Week 10 of high school football featured some thrilling games. Now, we have a better understanding of who is in the playoff picture across El Paso.

Catch up on all of the games and the recaps below by our reporters, and stay tuned for Football Friday Night on demand!

Check out photos by Prep 1 on their Facebook page for sights across town.

In town standings: 

1-6A*W-L*Pct.*PF*PAW-LPct.PFPAStrk
Franklin6-01.0002741357-20.7783672427 W
Eastlake5-10.8332301358-10.8893511763 W
Pebble Hills5-10.8332281156-30.6673082024 W
Americas3-30.5001651313-60.3332152662 L
Eastwood3-30.5002742095-40.5563982982 W
Montwood1-50.1671531902-70.2222352784 L
Coronado1-50.167462141-80.111602995 L
Socorro0-60.000402811-80.1111263606 L

Franklin 25 - Americas 21: Blocked field goal lifts Franklin past Americas

By Alex Nicholas 

For almost the entire game, Americas had Franklin on the ropes and was on the verge of a major District 1-6A upset.

However, a momentum and lead-changing special teams play ended up being the difference as Franklin secured a share of the District 1-6A title with a 25-21 win over Americas.

During a 16-play drive late in the fourth quarter, Americas lined up for a 28-yard field goal leading 21-19, which was blocked and returned by Noah Alvarez for a score with 2:29 left in the game, giving Franklin their first lead of the night.

Americas was dominant, outgaining Franklin 409-263 in the evening, and led 14-0 with 11:32 left until halftime after a four-yard touchdown run from Sadante Gomez-Scott.

Gomez-Scott ran for 109 yards on the evening and the four-yard touchdown run off a speed option.

Although another key component of the Franklin comeback was Franklin’s all-world quarterback Cameron Byrd who threw for 236 yards and three touchdown passes.

Byrd threw back-to-back touchdowns on consecutive series to trim the lead to 21-19 to start the wild finish of a fourth quarter.

Franklin was down 21-6 after a touchdown run by Mark Moore late in the third quarter.  Moore ran for 150 yards, and two rushing touchdowns, he was also 11-16 passing for 150 yards.

On the final drive of the game, Moore threw a prayer on a fourth down play that was picked off by Beau Sparks to complete the Franklin comeback.  Sparks caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Franklin wins a share of the district title for the first time since 2018, Americas drops to 3-3 in district play and will have to beat Eastwood next week to lock up a playoff spot.

Austin 42 - Jefferson 19: Austin spoils Jefferson’s big opportunity 42-19

By Jeremy Carranco

Seconds were ticking away in the first half, it was first and goal at the one-yard line and Jefferson still found themselves starting at a zero next to their name at the halftime buzzer.

What seemed like the game on the line at the end of the first half, the Silver Foxes lost a big momentum swing when they were unable to score already down 28-0.

Then the second half begun, and wildness ensued. Austin started to make mistakes, three consecutive fumbles and big plays following those turnovers got Jefferson within 28-19 at the start of the fourth quarter.

With all the momentum on the side of the Silver Foxes, Austin’s Isreal Luna took over. A 62-yard touchdown run followed by a 30-yard interception return touchdown finished the game off 42-19, putting Austin in a first-place tie in district 2-5A with Burges and Andress.

Coming into the night, Jefferson knew what was at stake. A chance to play for a district championship next week with a win against a very talented and deep Austin team.

The Panthers also had a task, to put away the distraction and play their game. They did so and more.

Austin was led by Sean Rodriguez, a junior who carried the Panthers all night with a banged-up Jayden Wilson seeing limited action.

Rodriguez finished with two touchdowns for 121 yards. Isreal Luna finished 102 yards and a touchdown on both sides of the ball.

Jefferson was led by Nathan Alcala who passed for 109 yards and a touchdown with 76 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Thanks to an El Paso loss, Jefferson still clinched a playoff spot and will see postseason action for the third time under Tony Martinez.

Austin (6-3, 4-1) still has a shot at the district crown, they will host Bowie next week while Jefferson (6-3, 3-2) is at Andress.

