The Firebaugh Eagles notched their second win of the season last Friday night, defeating, 44-14.
“Our team is showing improvement by competing and playing more games,” said first-year Firebaugh head coach Jorge Saldana. “We are gaining experience every Friday and learning the speed of a varsity football game. We are meshing together and beginning to trust each other on the field.”
In a battle between two youthful team, Firebaugh resorted to trickery to take an early lead. The Eagles started the game with on onside kick, which they recovered to set up their offense. On fourth-and-sixth from the Tranqillity 20-yard line, quarterback Manuel Bautista hit wide receiver Issac Leyva in the left corner of the endzone for an early touchdown.
On the ensuring kick-off, the Eagles pooched the kick and again recovered the ball. But on this drive, the Tigers held Firebaugh on downs. A Firebaugh fumble was recovered by Tranquillity, and the Tigers tied the scored on a 25-yard pass.
After holding the Eagles on down, Tranquillity took over and began marching down the field. With 6:54 minutes left in the second quarter, the Tigers took their first lead of the night, 14-7.
Firebaugh closed the gap to 14-13 when running back Alex Fernandez busted loose for a 35-yard gain down to the Tranquillity 20-yard line. Bautista again went to Leyva on the next play for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
A turnover by the Tigers put the Eagles in good field position late in the second quarter. Bautista this time hit Ivan Ceja for a scoring toss at Firebaugh took a 21-14 halftime lead.
Firebaugh took the second half kickoff and marched down the field. After Tranquillity’s defense stiffened, Fernandez booted a 20-yard field goal to give his team a 24-14 lead.
Late in the third quarter, a penalty and a sack on the Tranquillity quarterback pushed the Tigers back to their own six-yard line. Operating from the shotgun in his own endzone, the Tigers quarterback took the snap and under big pressure tried to scramble. He was collared and stripped of the ball. Firebaugh lineman Mason Alaniz fell on the ball for a Firebaugh touchdown to give the Eagles a 31-14 lead.
After holding Tranqillity on downs, Firebaugh started another drive at midfield and put the game away with a 19-yard touchdown run.
Bautista finished the game with 12 for 19 passing for 185 yards and four touchdowns.
