On Friday night, the Arlington Martin Warriors were driven by a thirst for vengeance as they faced the Allen Eagles. Martin, still smarting from their last loss, which Allen had dealt, was on the high tide of an eight-game winning streak.
Arlington Martin Warriors
The Warriors came out of the gates roaring, with Tristian Bittle completing 11 of his 23 passes for 177 yards, catapulting two touchdowns into his record. He tied up with Logan Baresh for four receptions, thus securing 100 yards and two scores. Brody Williams and Trantan Miles did well to support the team with their catching skills of 40 and 29 yards, respectively. On the other hand, Daylon Cobb and Brooks Brigance had limited success on the ground, tallying only 43 and 36 yards, respectively. The Warriors, being strong proponents of special teams, cleverly converted a fake punt, and capably recovered a fumble from Allen, scoring a touchdown in the process.
Allen Eagles
The Eagles’ quarterback, Dylan Chapman, had a less promising start, but sprung back later in the game, with achievements of 13 completed passes out of 28, and 14 yards rush. He found reliable partners in Messiah Washington, Caleb Smith, and Quinton Hammonds, who helped amass 44, 22, and 54 yards, respectively. In contrast, the Eagles soared vigorously on the field with Micah Ellis, who rushed for a whopping 145 yards, with three touchdowns under his belt. Amir McDowell and Quinton Hammonds chipped in significantly, too, aiding their team with a touchdown each.
Initially, it seemed like the Eagles were spiraling towards a pitfall, trailing 17-10 at halftime, with Martin set to receive the second-half kickoff. However, the Eagles’ defense rose to the occasion, holding the Martin Warriors in check enough to push the game into overtime. The Eagles’ defense stars Zina Umeozulu and Nathan’ Tank’ Marsh played a crucial role in shaking the Warriors’ offense. The Eagles took possession and stuck with their successful wildcat formation. Quenton Hammonds took control and led the Eagles towards the end zone, followed by Micah Ellis, who turned a corner and courageously drove home the game-winning touchdown.
In this thrilling standoff, the Eagles narrowly defeated Martin 36-33. The next match will have the Allen Eagles journey to the Shotwell Stadium in Abilene for a face-off with Midland Legacy on Saturday, November 25th. Midland Legacy, a force to be reckoned with in the air, is also coming off an adrenaline-filled overtime win, having bested Euless Trinity 57-55.
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