The Cougars of Franklin High School got some huge plays from their defense late in the game and Alex Torres took it from their as the Cougars did the near impossible. They beat a talented Central Bobcat team from San Angelo after coming back from a late game deficit to win going away 28 - 14. This was a feat that an El Paso team had not been able to duplicated since 1950.

The crowd of both Franklin and Central fans was not only in a frenzied state but ravenous. Central had a huge contingency of fans plus their state championship marching band and nearly 100 members of their famous dance troop. Franklin fans were in a state of complete certainty and ready to scream their team to victory if necessary.

The game got off to a quick start. Franklin QB Alex Torres took off through the right side of the line on a QB keeper and raced all the way down the sidelines getting tackled inside the 10 yard line.

What looked like an early score yielded a big goose egg as the Bobcats put up a stiff defense on running plays by RB Blake Juarez-Downer, stuffing him at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Torres threw short and a field goal attempt was botched without the kicker even landing a foot on the ball. The first strike ended and the Bobcats had dodged a bullet. Score 0-0.

You could have lit up a city for a month with all the hot air that escaped from the Sun Bowl stadium as the Franklin fans who were in disbelief felt demoralized. Normally, this type of play can affect a team and this would have played heavily late in the game with Central leading 14-7. But it didn’t.

The Franklin defense played a huge role in keeping the game close and also turning the tide. One pass into the end zone by Central was tipped by a Cougar CB.

Later, as time became a factor, the defense lead by LB Jared Dunwoody intercepted a pass. Torres was able to hit Justin Connerer for a quick score.

Shortly there after the Franklin D stripped the ball and recovered a Central fumble. Juarez-Downer scored after the change of possession.

The Franklin D shut down the powerful Central attack all second half. Even as the Bobcats drove late in the fourth quarter they were not able to get near the end zone.

This win was significant in many ways. For one, it showed the maturity of the young men who worked so hard... and it also showed the strong coaching influence of Coach Tony Grijalva. But the Cougars zenith game was yet to come. Check out Upper Valley Living for story in the Holiday Issue coming soon.

  (Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)