Troopers Set to Upset or Come Up Short?
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Updated: October 26, 2017
photos: Emily Autumn Velasquez
El Paso Eastwood High School had some high expectations before the season began, some of which unfortunately weren’t met. The Troopers have worked long and hard to become the team that they are today, only getting better as time passes by. With over 40 returning seniors on the Eastwood roster, not only is the team extremely experienced, but this team is stacked both offensively and defensively.
Head Coach Julio Lopez and his coaching staff have worked tirelessy to shape these boys into the team that they are today, taking each game week by week, and day by day. The Troopers are preparing to play one of the top teams in the district at home after coming off an away game win against El Paso Americas High School.
El Paso Pebble Hills High School is currently undefeated which is unbelievable considering this is only their second year having a varsity team and just remarkable after going 1-6 last year in the district. The Spartans have made some major improvements from last year to this year but have they made enough improvements to stop the Troopers is the question.
Eastwood may not be the best record wise, but they are also never a team that you can count out based off of solely their record. Every game for the past four weeks, the Troopers have been up by at least a touchdown at the half . The Troopers average about 35 points a game, average over 300 passing yards a game, and average about 200 rushing yards a game. The Troopers stats when you look at them are phenomenal but what doesn’t come out because it’s more than just a number is the Troopers ability to be there for one another and fight as a team.
The Troopers always come out and fight their absolute hardest and give their opponent the best they’ve got regardless of their record and regardless of all the negativity being thrown their way. No one expects for the 1-3 Troopers to beat the 4-0 Spartans, but this week the Troopers feel very prepared and are looking to pull off an upset. “I feel like we’ve prepared for Pebble Hills at a high level, we’ve suffered some heart breaking losses but we just have to make sure we make plays when it counts,” says Senior RB Freddy Contreras. This team constantly has outsiders doubting them and their abilities, but they aren’t letting that bring them down, if anything it’s only adding a chip to their shoulder making them want to win more and work harder than before.
These Troopers are looking to prove all the doubters wrong, to prove that they aren’t a team you can count out just yet. Eastwood is looking to make a run at playoffs and in order to do that every game from this point on is a must win. “This game is a chance to show that we can hang with anyone in the city and a chance to show that we are Eastwood and we aren’t going to go down without a fight,” says Senior LB Edson Hernandez. A crucial part as to why these Troopers are so confident they’re going to pull off a win is because they’ve got some play makers on their team who are ready to face the Spartans.
The Eastwood football team is full of elite athletes, some who are just getting started. “While it’s going to take everyone to win this game, I think one of the key play makers everyone will have to watch out for is Senior WR Malyk Myers, he had a great first game last week and his receiving touchdown and ability to block was big for us in getting that America’s win,” says Senior DL Jake Hernandez. These play makers are going to be a big part in beating these Spartans. Pebble Hills isn’t going to be an easy opponent, but Eastwood has got the upper hand with it being a home game.
Pebble Hills has never played against a school with an atmosphere as wild as Eastwood’s and at the end of the day it might just be exactly what Eastwood needs. After watching multiple practices, talking to the team, and looking at the statistics, it’s fair to say that the Troopers are going to pull off an upset and hand the Spartans their first loss on Friday night.
by Emily Autumn Velasquez
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