Cubs head football Coach Brantley said this game would be tough and he was not kidding. The Brownfield Cubs took on the Roosevelt Eagles Friday night in a classic 3A ball game that dropped the Cubs to a 2-1 record after their 46-30 loss. The Cub’s defense was worn out by the end of the night with the Eagles 336 rushing yards, which Coach Brantley had warned about.
Brownfield would receive the ball first and begin their work toward a touchdown. JJ Martinez would hit Jo Jo Carillo for a huge pass play and first at the Eagles 30-yard line. The next series of the Cubs would push through on 3rd down. JJ would hand the ball off to Gage McPherson and he would take it to the house on a 24-yard rushing TD and the PAT was good making the score 7-0 early in the 1st quarter.
On the Cub’s kickoff after their touchdown, the ball went out of bounds setting up decent field position for the Eagles on their 35. Roosevelt would keep the ball on the ground and on 2nd down they moved the sticks to Brownfield’s 39. The Eagles would immediately pick up 8 yards making it 2nd and two. Roosevelt again ran giving them another first down this time on Brownfield’s 22-yard line. The Eagles gained two yards on the 1st, however, Izzy Morin would push the running back four yards creating 3rd & 12. Roosevelt’s next play was an incomplete pass, however, the Eagles went for it on 4th down and got a 1st down and goal.
The Eagles would be 1st and goal on Brownfield’s 8 and worked to get to the three-yard line on 2nd down. On 3rd and goal, Roosevelt would punch in a three-yard touchdown run. The Eagles opted for the two-point conversion and got it making the score 8-7 in favor of Roosevelt with 4:40 left in the first quarter.
The Cubs would start their next series on their 28-yard line and get a 6-yard run on the first down. 2nd down was an incomplete pass. On 3rd and 4, JJ connected with McPherson on a 10-yard pass for a first down on the Brownfield 44. The Cubs kept it on the ground and McPherson would get another first down on the Eagles 46. Cubs had no gain bringing 2nd & 10. The Eagles, get a 5-yard offside/encroachment penalty making it 2nd & 5. Q Busby would catch a JJ pass moving the sticks to the Roosevelt 31. JJ then connected with Carrillo on a 31-yard passing touchdown and the PAT was good bringing the score 14-8 with 1:18 left in the 1st quarter.
The Eagles would return the kickoff to their 35-yard line setting up the 1st and 10. Roosevelt picked up five on the run. The Eagles got another first down and it is now on their 49 and time expired in the 1st quarter. Beginning the second quarter Roosevelt has the ball. The Eagles quickly get another first down on the Cubs’ 38. Brownfield’s defense stood strong on 1st and 2nd down making it 3rd and long for the Eagles. Roosevelt however, converted the 3rd down bringing the ball to Brownfield’s 26. The Eagles again, on the ground got another first down and would be 1st & goal at the 9. The Eagles moved the ball three yards. On 2nd down, the Eagles gained four yards making it 3rd & goal on the 2. Third down, the Cubs didn’t allow a gain, however, on 4th & goal from the 2, Roosevelt would score and the two-point conversion was good bringing the score 16 to 14 Roosevelt was on top with 6:16 left in the first half.
Roosevelt’s kickoff went out of bounds and the Cubs elected to re-kick. On the kickoff, Brownfield got a holding penalty on the return and pushed them back to the 25. 1st & 2nd downs were incomplete passes. On 3rd & 10, JJ passed to Brason Salas for a 1st down on the Cubs 49. On the next series of downs, the Cubs turned the ball over on downs.
Eagles would get a 1st and 10 on the Cub’s 18 from a 56-yard run. Roosevelt again kept it on the ground and got another 1st & goal at the Cub’s 9. The Eagles called a time-out with 3:23 left in the 2nd quarter. 2nd & goal for the Eagles and they punched it in for another touchdown. This time the two-point conversion was no good bringing the score 22 to 14 Roosevelt was on top with 2:35 left in the half
On the kickoff, Brownfield would fumble and turn the ball over with Roosevelt now on the Cubs 24. The Eagles will get another first down and will be a 1st & goal on the 3-yard line. The Eagles again on the ground punched it for a touchdown and got the two-point conversion making the score 30 to 14 with 1:52 left in the half
Brownfield got the kickoff and returned it to the 32. JJ would find Salas again moving the sticks to mid-field. On the QB Keeper, JJ would get the first down on Roosevelt’s 37. The Cubs got a loss of four yards and 2nd down was an incomplete pass. On 3rd & 4th downs were incomplete passes, turning the ball over on downs. The Eagles took over the ball with 24 seconds left and ran out the clock for halftime.
Beginning the second half, Brownfield would kick off, Roosevelt got a good return and started on their own 44-yard line 1st and 10. They got two yards on 1st down. On 2nd down, the Cubs and Eagles would get penalties. The Eagles had a false start and the Cubs had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. This gave Roosevelt 1st & 10 at the Cub 44. The Eagles would get a false start on 1st & 10, making it 1st & 15. Another false start penalty for the Eagles, now 1st & 20. Roosevelt would move the ball bringing up 4th & 6. However, the Eagles received another false start penalty bringing up 4th & 11, forcing the Eagles to punt the ball.
The Eagles punt landed at the 1-yard line. The Cubs went for a run play with McPherson, however, he was tackled in the end zone giving the Eagles a safety, making the score 32-14 with 9:15 left in the 3rd quarter. The Cubs would have to kick off the ball with Roosevelt returning it to their 38. The Eagles would get two yards on the 1st down bringing to 2nd & 8 on their 40. The Cubs only allowed one yard on 2nd down. It’s 3rd & 7 and Kaden Wise on a great tackle bringing a 4th & long for Roosevelt. The Eagles set up for a punt, but it would be a fake and they got the 1st & 10 at Brownfield’s 40.
Roosevelt would get another first down this time they are 1st & 10 at the Brownfield 28. Another first down for the Eagles on the Cubs 16. Roosevelt would go ahead and score another touchdown, with the two-point conversion being successful bringing the score 40-14 with 1:54 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Cubs received the kickoff and brought it to their 29. McPherson would have a one-yard run on first and 10 making it 2nd & 9. JJ would throw two incomplete passes forcing the Cubs to punt again with 1:14 left in the 3rd.
Eagles would make no gain on 1st & 10 but, however, on 2nd down they moved the ball to get another 1st down in Brownfield territory. Time would run ending the third quarter with Roosevelt leading 40 to 14.
The Cubs would end up stopping the Eagles, and march the ball down the field to score. The Cubs got the two-point conversion making the score 40-22 with 7:16 left in the game. The Cubs kicked the ball off and would get a fumble recovery. Brownfield moved the ball down the field to score again and got the two-point conversion bringing the score 40 to 30
Roosevelt got the ball back, slowly milked the clock, and scored one more time, but did not get the PAT, making the score 46-30 with 2:21 left in the game. The Cubs tried to score again, but there was not enough time.
JJ Martinez was 22 for 39 with 292 yards passing. Brownfield had a total of 318 yards, 26 rushing, and 292 through the air.
