Two undefeated teams from District 1-5A clash on Thursday night at Baty-Simmang Stadium when the El Paso Bowie Bears host the El Paso Chapin Huskies. Both teams enter this game unbeaten, but the path to get there has been completely different.
Chapin enters Thursday’s contest at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in District 1-5A. They’ve have won every game by double digits this season. The Huskies are typically an explosive team, but it’s their defense that has been the big story this year. The Huskies have allowed just 28 points through five games, including two shutouts and they’ll lean on that talented defense to make big plays. On offense, Matthew Zubiate and Angel Soto average nearly 150 yards rushing between the two backs and will look to power their way through a stout Bears defense. Quarterback Anthony Baird is coming into his own as a passer and has two receivers that get the job done in different ways. Mondarius Johnson is a versatile talent that can be used all over the field, while Ryan Wilson is a tall receiver with good speed.
On the other side, the Bears have grounded and pounded their way to one of their best starts in recent years. Senior quarterback German Carrasco leads an offense that looks to establish the run and control the clock. Running backs Ricardo Valles and Justin Mendoza are two physical runners, while receivers Dominic Johnson and Patrick Moran are two receivers used to keep defenses off balance. Defensively, Alexis Martinez is a playmaker to keep an eye on the defensive line, but Valles and Moran are two-way players that anchor a solid Bowie defense that forces a lot of offensive mistakes. Valles leads the team in tackles, while Moran has an impressive five interceptions on the year.
Entering Thursday’s contest, the Bears are looking for their first-ever win against Chapin and control of the District 1-5A race. They’re also coming off an emotional win over Andress and will need to quickly refocus on the Huskies. Both teams will rely on defense and the running game, so this game looks to be a low-scoring battle. But, given what we’ve seen in El Paso so far this year, anything is possible.
