District play for 4A began Friday night between the visiting Ysleta Indians and the San Elizario Eagles. Ysleta was looking improve to 3-0 in the season while the Eagles were wanting to play spoiler and move to 2-1 in the season. This would be the first time both Lower Valley teams have met on the field since the 2015 season and would be the 16th meeting overall.
Ysleta would turn the ball over on their first possession but the defense would force a fumble and get the ball back for the offense on the very next play. A few plays later midway thru the opening quarter, Ysleta would score on a 32yd touchdown pass from sophomore sensation Rodrigo Martinez to Armando Guzman. The extra point atto was no good and the Indians would lead 6-0. The Eagles would answer back a few plays later on a touchdown pass from Vicente Delgado to Ruiz on a 26yd pass. The Eagles 2pt conversion failed and those would be the only points they would be able to score the rest of the game.
Ysleta senior Evan Martinez would score on the ensuing kickoff with a 80yd return to elevate the Indians to a 14-6 lead after a successful 2pt conversion. The stingy Ysleta defense would force a fumble that would result on a 25yd fumble recovery for a touchdown by Raymundo Martinez. Ysleta would once again score on a 2pt conversion to go up 22-6 at the end of the 1st qt.
In the second quarter Ysleta would once again score on a 2yd touchdown run by Martinez. With another 2pt conversion, Ysleta would lead 30-6 at the nine minute mark. With the Eagle offense struggling throughout the game, the Ysleta offense was able to wear down the San Elizario defense. R. Martinez would connect with his predecessor E. Martinez on a 70yd touchdown pass to help lead the Indians to a 38-6 lead.
With the Indians being in complete control of the game, the lead gave them an opportunity to let some of the other players see some action on the field. Ysleta would score the only second half points of the game on a 45yd fumble return for a touchdown by Julian Lopez. The final score of the game was 45-6 in favor of Ysleta.
Ysleta returns home to face Mountain View while San Elizario travels to Fabens to face the Wildcats.
Henry Reyna Reporting