After blowing out Winn 47–0 to open the season, Eagle Pass showed they can win the nail-biters too. On Friday night, the Eagles held on in a back-and-forth battle to beat the Taft Raiders 29–28—a game that could have swung either way until the final moments.
Senior Duo Takes Over
The spotlight belonged to the senior tandem of Sebastian Velasquez and Xavier Barrera. Velasquez delivered a monster performance, racking up 252 receiving yards and three touchdowns, torching Taft’s secondary all night. His highlight of the evening came on a 75-yard catch-and-run that left defenders chasing.
Barrera was equally sharp under pressure, completing passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns, averaging a remarkable 13.3 yards per attempt. His poise in crunch time was the difference-maker for Eagle Pass.
Momentum and Records
The win lifts Eagle Pass to 2–0 on the season, stacking bragging rights after also winning the last head-to-head with Taft. For the Raiders, the tough loss drops them to 1–1 as they regroup for conference play.
Looking Ahead
Eagle Pass now turns its focus to Canyon, with kickoff set for September 19 at 7:30 p.m. Taft, meanwhile, will look to rebound quickly when they face Marshall on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in what will be their first taste of in-conference action this year.
