Eastwood Ended Montwood’s Perfect Season
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Updated: November 12, 2017
photos: Emily Autumn Velasquez video:Cool Paso
Great Finish for the Troopers
This week the El Paso Eastwood Troopers (3-6) faced the undefeated El Paso Montwood Rams at the Student Activities Complex for their annual “Battle of the Woods” game. The Rams were favored to win being that they were on a nine game winning streak, and due to the fact that they had already beaten every other school in their district. Montwood was also looking to win so that they could finish with an undefeated regular season for the first time in their program’s history. In do so they would finish as sole district champions. However, Eastwood came and showed Montwood why they can never be counted out, regardless of their record. Despite being projected by so many to lose, it was a shocking turn of events when Eastwood beat Montwood 41-21.
After winning the coin toss, Montwood deferred to receive the ball at the start of the second half. The Troopers immediately came out hot by driving the ball downfield. Senior running back Freddy Contreras ran into the end zone for a 19 yard touchdown to go up 7-0 early first quarter. Montwood answered back fast, senior quarterback Andrew Fernandez threw a 37 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Tury Cepeda. However, Montwood missed the extra point which made the game 7-6.
Eastwood then drove it downfield again, and this time senior quarterback Seth Ochoa threw a 35 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Pete Cadena to go up 14-6. Montwood came out hot and fast again, Fernandez threw a 51 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Daniel Aguilar, and after successfully completing a two point conversion, they tied the game.
Eastwood answered back with another successful drive. Ochoa threw an 8 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Robert Minjarez to go up seven. In a bold move, wanting to keep the momentum, Eastwood kicked an onside and recovered it, getting the ball on the Rams 48 yard line. The Troopers milked the clock and scored with a 10 yard touchdown pass from Ochoa to junior wide receiver Eddie Cruz to go up two scores. At halftime the Troopers were up, with a score of 28-14.
After a couple of halftime adjustments, Montwood came out on a mission. They drove the ball downfield and capped it off when Fernandez threw an 8 yard touchdown pass to Cepeda, his second the night. This touchdown cut the Troopers lead to 28-21. Montwood, with Big Mo (momentum) back on their side, also elected for an onside kick and recovered it. However, Eastwood’s defense stepped up in a major way by forcing the Rams to go three and out.
The Troopers then came out strong, knowing they needed to score in order to keep the lead and Montwood on their heels. Ochoa threw a beautiful 41 yard touchdown pass to Cruz, his second touchdown of the night to stretch the lead.
Montwood got the ball and began driving downfield downfield. That drive ended when sophomore cornerback Nathan Carranza got an interception on the 11 yard line. It Eastwood’s ball once again with a big lead.
Eastwood drove it the length of the field as Montwood seemed to have no answer for the Troopers' offense. Contreras ran it in once more. His three yard score was his second of the night. Montwood got the ball again hoping to cut the Troopers 41-21 lead, but Fernandez was picked off by senior cornerback Isaiah Bradford, this time in the end zone. The Troopers got the ball one final time and did a victory formation to end the game, the final score was 41-21.
Eastwood’s victory not only prevented the Rams from having a perfect season regular season, but it also earned Montwood a co-district champions with the Aztecs since El Paso El Dorado defeated El Paso Pebble Hills on Thursday night.
Eastwood’s win proved what they are capable of, and it proved that they live up to their name, that they are “El Paso’s Finest.” Beating the number one team in the city meant so much for Eastwood, “It felt good getting one last win, and it was great ending our seniors, Coach Ayala, and Coach Guevara out the right way,” said Cadena. Although their season is over, they were glad they were able to go out with a bang.
Montwood on the other hand isn’t letting this loss define them, they’re only using it as motivation to come back stronger. Montwood’s first playoff game is this Thursday against the Midland bulldogs at home. Montwood is only using this loss as a wakeup call, and is planning on coming back stronger for playoffs.
by Emily Autumn Velasquez
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