Well, for starters, senior linebacker Jorge Hernandez was named the Eagles’ homecoming king at halftime at Shotwell Stadium.
Hernandez and the Eagles defense then went back to work, smothering the Red Raiders’ option offense – holding them to just 172 total yards while getting two picks and a blocked punt – to win their first District 3-6A game this season.
Hernandez said it helped that the Eagles played another option team, Amarillo Tascosa, in the season opener at Shotwell. Tascosa won that game, but this time AHS managed to come up with its first shutout since a 13-0 win over Midland High in Week 4 last season.
“They ran a similar offense,” Hernandez said. “We kept studying and studying. We knew our fits.”
First-year AHS coach Mike Fullen was impressed with his defense’s effort against the option. Bell managed just three running play over 10 yards – the longest at 21.
“It tests your discipline,” Fullen said. “All they’re doing is waiting for you to do one thing wrong one time and it can end up being a big play. For our guys to keep doing it over and over and over and not giving up a big run or a big play, staying the course and keeping good eye discipline, that was huge.”
It didn’t take much offense for the Eagles to win their first home game since a 48-41 win over North Richland Hills Richland on Sept. 28, 2018. AHS had lost four consecutive home games since then – five if you count the crosstown game where the Eagles were the visitors on their own field.
Joseph Martinez kicked a pair of field goals, and Phonzo Dotson ran 4 yards for a TD as Abilene High improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in district.
Dotson, who sat out the previous two games, ran for a game-high 100 yards on 22 carries. Eric Abbe completed 6 of 16 passes for 77 yards. AHS, which had 209 total yards, turned the ball over once on a fumble.
AHS led 3-0 at halftime, after a blocked punt set up a 22-yard field goal by Martinez.
On Bell’s second possession, the Blue Raiders (2-4, 0-2) had a fourth-and-12 at their own 30-yard line. AHS’ Dylan Wright blocked the punt, picked it up at the 15 and got 5 yards.
“We didn’t have the block on,” Fullen said. “We had a return on. It just opened up. Dylan did a great job of getting his hands up. He blocked it, set us up in position for a score. We would've loved to have had a touchdown, but we’ll take points. As long as we get points in the red zone, we’ll take it.”
AHS couldn’t punch the ball in the end zone and settled for Martinez’s field goal with 5:17 left in the first quarter.
Bell’s next two possessions ended with interceptions. Nathaniel Jones came up with a pick at the Eagles’ 2 on a third-and-9 play from the 17. On the Blue Raiders next possession, Witt Holloway ... Click here to read full article
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