In the short two-game non-district schedule for the Pebble Hills the Spartans look nearly unstoppable as they enter 6a play next week. Del Valle had absolutely no-answer against Pebble Hills offensively, defensively or in special teams. Pebble Hills defeated the Conquistadors 50-13 during Friday’s Matinee game at the Student Activities Complex.
The Spartans took the opening kick and moved down the field with no hesitation led by a huge Zereian Quarrels run behind a massively dominant offensive line to open the scoring and put Pebble Hills up 8-0.
Del Valle went 3-and-out on their first drive, losing yardage on the first two plays from scrimmage, a theme that unfortunately would be recurring throughout the game. Additionally Pebble Hills Quarterback Gael Ochoa threw 4 touchdown passes, 3 of them coming to Wide Receiver Jalie Bolt.
After adding a second touchdown to make the score 15-0, Pebble Hills would force another Del Valle punt. On the ensuing drive Spartan Quarterback Gael Ochoa would fumble deep in his own territory giving the Conquistadors prime field position and allowing them to score their first touchdown cutting the lead to 15-6. The touchdown after the rare Spartan turnover would be the first score allowed in 5 quarters spanning the first two games of the 2022 season, however the mishap would be of little consequence as the offense would score two more touchdowns and tighten up on the Del Valle offense to take a 30-15 lead into half-time.
The second half was more of the same as the Spartan offense led by Ochoa would move the ball at will against a Del Valle defense that had looked unbreakable the previous week against Burges. With offensive weapons like Marcus Torres, Robert Deal, and Brandon Cardenas Pebble Hills would score three more touchdowns in the second half.
Del Valle would only muster one final score long after the outcome had been decided making the final score 50-13.
With back to back victories against two of El Paso’s most consistent high school teams Spartan Coach Mark Torres’ biggest worries looks to be handling the rising expectations of how much success Pebble Hills can have in District play and beyond and being able to keep his team focused and improving as going forward the Spartans will undoubtedly play with a target on their back and get everyone left on the schedules best game.
Up next for El Paso’s Number 1 team will be a key district matchup against an Eastwood team who just scored in excess of 60 points against a strong Las Cruces Bulldogs Team. For Del Valle Coach Rudy Contreras looks to refocus his team who have one more tune-up game against Andres prior to starting their District schedule.
Chris Gomez Reporting