Football Friday Night: Week Ten

Well, we have come to the end of another exciting regular season in El Paso high school football.  All the playoff teams have been set, and there are a few playoff-worthy teams that will have to, unfortunately, remain home and watch the playoffs unfold.

We will cover the Bi-District match-ups for all of our area teams but, first, let's cover the action that took place in Week Ten.

Thursday night had a pair of 1-5A match-ups that carried huge playoff implications for all four teams involved.  While El Dorado already had a playoff spot locked up, a loss to Franklin would mean they would end up the lower seed in Division, or big school division, of the 5A playoffs.  The winner of the Eastwood - Montwood game would most likely clinch the final playoff spot-- or at least force a three-way tie for the final two spots.

El Dorado played without the services of LaDerrick Wilson and still played tough before Franklin pulled away late and won 47-34.  Montwood showed their experience over the young, but talented, Eastwood squad and shut them out 21-0.

On Friday night in our N3L Optics Game of the Week, Del Valle and Canutillo played beat 'em down, grind 'em down defensive slugfest.  Del Valle to not only win to force a three-way tie atop 2-4A, but if they won by nine points or more they locked up the top seed-- based on the points system used in 2-4A to settle tie-breakers.  Del Valle, playing without star quarterback Stephen Montes, focused on their running game and grounded out to a 10-0 win and seemed on their way to that number one seed, but Canutillo scored a late touchdown to make it 10-6.  Canutillo, however, failed on extra point conversion attempt and Del Valle held on to win.  In their four point loss, Canutillo sealed the top seed in 2-4A.

In the famed showdown in Las Cruces, NM, Las Cruces Mayfield and Las Cruces High didn't let down the 25,000-plus in attendance at Aggie Memorial Stadium.  Mayfield took the early 7-0 but Las Cruces answered. Mayfield made it 14-7, but back came the Bulldawgs to make it 14-13.  Las Cruces missed the extra point and that would prove deadly.  In the second half, the Trojans extended their lead to 21-13 but Las Cruces answered again to make it 21-20.  The Bulldawgs turned the ball over on downs at their own four-yard line with less than two minutes and the Trojans scored quickly to make it 28-20.  Las Cruces moved the ball into Mayfield territory before stalling and ending the game at 28-20.  Mayfield ended the Bulldawgs 18-game win streak with the victory over their crosstown rivals.

In other other games, Parkland jumped out to 14-7 lead over Eastlake before the Falcons pulled away to a 49-21 victory.  Clint won the 3-3A title outright, defeating bitter rival Fabens 42-28.  Coronado took advantage of El Dorado's loss to Franklin to clinch the outright 1-5A championship with the 59-9 beat-down of Bel Air.  Ysleta jumped out to a 35-14 lead before holding off the Horizon comeback attempt to hold on for the 35-33 win.  Americas closed out their disappointing season with a 49-14 win over Socorro.  Hanks jumped out to 23-0 lead over Riverside, then the Rangers took the 24-23 lead before Hanks scored the final three points to sneak away 26-24.  Pecos beat Fort Stockton 27-13 in a match-up of two teams that had already clinched playoff spots.  Mountain View trampled Anthony 55-0 to get their first and only win in district play.  Cathedral beat Tornillo 33-20.

Our Greater El Paso Football Showcase Offensive Player of the Week goes to Franklin quarterback Baylor Romney.  Romney went 15 of 19 for 227 yards with two touchdowns in relief of injured starter Cam Candelaria.  He added 80 yards on 12 carries and another two touchdowns in the victory over El Dorado.

Our One Source Federal Credit Union Defensive Player/Team of the Week goes to the Del Valle defense. They were able to hold the high-powered Canutillo offense to mere six points and 125 total yards in their 10-6 victory.

The final district standings look this way (c= champ, a= higher seed, b= lower seed, 1= division one, 2= division two):

1-5A

Coronado (8-2, 6-1) c,a,2

El Dorado (6-4, 5-2) b,1

Franklin (6-4, 5-2) a,1

Montwood (7-3, 5-2) b,2

Americas (5-5, 3-4)

Eastwood (6-4, 3-4)

Bel Air (3-7, 1-6)

Socorro (2-8, 0-7)

1-4A

Chapin (7-3, 7-0) c,a,1

Andress (8-2, 6-1) b,1

Bowie (8-2, 5-2) a,2

El Paso (5-5, 3-4) b,2

Irvin (6-4, 3-4)

Jefferson (4-6, 3-4)

Burges (3-7, 1-6)

Austin (0-10, 0-7)

2-4A

Canutillo (7-3, 7-1) c,a,2

Del Valle (7-3, 7-1) c,a,1

Eastlake (8-2, 7-1) c,b,1

Parkland (6-4, 4-4) b,2

Hanks (4-6, 4-4)

Ysleta (4-6, 3-5)

Horizon (3-7, 2-6)

Riverside (2-8, 2-6)

San Elizario (1-9, 0-8)

3-3A

Clint (8-2, 5-0) c,a,2

Pecos (7-3, 4-1) b,2

Fabens (4-6, 3-2) a,1

Fort Stockton (2-8, 2-3) b,1

Mountain View (4-6, 1-4)

Anthony (1-9, 0-5)

We will have six games to cover for you this Friday night in our Bi-District round of the Texas state playoffs, but let's take a look at what all the match-ups are and who each team would face in the Area round:

5A- Divison 1

Odessa vs Franklin @ Sun Bowl Stadium, 7 pm Friday.  The winner of this game will face the winner of Arlington Marlin vs Keller Central.

Midland Lee vs El Dorado @ SAC, 6:30 pm Friday. The winner takes on the winner of Arlington Bowie vs Southlake Carroll.

5A- Division 2

San Angelo Central vs Montwood @ Midland, 3pm Friday.  Winner faces winner of Arlington vs Keller Fossil Ridge.

Coronado vs Abilene Cooper @ Midland, 7 pm Friday.  Winner faces winner of Arlington Lamar vs Justin Northwest

4A- Division 1

Eastlake vs Chapin @ Irvin, 7 pm Friday. Winner faces winner of Amarillo vs Lubbock Monterrey.

Del Valle @ Andress, 7 pm Friday. Winner faces winner of Amarillo Palo Duro vs Wolfforth Frenship.

4A- Division 2

El Paso @ Canutillo, 7 pm Friday.  Winner faces winner of Canyon Randall vs San Angelo Lake View.

Parkland @ Bowie, 7 pm Friday.  Winner faces winner of Canyon vs Hereford.

3A- Division 1

Fabens vs Big Spring @ Pecos, 6 pm Friday.  Winner faces winner of Borges vs Andrews.

Fort Stockton vs Abilene Wylie.  Winner faces winner of Pampa vs Lubbock Cooper.

3A- Division 2

Clint vs Snyder @ Kermit, 6:30 pm Friday.  Winner faces winner of Perryton vs Lubbock Estacado.

Pecos vs Monahans.  Winner faces winner of Dalhart vs Shallowater.

After all the Bi-District games have taken place, we will see local teams will be still playing into the Area round and if we get any of these games in town to cover for you.  Really looking forward to an exciting Bi-District round of Football Friday Night.