The Del Valle Conquistadors returned to the friendly confines of Conquest Stadium one week removed from a dominant performance against the Andress Eagles and picked up where they left off this time against the Canutillo Eagles.
Del Valle took only 2:30 to drive the ball 75 yards and score on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jesse Ramos to Eli Molina to take an early 7-0 lead. On Canutillo’s first possession All District Running Back LJ Martin would be stuffed on 2 carries for 0 yards. This would be Martin’s only action of the night as he would sit out the remainder of the game rendering the Eagle offense virtually defenseless against a Conquistador front 7 who put pressure on Eagle Quarterback Jeremiah Knox.
Del Valle would score their second touchdown of the game on a Jesse Ramos screen pass to Juan Archuleta to take a 14-0 lead to end the first quarter.
Del Valle would add a 35-yard field goal from Josh Torres early in the 2nd quarter to extend their lead to 17-0. On the ensuing Canutillo drive the Eagle Offense would show they weren’t quite ready to give up scoring a touchdown on a Quarterback option pitch from Knox to running back Rene Huerta to cut the lead to 17-7 with 8:00 left to play in the half.
That was about as close as it would get the rest of the way, as Del Valle 21 unanswered points beginning with Jesse Ramos’ 8-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Estrada to take a 24-7 lead into the half.
Del Valle’s Defense would steal the show in the second half cornerback Joshua Keough intercepting 2 Jeremiah Knox passes and Jonathan Estrada adding another pick at the end of the 4th quarter.
Neither team scored in a slow 3rd quarter. Del Valle would score on long runs of 63 yards by quarterback Jesse Ramos and 71 yards by Sophomore Running Back Shelton Fuller to make the final score 38-7.
Up next for the Del Valle Conquistadors will be a road trip to face the Chapin Huskies. The Canutillo Eagles will look to regroup prior to district play as they return home to face Parkland.
Chris Gomez Reporting