Vaqueros dominate Rams 61-13, remain undefeated

Vaqueros redshirt freshman running back TJ Dement breaks through the Texas Wesleyan University Rams defensive line in the first quarter tonight at the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg. The Vaqueros were victorious, finishing the game 61-13.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER

Vaqueros dominate Rams 61-13, remain undefeated

EDINBURG – Though the home shutout streak might be over, UTRGV’s defense forced five turnovers and capitalized on several errors by the Texas Wesleyan University Rams in a 61-13 rout tonight.

The Vaqueros (4-0) finish the non-conference portion of their schedule by going undefeated, including now three multi-score wins at home, while the Rams (1-2, 1-0 SAC) leave Edinburg with a loss.

UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said in the postgame news conference “the goal was to be 1-0 this week.”

“Guys did a good job in the first half. We kinda got slopped around in the third quarter [but] hats off to the guys, they finished good,” Bush said.

Redshirt senior quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger (4-0) finished tonight’s game with a touchdown pass and a touchdown run on a keeper, going 17-23 on the day. Five Vaqueros running backs also finished with touchdowns.

Marburger told reporters after the game that the offense could not succeed without help from their offensive line. As a group, the line allowed five tackles for a loss of only 16 total yards.

“It was a great team effort honestly,” he said. “I thought we ran the ball really well and the passing was there when we needed it.”

UTRGV’s defense had a whale of a game, forcing four takeaways, which the Vaqueros were keen to capitalize on. The Vaqueros scored 10 points off turnovers tonight.

Redshirt freshman defensive back Alijah Prosser, who intercepted Rams junior quarterback Cole Francis for a 52-yard pick six, said he and the defense came in with the mindset of taking advantage of opportunities given.

“We missed a few early,” Prosser said. “Like coach said, there was gonna be opportunities [for turnovers] and we had to take advantage. And that’s our mindset.”

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Tony Diaz catches the ball at the end zone scoring another touchdown for the UTRGV Vaqueros in the second quarter of tonight’s game at the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER

The Vaqueros found the end zone on two of their first three offensive drives, with running backs Djouvensky Schlenbaker (2-yard run) and TJ Dement (12-yard run) netting touchdowns.

In the second quarter, Marburger completed a 5-yard pass to wideout Tony Diaz to give them a 21-0 lead, later pushing the lead to four scores on a goal-line run by redshirt freshman running back Brennan Carroll.

UTRGV’s defense turned the heat up in the second quarter, with Prosser scoring on a pick six and the defense forcing a fumble that the Vaqueros turned into a three-point score via a field goal, ending the second half with a 40-0 lead.

The fireworks continued in the opening of the second half of the game. The Vaqueros marched down the field to set up a 32-yard quarterback run for Marburger who found the end zone, making UTRGV’s lead 47-0.

A Rams defensive back intercepted a pass from backup quarterback Aidan Jakobsohn, taking it to the house to get them on the board, cutting the lead to 47-7

In their next drive, Texas Wesleyan ate into the lead further. Junior running back Ashton Mitchell-Johnson ran in from the goal line, however the extra point was blocked, making it 47-13.

After a touchdown run on the next UTRGV drive by running back Fabian Garcia, a goal line pick, and another touchdown run, this one for 78 yards by freshman Broderick Taylor, the Vaqueros led 61-13 at the two-minute warning. This score would remain unchanged, and the Vaqueros ended tonight’s rout 61-13.

UTRGV begins its first-ever conference gauntlet on the road at 6 p.m. Saturday to take on Southeastern Louisiana University. The game will be streamable on Southland International and ESPN+.