Hutchins Stadium was almost at full capacity for the much anticipated match up between the visiting 2-0 Riverside Rangers and the 2-0 Ysleta Indians. There was excitement in the air as these two Lower Valley rivals faced off on a beautiful September evening. The Rangers we’re looking to upset and snap a losing streak that the Indians began a few years back.
Ysleta scored first with a 35yd touchdown pass by Damian Contreras to put them up 7-0 early in the first quarter. Riverside answered back shortly with a 22yd touchdown pass from the Rangers Junior QB Angel Muñoz to J. Guardado.
On the ensuing possession by the Indians, the Rangers defense stripped the ball on a impressive play which resulted in a touchdown by Junior Rudy Valenzuela to put the Rangers up 14-7 midway thru the first quarter. Ysleta would go on to tie the game 14-14 before the quarter expired.
The second quarter was just as exciting as the first. Ysleta would go on to take the lead 21-14 when Damian Contreras ran the ball in himself for an 11yd touchdown early in the second qt. Turnovers once again played a favorable role for the Rangers when a bad snap over the head of the Ysleta punter resulted in a safety. Shortly there after Riverside would go on to score another touchdown to give them the 22-21 lead over Ysleta at the half.
The third quarter and the rest of the game belonged to the Rangers. Riverside would go on to take a 29-21 lead when Rudy Valenzuela scored his first touchdown on offense to give his team the lead.
A few minutes later Riverside would score again when J. Guardado scored his second touchdown of the game to put the Rangers up 36-21 midway thru the third. By this time the momentum was clearly on the side of the Rangers when A. Muñoz connected on a 47yd td pass to Francisco Luna to put them up 43-21.
Ysleta scored on a 2yd touchdown run by D. Contreras. The Indians attempted a two point conversion to cut into the Ranger lead but a fumble on the play resulted in a return by the Rangers for a safety to put them up 45-27 with 5:15 left to go.
Riverside would go on to score one more time with 3:42 to go on a 14yd pass by Muñoz to J. Estrada to seal their victory over Ysleta on their homecoming game. The rest of the game would see no more scoring by either teams.
Riverside would go on to win 52-27 over Ysleta.
Henry Reyna Reporting