rushing for one more this season. The Patriots have plenty of offensive weapons, including running back Benjamin Martinez and a strong receiving corps featuring Jordan Rodriguez, Robert Sharpe, Freddy Villarreal, and Julian Guerra.
Tonight’s game is about more than just winning for the Patriots, it’s about building momentum for the rest of the season. After a challenging non-district schedule, they are eager to put a win on the board and head into district play with a renewed confidence. Coach Gilpin said it best, “If you think for one second that this team is done or that our season is over, you’re absolutely wrong.”
The Hanna Golden Eagles, fresh off their first victory of the season, are determined to keep their momentum going. On the other hand, the Patriots, despite their 0-5 record, remain hopeful and resilient, trusting that their hard work will pay off in the end. One thing is certain as these teams take the field tonight: A win would pay dividends. For the Patriots, it’s a chance to prove that they’re far from finished. For the Golden Eagles, it’s an opportunity to extend their winning ways. Regardless of the outcome, this game will be a hard fought battle between two teams looking for a spark heading into distinct play.
Progress Times wishes the best of luck and safe travels to these two teams and the rest of the teams playing tonight.