Raul Flores, Express-News Staff Writer
Publication: San Antonio Express-News
Date: December 9, 1990
Page: 6C
There were no tears and no excuses. Marshall duo, seniors V.J. Villarreal and Nick Monreal knew a better team put an abrupt end to their magnificent season and high school careers Saturday at Alamo Stadium. Judson’s defense contained but could not shut down Marshall’s heralded trio of Villarreal, Monreal and junior Anthony Holmes, who came in with a combined 3,194 yards rushing. The Rockets soared into the big Class 5A state semifinals with a 49-30 victory over Marshall, and with the win clinched their sixth city championship in nine years.
Holmes, the only back of the three who will return next year, led the Rams with 92 yards on 16 carries, including scoring runs of 20 and 7 yards. Villarreal chalked up 87 yards on 21 carries and hauled in a 17-yard scoring pass from David Sammon with 11:43 left in the game. Monreal gained 79 on 14 totes, including a 1-yard TD late in the game. “I’m glad I can walk off this field knowing I played in the city championship game,” Villarreal said. “Intensity is a big word, and they (Judson) came out with more than we did.” Despite rolling up 258 yards on the ground, the Rams were unable to keep pace with the Rockets on the scoreboard. Judson rushed for 246 yards and passed for another 122, scoring on the first six of their eight offensive series. “We let the offense down,” linebacker Tim Woods said. “We did a poor job of tackling, we didn’t come out here ready to play, I guess.”
For Monreal and Villarreal, the loss marked an end to two brilliant rushing careers. Villarreal finished with 3,302 yards in three varsity seasons. Monreal bulldozed his way to 1,599 yards. “This wasn’t the way I wanted it to end,” Villarreal said. “But I have to give credit to Judson. They came in very aggressive from the start. They made it tough for us.” Judson opened the game with a 55-yard drive, which culminated with a 15-yard run by Randy Morgan. But the Rams tied the score at 7 with a 12-play, 71-yard march capped by Holmes’ 7-yard TD with 4:14 left in the first quarter. “We had a lot of confidence after that (tying) touchdown,” Villarreal said. “It was a big drive and showed we could move the ball. Our players showed a lot of character on that drive.” But Judson reeled off back-to-back scoring drives to take a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter and built it into a 28-14 lead
“At the start of the second half they slanted hard and took away our wide sweeps,” Monreal said. “We then tried to run inside. We countered with what we had, it just wasn’t enough.”
Marshall tried every way to penetrate the Judson defensive wall. Holmes, who looked his best on a 64-yard kickoff return, had a pair of 20-yard bursts and Monreal had romps of 19 and 13 yards. Judson zeroed in on Villarreal’s sweep and held him to four yards per carry, well below his 6.9 average. A 10-yard pickup in the first quarter was Villarreal’s longest gain. “In the locker room at the half we figured out what they were doing,” Judson defensive end Mark Soto said. “We weren’t doing anything wrong. They were playing well. We came out in the third quarter and established our defense.”
Both players were disappointed Marshall’s best-ever season ended in the quarterfinals the Rams’ deepest penetration in the playoffs. “We all had a great year; we had a great rushing year,” Monreal said. “I wish we could have gone further. We always wanted to play Judson and beat them. Maybe someday.” Marshall coach David Visentine said the composure Monreal and Villarreal held until the end of the game was a big reason the two stood tall even in defeat. “Those two guys had great careers because they have huge hearts,” Visentine said. “They never quit all season; they never quit this afternoon.”
