Eagles soar and score in season opener Debbie Kistler The Junction Eagle “It was a great way to start the season....with a win,” was senior running back/linebacker Austin Rivas’ comment after the Junction Eagles’ 37 to 20 victory in Bronte last Friday night. Rivas, who ran for 106 yards and three consecutive touchdowns, said he was looking forward to the rest of the season. The new flock of Eagles started the 2013 season with an impressive win! Other than one turnover on the third play of the game (butterflies?), they turned in an almost error-free effort. Coach Cory Spivey said that he was proud of his team’s cohesiveness, crediting the seniors with strong leadership. (Kicking was the only chink in the Eagles’ armor, as two kickers were not available for duty.) The Longhorns from Bronte, who are expected to do well in their own tough district, struggled throughout the game....sometimes shooting themselves in their own hooves. On the team’s first possession, they sustained two false start penalties and then, on 18 and 2, Eagles defensive back Drew Martinez picked off a Ty Lee pass and returned it about twenty yards, setting his teammates up in Longhorn turf. (Last season, Martinez caught balls from opponent quarterbacks nine times. He looks primed to continue this interception success.) There were no more Bronte passes thrown to his side for the remainder of the game. It took only five plays until Rivas ran in from the 33. To their credit, the Longhorns thundered back; stampeding 78 yards in only six plays, to go ahead 7 to 6. During that possession, all tackles were made by the Eagles’ secondary. That porous defensive line would tighten up to limit the Longhorns’ ground game to only 142 yards for the remainder of the game. The Eagles responded with three more touchdowns on the next three possessions. The offensive line was impermeable, giving the ball carriers protection and room to maneuver. Rivas (106 yds., 3 TDs), Juan Perez (72 yds., 1 TD), Justus Young (85 yds., 1 TD) and Jose Salazar (48 yds.) took turns testing the Longhorn defense. Martinez was steady at quarterback. Coach Spivey credited the O line with “opening the holes and outstanding blocking”, saying “I was very impressed with our offensive line....that was a big factor in the win.” The Eagles’ sixth touchdown came from the defensive unit when the Eagles’ big D penned the Longhorns on their own 36. Defensive back Dontay Foy grabbed the Bronte punt and took off, sailing about 72 yards into Bronte’s prime real estate. Back in possession, the frustrated Longhorns responded with a fumble on the first play. The Eagles took over on their own 32, driving for the Bronte uprights, but struggled and had only made it to midfield when the clock ran out on the first half. The Eagles took a 24 to 7 lead to the locker room. The award-winning Golden Eagle Band presented the first movement of “Glory in the Sun”, a three-part series entitled “Junction, the history of the West”, which included a flute solo by Kelly Stapper. This year’s drum majors are Cole Mason (performing in his football uniform) and Isela Dela Cruz (performing in her cheerleading uniform). The band director is Johnny Martinez, assisted by Becky Stapper. After the halftime break, the Longhorns resolve to change the momentum was tested immediately when they ran two plays and fumbled the ball on their own 22 yard line. Four plays later, Young blew through the Bronte line to put the Eagles ahead 30 to 7. The Longhorns responded with a strong drive, moving the ball well.....right up until the Bronte ball carrier was upended by Eagles sophomore defensive back Asa Plumley, all 5’7”,135 pounds of him. Junction recovered the fumble on their own 11, but an illegal block penalty and an incomplete pass left the Eagles with their backs to their own goal line on the nine yard line. A bad punt gave the Longhorns possession on the Junction 22. In spite of the Eagles’ defensive effort, including sacks by Clay Dennis and Perez, and a block in the back call against Bronte, QB Lee connected with Longhorn wide receiver Mizael Perez on a short pass. He raced the last 13 yards into the Junction end zone. The stunned Eagles went four and out. Sensing a chance to gain momentum early in the fourth quarter, the revived Longhorns, in possession on the Junction 30 were able to sustain a drive, overcoming the defensive efforts of Foy, Laith Bannowsky,Victor Reyes, Judge Modesto, Young and, on several plays, the majority of the defensive line, Bronte running back Jared Scott drove in from the three. Junction-30, Bronte-20. The Eagles regained their focus. With a 10-point lead and 11 minutes left in the game, the Junction Boys answered with a sustained, clock-eating, 60-yard drive. Doing the honors were Salazar, Rivas and Perez. From the nine yard line, Perez squirted through, took a hit, spun and crossed the goal line. Then he kicked the point-after to add another. Junction-37, Bronte-20. Coach Spivey describes the Reagan County Owls as being a “good test” for the Eagles. He expects the Owls’ defensive line to be a tougher match for the Eagles offense. The Owls run the same Wing T and have a very similar defense as the Eagles, according to Coach Spivey. The Eagles’ execution will be critical. Junction fans should get on over to Big Lake next Friday for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The junior varsity game on Thursday will take place in Eagle Stadium, starting at 6 p.m.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:37:57 +0000