MISSION-Forget what the football forecasters were saying concerning what Week 0 contest would be game of the week, none of them had the foresight to foreshadow the drama that took place at Tom Landry Stadium Friday night.  In epic fashion the Mission Eagles relinquished an18 point lead only to rally back and win the game in dramatic fashion, a 21-19 victory over the La Joya Palmview Lobos.

The contest started off well for the Eagles. They benefited from two botched punts by the Lobos to score two safeties and got two touchdown tosses of 9 and 10 yards respectively by quarterback Juan Rios to put them up 19-0 heading into the second quarter.

It was there that the Lobos defense finally got the Eagles draw play under control and corralled their offensive specialties. However, the Lobos offense was finding a tough go at it as well, until they finally found pay dirt with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Lobos finally got on the board to cut into the Eagle lead on a 9-yard TD pass from QB Sammy Bacillo wide receiver Brandon Guerra.

With their backs against the wall in the fourth quarter Palmview was forced to go for it on 4^th and goal from the Eagles 18-yard line and Bacillo came through finding Mar Gonzalez in the corner of the end zone.  Lobos’ kicker Lorenzo Mendoza failed on the extra point attempt and the Eagles held an 18-13 lead.

From there the Lobo defense held the Eagles offense in check and there special teams unit recovered a bad snap when Mission as forced to punt deep in their own territory.  That’s when Bacillo threw his third TD of the game, a 12-yard strike to Rolando Menchaca.  They failed don their two point conversion but finally had a 19-18 lead and a wave of momentum on their side.

However, two unsportsmanlike penalties helped the Eagles gain huge amounts of real estate and their kicker Aldo Sanchez converted on a 42-yard field goal with just over three minutes remaining.  The Eagles forced the Lobos to punt on their last possession and held on for the 21-19 victory.

For Mission coach Mario Pena the adversity of the contest was not ideal but he was glad to come away with the win. “It was not a pretty win, turnovers cost us 14 points and we had one of our better receivers out with food poisoning” he said. “When they took the lead in the fourth quarter I reminded them that this game is not over.”

For Eagles kicker Aldo Sanchez, whom Pena dubbed his “secret weapon” the chance to win the game for his ballclub was a dream scenario. “I feel great, my teammates were telling me I needed to make it,” he stated.  “For a kicker to be recognized by his coach in such a manner is such an honor.”

The resiliency the Lobos showed in coming back pleased coach Manuel Flores, however he admitted the Lobos had spotted the Eagles too many points.

“We battled back, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole,” he pondered. “I’m proud of the grit we showed and we can built off of this and get better next week.”

The Lobos will try and find their victory of the season in the same stadium where they christened there 2012 campaign with bittersweet loss against Mission Veterans Patriots on Thursday.