Eastwood 41 - Coronado 19: Troopers March into Coronado and Knock off T-Birds

By Brandon Cohn 

The Eastwood Troopers traveled to far west El Paso for an important game with Coronado on Friday night, with their prolific high-flying offense, prevailed 41-19.

The T-Birds blinked and were down 20-0 to Eastwood to begin the second quarter thanks in part to the exceptional tandem of QB Andrew Martinez and WR Michael Caldera who hooked up for 3 TD’s in the first half.

Coronado was able to score before the intermission as the Troopers took a 27-7 lead heading into the second half. A quick third quarter score got the T-Birds within striking distance as the Troopers’ lead was narrowed to 27-13 at the 10:26 mark of the third quarter.

Eastwood’s relentless scoring frenzy continued throughout the remainder of the game though and was too much for Coronado to overcome. Eastwood signal called Andrew Martinez went 19 of 28 for 200 yards, had 6 carries for 107 yards and threw 5 TD’s.

Martinez has thrown 11 TD’s over the past two weeks. RB Samuel Lopez had 27 carries for 172 yards and 1 TD, while WR’s Curtis Murillo and Michael Caldera hauled in 5 TD receptions for the Troopers who improved to 5-4, 3-3 in 1-6A.

Coronado is now 1-8, 1-5 in 1-6A. Eastwood will conclude their regular season against Americas, while Coronado will travel to take on Eastlake.

Parkland 49 - Ysleta 8: Matadors get first district win

By Jaime Chavez

The Parkland Matadors snapped a four-game losing streak by routing the Ysleta Indians 49-8 Friday night at Ysleta's Hutchins Stadium. Parkland quarterback Erik Ortiz threw five touchdown passes, three to wideout DJ Daniels for 39, 28 and 23 yards. Ortiz was 12-16 for 215 passing and no interceptions. Daniels also had four receptions for 105 yards. Parkland running back Isaiah Beasley rushed for 238 yards on 18 carries and added touchdown runs of 73 and 43 yards. Beasley also caught an 18-yard touchdown pass and Fernando Ruan had a 35-yard scoring reception. Ysleta's only score came when quarterback Damian Contreras threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Andres Martinez.
Parkland (2-7, 1-2) closes out the season next Friday at home against Hanks. Ysleta (4-6, 1-3) finished its 2021 season, with its playoff hopes now hanging in the balance.

Pebble Hills 30 - Montwod 27: Pebble Hills rallies to beat Montwood 30-27

By Alex Nicholas

Trailing 24-0 with 4:14 left in the third quarter, the Pebble Hills Spartans would outscore Montwood 30-3 in the final 16 minutes of the game to keep their district title hopes alive in District 1-6A.

Sophomore quarterback Gael Ochoa would lead four straight scoring drives, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Torres with four seconds left to lift Pebble Hills to a 5-1 district record.

Montwood’s defense forced five turnovers, including three interceptions and frustrated the Spartans offense all night, but the biggest play of the game came on special teams.

After an Ochoa 14-yard touchdown run, then a two-point conversion with 8:32 left in the game, the Spartans would recover an onside on the ensuing kickoff.

Then three plays later Erik Marin would cash in on a five-yard touchdown run, the two point conversion attempt which would have tied the game failed, and Pebble Hills trailed 24-22 with 7:31 left in the game.

A Montwood field goal by Diego Saballos on the very next possession with 4:52 left gave Montwood a 27-22 lead, but Ochoa led the magic on their next drive with the game winning score.

Ochoa finished the evening with 161 rushing yards, and a pair of rushing touchdowns, he also threw for 140 yards and made two huge completions to Brandon Cardenas on the game winning drive, one of them was a fourth down conversion in their own territory to keep the game alive.

Montwood had a solid performance from quarterback Kevin Melendez who ran for 70 yards and went 11-for-18 passing for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Devin Rojas picked off two passes for Montwood, and Ram defensive back Cameron Harrelson would take an interception back for a touchdown from 29-yards out in the first half which gave Montwood a 17-0 lead at halftime.

But the late heroics by Ochoa, and some key stops by the Pebble Hills defense and of course the onside were all key in the Spartans comeback win.

Pebble Hills will play Franklin next week with a chance to clinch a share of the District 1-6A title.

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