The Ropes Eagles faced-off against the Wink Wildcats Friday in Big Spring for the team’s regional round of playoffs where the Eagles outlasted the Wildcats 21-14, as the home team.
It was a defensive oriented game. In the first quarter, neither team was on the board but Ropes forced two interceptions in backto- back drives.
In the second quarter, the Wildcats were able to gain the lead off of a 35-yard run to make the score 7-0 after the made PAT.
Right before halftime, Ropes was able to get a huge break with a 72-yard touchdown pass from Kade Franklin to Kolter Dockery to tie the game 7-7 with 14 seconds left in the half.
In the third quarter, Wink was the only team on the board with a passing touchdown from 25-yards out to retake the lead and make the score 14-7 going into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter of the game it was all Eagles as they were able to drive down the field at will, scoring two touchdowns.
The first touchdown was set up by a long pass from Franklin to Kaden Riker for a 24-yard gain and a Mason Marmolejo 18-yard gain, capped off with a one-yard touchdown run from Kade Franklin from under center.
The second touchdown was with another good drive that was finished off with a one-yard push into the endzone from Kade Franklin.
In Wink’s final drive of the game they failed to get anything going as Ropes defense was smothering them all night forcing them to go for a hail mary on fourth and 20. The pass was incomplete in the Eagle secondary, making the Eagles the Regional Quarterfinals winners.
Kade Franklin led the team in passing with 134 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Marmolejo led the Eagles in rushing with 16 carries for 70 yards. Ryland Kieth had nine carries for 47 yards, Zayden Pittman had three carries for 17 yards, Riker had one cary for three yards and Kade Franklin had three carries for negative two yards and two touchdowns.
Leading the Eagles in receiving was Dockery with one catch for 72 yards and one touchdown. Kaden Riker had one catch for 24 yards, Colton Mortensen had one catch for 22 yards and Reese Williams had two catches for 16 yards.
The Ropes defense was a brick wall as they held the Wink offense to 286 total offensive yards with 75 through the air and 211 on the ground.
Leading the Eagles in tackling was Brady Bryan with 19 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Victor Saenz had 15 tackles, Reid McCaleb had 15 along with a sack, Riker had 14 tackles, Kanon Buckner had 13, Trak Crow had 13, Elijah Flores had 10, Branson Simental had nine, Zayden Pittman had nine with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery, Kolter Dockery had seven tackles with an interception, Reese Williams had five tackles, Mike Williams had four, Colton Mortensen had three and four Eagles had one tackle a piece in Tyler Harbuck, Armando Melton, Jace Fowler and Brayden Hogg.
The Ropes Eagles progress to 12-1 on the season as they get ready to take on the Gruver Greyhounds this Friday in Canyon at Happy State Bank at 7 p.m.