By Rob Segura
The Fabens Wild Cats and the Alpine Bucks rolled into town last Thursday to battle it out against each other and against the Van Horn Eagles in a West Texas dual. The first series in the twenty-five play format scrimmage showed good play by the Eagles as they kept Alpine to three first downs and one touchdown. In the second series of play Van Horn held Alpine in all four plays and forced them back to begin a third series of play. Van Horn again only allowed Alpine three first downs to end the defensive series for the Eagles.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles went up against a much bigger Fabens team. Despite the size difference, the Eagles managed to rack up three first downs and a touchdown in the first series of play. Jose Baeza escaped on a couple of broken tackles and dashed into the end zone out running the Wildcats’ team for the Eagles’ first score. The scrappy Eagles also had three first downs in the second and third series against Fabens and scored when Rafael Rodriguez threw a rocket on a fade route to Alex Urias at the corner of the end zone. Rodriguez proved to be a very accurate and precise passer on the run as he hit receivers left and right all evening, and cleaned up with another touchdown pass to Alex Escajeda, again on a fade route to the corner of the end zone.
The Eagles rotated to defense again against Alpine, but allowed the Bucks four first downs and a 39-yard scamper to the end zone for a first series score for Alpine. Van Horn stepped up their defense on the last series and only allowed three first downs ending the Bucks twenty-five play series on offense.
The Van Horn Eagles have their first game of the year at home against Tornillo. The home opener is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m.
