The Austin Panthers improved to 2-0 in the season as they came from behind and scored with 10 seconds left in the game to beat the El Dorado Aztecs 24-21 Thursday night at the Socorro Athletic Complex.
The Panthers, who only suited up 22 players were able to get on the scoreboard first as RB Jayson Wilson on a 1 yd TD run that capped a 7 play 56 yard drive. The PAT was no good making the score Austin 6, El Dorado 0 7:58 in the first quarter.
The Aztecs would tie the game after QB Ricardo Portillo threw a 34 yd TD pass to Andre Thomas. The PAT was good, so El Dorado had a 7-6 lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter the teams would trade touchdowns. The Panthers took the lead in the game when RB Isreal Luna scored on a 8 yd TD Run but the PAT was no good making the score Austin 12-El Dorado 7.
El Dorado would strike back and retake the lead when the Aztecs put together a 10 play 69 yard drive that ended with a Portillo to Isaiah Rudison 3 yd TD pass making the score 14-12. That would also be the halftime score.
The defense picked up for the Aztecs in the third quarter as they forced two Panthers fumbles that stoped promising drives. But when the Panthers got a turnover and ended up with good field position, this time the Aztecs weren’t able to stop Austin as the Panthers took the lead after Jayden Wilson scored on a 2 yd run. The extra point would once again be missed and the Panthers would take a 18-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, it looked like the Austin running game was going to be able to just run out the clock and that’s exactly what they were doing until the Aztecs forced yet another fumble and gave themselves good filed position.
Three plays later, El Dorado would score when QB Portillo would throw a 21 yd TD pass to Isaiah Rudison. And now the Aztecs had a 21-18 lead with five minutes left to play.
This game was gonna come down to the Panthers offense against the Aztec defense who had already forced three turnovers in the game. The Austin offense would respond with an impressive 12 play 74 yard drive that was capped off with Isreal Luna scoring the winning touchdown with 10 seconds left in the game!
The final score was Austin 24, El Dorado 21.
After the game Panthers Coach Eric Pichardo talked about the toughness of his team
For their next game, Austin will travel to take on Goddard. El Dorado will play against Pebble Hills at the SAC.
Mando Medina and Tony Grijalva Reporting