Go! Go, Johnny Go! John De la Rosa flying.     Photo: Brax - VPC

Canutillo Eagle RB John De la Rosa was off to the races against an unpolished and unprepared Coronado team to open the 2008 High School Football Season at Jack Quarles Thunderbird Stadium in El Paso's Westside.

To say it was an upset would be an understatement. After all, this was not Odessa Permian coming to the T-Bird turf to toughen up the Thunderbirds for another district title run. But, there was more drama involved besides a 1-4A team going up against one of the perennial powerhouse teams in the 1-5A.

Sure, the Eagles were the defending District 2-4A co-champions; but, this was THE Coronado T-Birds they were playing. So that wasn't the reason for all the hype.

What made this an even greater square off between the Eagles of Canutillo and the Coronado Thunderbirds was this was the first time that father and son would coach against each other.

What the T-Birds saw plenty of... Photo: Brax - VPC

Coach Don Brooks, a long-time coach of the T-Birds was going to send his team against team coached by his son Scott Brooks. And although they had played some scimages and 7-on-7 games... this was the first time the two would square off for REAL.

You knew something was not right when it was cold and rainy and fans were under plactic and umbrellas for the start of the game. Instead of the hot and muggy usual start of HS football the sun was no where to be found. Rain had hit the field before the start of the game and then it threatened throghout the contest with fans able to come out of their umbrellas and tarps by the second quarter.

Well, the game was certainly worth the hype. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to it in the least. There was no defensive stand late in the game by Coronado's usually tough D. There was no late game heroics 'Period!'. This game was a blow out.

It was clear that the ofenses were more ready than the defenses but this game could have gone either way... but, there were good reasons why it didn't.

While the score was 6-6 going into the second quarter there were big plays from both offenses. Canutillo scored first after moving the ball quickly on the ground and on screen passes to set up a third and goal from the three yard line. Jose Muñoz scored going left around end and then cutting back inside while the Coronado defenders were spread far and wide.

Isn't someone supposed to tackle him? Photo: Brax - VPC

Coronado shook off this wake-up call and quickly scored a tying TD within a minute of the Eagles going a head. Willie Willimas the T-Bird RB raced down the right side untouched for 65-yards for the score.

Then came the make-or-break series. Coronado held the Eagles and marched all the way down to the Eagle four-yard line. But, instead of taking over the game and the momentum; the T-Birds were stopped by the Eagles' defense along with some sloppy playing... the wind didn't help the passing on that series either.

You would have expected that Coronado would now keep Canutillo deep in their own territory and force a punt... Wrong! The Eagles marched down the field like a pro team with all the MO on their side. Eagles go 96-yards for the 13-6 lead.

That still left a great half of David vs. Goliath football to go... and David was ahead.

Canutillo Cheerleaders... With plenty to smile about.     Photo: Brax - VPC

But, Canutillo's John De la Rosa, who had an All-Star night with 306 yards and 3 scores, busted out on the next two possessions by the Eagles with scoring runs of 80 and 59 yards respectively. Those two plays attributed for nearly one half of his total yards for the night.

The T-Birds didn't help their cause with 15 penalties costing them over 150 yards. It made some wonder if it was the T-Birds that were choking under pressure... instead of the upstart Eagles.

Coronado had some bright spots. Coronado tailback Willie Williams ran for more than 150 yards and quarterback Armando Duran for more than 100 yards. Both had big plays. Duran scored on a 65-yard run after his receivers were covered.

In the end it was a huge win for the upstart Eagles and the upstart "son" of the Brooks family. Coronado will have to reassess its readiness to compete at the high level usually expected of them.

Prepared by UVB staff.

(Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)

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