It was a renewal of a rivalry between two Lower Valley schools on a brisk late October night. Del Valle came into the game riding a six game win streak on their senior night. Ysleta was looking to play spoiler after their first district win of the year. This would be the first matchup between both teams since the 2017 season.
Del Valle was first to score in the game with a short run by Shelton Fuller early in the first quarter to go up 7-0 after completing the extra point. The Conquistadores were poised to score again in their second possession until they turned the ball over on an interception. Ysleta wasn’t able to capitalize on the turnover and gave up two points after a set of bad snaps. Del Valle les 9-0 midway thru the first quarter. Jesse Ramos completed a 35yd pass to Josh Lopez to put up Del Valle 16-0 at the end of the opening quarter.
With a potential blowout in the making, Ysleta sophomore Evan Martinez led the offense to score on Del Valle. Martinez completed a 10yd pass to Daniel Martinez, no relation, to put Ysleta on the board early in the second quarter making the score 16-7. Del Valle would score on the ensuing possession on a short run by Juan Archuleta to extend the Del Valle lead to 22-7 after a failed point after.
Ramos would lead his team on another drive to put them up 29-7 with less than three minutes to go. After a stalled Ysleta drive, the Conquistadores were looking to put the visiting Indians away with a late touchdown in the closing seconds. Del Valle would score on a short pass by Ramos to Damian Diaz to extend their lead to 36-7.
On the ensuing kickoff Arath Gomez returned the kickoff to the Indians five yard line. Martinez would find Daniel Martinez with :01 second in the half. Del Valle would lead 36-14 at halftime.
Del Valle would come out in the second half with a four yard touchdown run by R.J. Bracamontes to further put Del Valle up 43-14 early in the third quarter. Ysleta would go on a quarter consuming drive that set them up to score in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Evan Martinez would find Adrian Martinez on a seven yard touchdown pass. The score would be 43-21 in favor of Del Valle.
Del Valle would answer with a 21yd touchdown pass by Ramos to Eli Molina to put them up 50-21. After a stalled Ysleta drive, Del Valle would get their last touchdown of the game on a punt return by Matt Lopez. The final score would be 57-21. The 21 points scored by Ysleta was the largest amount of points given up by Del Valle this season.
Del Valle faces Bel Air next Friday for the district title and Ysleta hosts Hanks as they look to make the playoffs.
Story by Henry Reyna