EL PASO-The game of football is one that is awfully unpredictable, especially in the playoffs.
Moreover, playoffs throw out past records, scores or history in the season. Playoffs are about win or go home.
Through four physical, unpredictable quarters of back-and-forth football, El Paso Andress emerged at the end and outlasted El Paso Bel Air 37-34 on Thursday evening at Allen Sepkowitz Stadium in the bi-district round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs.
“You have to give credit to Bel Air. They were the most physical team we played and we had our hands full,” said Golden Eagles head coach Jeff Woodruff, who coached his team to its first bi-district trophy in three seasons. “Our offense was able to get the job done and our kicker bailed us out of some tough situations.”
The game went back-and-forth throughout the first half with four lead changes, but was truly decided in the late third quarter.
After Andress kicker Mark Ramos nailed his second field goal of the night to tie the game 27-27, late in the third, and Bel Air was driving the ball into Andress territory due to quarterback Isaac Ybarra. The Highlanders had momentum on their side and a score would put them ahead.
That’s when things got rocky.
El Paso Bel Air quarterback Isaac Ybarra trys to run the ball past El Paso Andress defenders. (Photo: Adrian Broaddus/TexasHSFootball.com)
Ybarra threw a high pass that was tipped by his own receiver and intercepted by Andress cornerback Andrew Henderson. On the very next play, Golden Eagles running back Dorian Lewis hauled a 41-yard run for a touchdown.
“Coach said we needed a big play,” Henderson said. “I saw the ball in the air and I reached out and grabbed it. Got to give a lot of credit to the coaches though.”
With a tough Andress hold on defense, they were able to set up another crucial drive at the top of the fourth quarter that would set up a 40-yard field goal by Ramos. He was 3-for-3 on field goals for the night.
Andress was up 37-27 and it looked like it was going all the Golden Eagles’ way.
On the very next drive, Ybarra connected with receiver Jose Soto for a 40-yard passing touchdown, inching back in the game, 37-34.
The Highlander defense came up with a tough hold and forced a quick Andress punt. Ybarra and the offense would have to start their drive with under seven minutes remaining at their own 4-yard line.
Ybarra and his offense were able to march down the field to the Andress 47 yard line, but they ended up turning the ball over on downs with just under three minutes to go. Andress would convert on two crucial third and fourth downs, respectively, and put the game away, 37-34.
El Paso Andress running back Dorian Lewis finished with 200 total yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. (Photo: Adrian Broaddus/TexasHSFootball.com)
Ybarra finished the night with four total touchdowns—three passing and one on the ground.
On the other end, Lewis of the Golden Eagles finished the night with two touchdowns and over 200 yards of total offense.
“(I’m) Happy to get out with a win,” Woodruff said. “(I) don’t think that’s the best game we played. We can’t give up big plays, we have to force more 3-and-outs and we can’t settle for field goals.”
Two El Paso Bel Air players react following the end of their game against El Paso Andress. Bel Air lost 37-34. (Photo: Tony Venegas/TexasHSFootball.com
The Andress Eagles will likely travel for the area round of the playoffs next week and play the winner of Lubbock Monterey and Amarillo, which will be decided tomorrow.
“We gotta focus and hope we can get another win,” said Andress starting quarterback Dominique Smith.
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