Holding on to their lead throughout the game, the Rope Eagles protected home field to remain 3-0, defeating Panhandle 42-34.
Starting on top 7-0 gave an early edge for the Eagles to stay one step ahead of the Panthers and trailing by one touchdown throughout the game.
“Our defense got it done when it counted the most; we had our backs against the wall to finish the game in the fourth quarter,” Ropes’ head coach Beau Riker said, crediting his defense on getting a late-game stop on fourth-and-one.
Entering this matchup versus Panhandle, the Eagles had a +70 margin of victory, cruising past their first two opponents.
Playing in a tightly contested game against Panhandle revealed to Riker that his team is tough and can rise to the program’s standards.
“We have tough kids; tough kids know how to win,” Coach Riker said. “That’s our expectation: to be the toughest team on the field.”
The Eagles will line up against the 4-0 New Deal Lions, who present a similar test as Panhandle, being a bigger overall team.
Making sure they’re fundamentally sound and remain efficient on offense will lead to success versus the Lions, said Riker.
“They’re massive upfront, another big team. Panhandle lean on us,” Riker said. “They run the ball 72% of the time, so we’re going to have to make sure we’re taking care of our jobs defensively and then put the ball in the endzone.”
The Eagles take on New Deal at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 at New Deal.