The Canutillo Eagles handed Del Valle their first loss of the season defeating the Conquistadors in Overtime by a final of 34 to 28 on Friday Night at home in Julius and Irene Lowenburg Stadium.
With a standout performance from LJ Martin, who would account for 4 of the Eagles 5 Touchdowns and a key interception in the overtime to seal the victory.
Canutillo was dominant on both the offensive and defensive line play, holding the Conquistadors scoreless all the way up to the 5:00 minute mark of the 3rd Quarter. Offensively the Canutillo line opened gaping holes that Martin would break off huge touchdown runs through, the first of which came with 4:17 left in the first quarter and was 58 yards and made the score 7-0.
Del Valle struggled to get their running game featuring Kristen Martinez going, as Canutillo was able to make him a non-factor in the contest. Canutillo and Martin opened the second quarter scoring with a 78 yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 14-0 a lead they would take into the half.
In the third quarter Del Valle was finally able to drive the ball and cut the lead to 14-7 after a Quarterback sneak from Jesse Ramos by the end of the 3rd quarter. Canutillo would quickly answer and extend their lead to 21-7 opening up a which would see both teams combine for four touchdowns, when Quarterback Devon Granados would find LJ Martin for a 75 Yard Touchdown strike.
Del Valle would quickly drive the ball down the field on their next possession when Quarterback Jesse Ramos would punch it in from 4 yards out cutting the Eagle lead to 21-14 with 9:09 to play.
The Del Valle Defense would come up big with a 3 and out and Del Valle led by Ramos would quickly drive down the field and find Dameon Diaz on a 7 Yard Touchdown knotting the score at 21-21.
That tie would only last 16 seconds and Granados would toss his second long touchdown pass of the night this time a 65 yarder to receiver Lorenzo Areola to make the score 28-21 with 7:16 to play.
Del Valle would turn the ball over in the red zone on a called fumble that Conquistador Coach Rudy Contreras would argue was a forward pass. Del Valle’s Defense would come up big forcing Eagle quarterback Granados to fumble in his own end zone which would be recovered by Linebacker Johnathan Salas for a touchdown that would tie the game at 28 with 1:48 to play.
Canutillo would go 3 and out and punt the ball to Del Valle who would take a knee and send the game into Overtime.
Del Valle had the ball first to begin the Overtime and had a 2nd and goal when Quarterback Jesse Ramos would be intercepted by Eagles Running Back LJ Martin who was playing on defense during the extra period.
Canutillo drove the ball to the 2 yard line where Quarterback Devon Granados would be stuffed on 1st Down short of the endzone. Eagles Coach Scott Brooks would call a timeout and comeback with a direct snap to non-other than LJ Martin who would punch in the game-winner standing up to seal the 34-28 Overtime Win for the Eagles at home.
“I didn’t put my team on my shoulders, they put me on theirs by blocking for me and putting me in positions to be successful” said a modest LJ Martin who scored 3 running touchdowns, caught another and came up with the big interception in overtime to help his team come out victorious.
Up next for the Canutillo Eagles who improved to 3-1 on the season will be a home game against the 2-1 Mountain View Lobos.
Del Valle, who suffered their first loss of the season falls to 3-1 and will have another tough road matchup against a Parkland team coming off a 50-0 win over Bowie.
Chris Gomez Reporting