The Conquistadors appeared to be in mid-season form from the opening drive to the final horn, as they defeated the Burges Mustangs 56-0 in the season opener for both squads at Conquest Stadium on Friday night.
Del Valle Senior Quarterback Jesse Ramos would pick up where he left off last season throwing 5 touchdown passes (72,14, 22, 22, 18) on the night with his number one target being Wide Receiver Eli Molina who would catch 3 touchdown passes on the night.
Burges Quarterback Andrew Routledge would lead a promising opening drive after the Mustangs received the opening kickoff deep into Del Valle territory where the Conquistador defense would tighten up and have to settle for a 42 yard field goal attempt that would fall short. For Routledge, and the entire Burges backfield would be dominated by a solid Del Valle front seven who were in the Mustang backfield all night long.
The opening drive would be the only drive of the night that would get into Del Valle territory.
After the missed field goal attempt it would only take Quarterback Jesse Ramos and company two plays to score their first touchdown on the season, a 72 yard bomb from Ramos to reciever RJ Bracamontes to give the Conquistadores a 6 to 0 lead after a blocked extra point with 4:22 left in the 1st quarter. The 2nd quarter is where Del Valles dynamic 1-2 punch of Ramos to Molina would start with 3 consecutive drives ending with touchdowns of 14, 22, and 22 yards to give the Conquistadores a 28 to 0 lead at the halftime break.
The second half would open with Del Valle taking the kick and driving down to the Burges 18 where Ramos would hook up with Receiver Jonathen Estrada for his 5th touchdown pass of the night. Burges Quarterback Routledge never could find the rhythm he had on the first drive having to avoid the Blue Jerseys that plagued him in the backfield all night.
Del Valle would add rushing touchdowns of 18 and 14 yards by Running Back Juan Archuleta and a 58 yard touchdown run by Running Back Jorge Facio to end the scoring and cap off a dominating 56 to 0 victory.
For the Burges Mustang Coach James Routledge he will try to regroup his squad with a second road game in the Mission Valley as the Mustangs will visit the Riverside Rangers. Del Valle’s victory sets up a showdown with El Paso’s number 1 team the Pebble Hills Spartans at the SAC who are also coming off a shutout victory over the Canutillo Eagles 23-0.
Final Score: Del Valle 56 Burges 0
Player of the Game: Del Valle Quarterback Jesse Ramos (5 TDs 0 Int)
Chris Gomez Reporting