4A ANDRESS STUNS 6A FRANKLIN: EAGLES Rally LATE TO STAY PERFECT

For three quarters, Franklin had 4A Andress exactly where it wanted. The Cougars played disciplined, physical football against one of El Paso's hottest teams and appeared poised to pull off one of the biggest upsets of Week 3. Then the fourth quarter arrived. Andress found another gear. The Eagles scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, rallied from behind and held on for a dramatic 20-17 victory over 6A Franklin Friday night at Allen Sepkowitz Stadium. The win kept Andress unbeaten at 3-0, while Franklin fell to 0-3. This wasn't another Andress track meet. After opening the season with victories over Centennial and Americas — including a wild 57-55 shootout against Americas — the Eagles were forced to win a completely different kind of football game. And that's what made Friday's victory so impressive. Franklin Came to Play Franklin didn't look like a winless team. The Cougars opened the game with a methodical drive that consumed 9:31, covering 60 yards over 16 plays. Andress eventually stopped Franklin near the goal line, forcing a 19-yard field goal from Nicholas Magallanes. It was a defensive tone-setter. Franklin's defense then kept Andress from finding its usual offensive rhythm. The Eagles finally broke through when quarterback Jamari Milton connected with Aavant Clayton, who turned a short catch into a 52-yard touchdown after breaking a tackle and racing downfield. Andress took a 7-3 lead into halftime, despite Franklin actually holding a 141-113 advantage in total yards at the break. That statistic tells you everything about the kind of night it was. Franklin wasn't hanging around by accident. Milton, Guzman Deliver When It Mattered The Eagles needed their playmakers. They got them. With Andress trailing late, Milton engineered a 75-yard scoring drive, eventually keeping the ball himself for a 17-yard touchdown on fourth-and-4. Then came the winning drive. Running back Julian Guzman helped move Andress down the field on an 88-yard march before finishing the possession with a 7-yard touchdown run. Two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Two huge drives. And suddenly, a game that looked like Franklin's to win belonged to Andress. Milton finished with 161 passing yards and a touchdown, while Guzman rushed for 80 yards and a score. Clayton was Milton's primary target, finishing with 109 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. One Last Chance Franklin still had an opportunity. Quarterback Robert Torres, who was filling in under center, tried to give the Cougars one final chance to steal the game. But with 1:28 remaining, Andress defensive back Calvin Hutchings intercepted Torres, effectively ending Franklin's upset bid. Ballgame. Andress 20. Franklin 17. A Different Kind of Statement There's something to be said for winning when you're not at your best. Andress entered Friday night averaging nearly 51 points through its first two games. Against Franklin, the Eagles scored just 20. But the scoreboard doesn't care how pretty the win looks. Andress needed fourth-quarter execution, clutch play-calling and a defense that could make one final play. It got all three. The Eagles are now 3-0, ranked among the top teams in El Paso and sitting at No. 14 in the Texas 4A Division I rankings according to MaxPreps' latest listing. For Franklin, there is a different takeaway. The Cougars may be 0-3, but Friday's performance showed a young team capable of challenging a highly regarded opponent for four quarters. Franklin will have another opportunity to turn that effort into its first victory when it hosts Parkland on September 18. Andress, meanwhile, gets no time to relax. The Eagles return home next Friday for a showdown with rival Chapin. After surviving Franklin, Andress remains perfect. And perhaps more importantly, the Eagles learned something about themselves: They don't always have to win pretty. Sometimes, they just have to win. And Friday night, against a determined 6A Franklin squad, that's exactly what they did. FINAL: ANDRESS 20, FRANKLIN 17 Andress: 3-0 Franklin: 0-3 Next for Andress: vs. Chapin — Sept. 18 Next for Franklin: vs. Parkland — Sept. 18 Photo: PREP1 Network | James Moreno @j.a.m.e.s_flicks