Eagles pull away from Plains, 35-18

The Ropes Eagles had their hands full for most of three quarters before pulling away in a 35-18 win over the visiting Plains Cowboys in UIL Class 2A-2 Region I, District 4 football action last Friday. Ropes Head Football Coach Lane Jackson had high praise for his team. “Branson Beck had a great game,” he said, adding that Beck had more than 100 yards of receiving, a touchdown and two interceptions on defense. He also praised freshman quarterback Kade Franklin who threw for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in his first start.

“Our offensive line, Reed Hyatt, Braxxin Partington, Mike Sanchez, Braxton Persilver and Broxton Varnell, did a good job of blocking for our run and pass game,” he said.

The Ropes offense gained more than 400 yards, which was the most this season, according to Jackson.

“The defense had a good night,” Jackson added, “led by middle linebacker Mike Sanchez and defensive linemen T.J. Garcia and Hunter Mayhall.”

Plains opened the game with an 80-yard scoring drive that ended with a two-yard run by Tyler Vargas. The two-point conversion failed, but the Cowboys led 6-0 with 5:20 left in the first quarter.

Ropes got a got good field position on a muffed kick recovered at Plains’ 46-yard-line by Broxton Varnell, but weren’t able to go very far.

A 12-yard gain gave them a first down and 10 on the Plains 34, but the Eagles were forced to turnover on downs at the Plains 36 on fourth down.

Plains managed to get down to the Ropes 29-yard-line before Branson Beck intercepted a Tyler Vargas pass attempt near the goal-line and ran it back to the Ropes 21-yard-line.

The first quarter ended with Ropes on their own 49-yard-line and driving. That drive ended with a Mason Marmolejo six-yard touchdown run followed by a successful extra point kick from Reese Williams for a 7-6 Ropes lead with nine minutes left in the half.

A fumble ended the next Plains drive, setting the Eagles up on the Cowboys’ 27-yard-line. Josh Sexton took the ball 23 yards on the first play, then four more for the touchdown on the second play.

Williams’ kick missed, but Ropes led 13-6 with 6:20 left in the half.

Plains was able to close the gap with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Vargas to Jhoan Menjivar. The two-point conversion failed, but the Cowboys had tightened the score to 13-12 with just 1:10 left in the half.

Ropes wasn’t done. A short kick gave them the ball on their own 43-yard-line.

After struggling to gain fiveyards in three plays, the Eagles called a timeout.

On third down and five yards at the Ropes 48-yard-line, Kade Franklin found Beck open for a touchdown with 46 seconds left in the first half.

Franklin hit Marmolejo open for the two-point conversion and a 21-12 Ropes lead.

Neither team had much success in the third quarter until the Cowboys put a drive together that ended with a three-yard scoring run from Menjivar with 1:34 left.

The conversion failed again, but Plains had cut the Ropes lead to 21-18 with just 1:34 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles took over on their own 27-yard-line, but a holding penalty moved them back to the 17. That must have been the right place, because Franklin found Art Hernandez open for 77 yards and a 28-18 Eagle lead after the kick.

The Cowboys took over with just under a minute left in the third and drove down to the Ropes 10yard-line with just under eight minutes left in the game before being forced to turnover on downs at the 20 after the Eagles sacked Vargas.

Ropes responded with an 80yard touchdown drive that ended with a five-yard pass from Franklin to Collin Mortenson for a comfortable 35-18 lead with six minutes left in the game. Neither team was able to move the ball well late in the game. Plains’ last drive ended with an interception from Beck with 2:40 left in the game, allowing the Eagles to run the clock for the win. The Eagles traveled to New Home on Friday to end the regular season.