CORONADO BREAKS LOOSE: THUNDERBIRDS SOAR PAST BURGES 44-17

By PREP1 Sports | September 11, 2026 There was a point Friday night when Coronado and Burges looked like they were headed for another tight El Paso football battle. Then the Thunderbirds found their rhythm. Coronado turned a competitive first half into a convincing 44-17 victory over Burges at Coronado High School, earning its first win of the 2026 season and evening its record at 1-2. Burges also moved to 1-2 after the loss. For the Thunderbirds, it was the kind of performance they needed. CORONADO FINDS ITS OFFENSIVE RHYTHM Coronado entered Friday night having scored just 32 points through its first two games, including losses to El Dorado and Odessa. Against Burges, the Thunderbirds nearly matched that total by halftime. Coronado built a 23-10 halftime advantage, then continued to separate from the Mustangs after intermission on its way to the 27-point victory. The final numbers reflected a balanced attack. Coronado entered the game averaging 316.7 total yards per game, with quarterback Nolan Montion leading the passing game and senior Josiah Marquez anchoring the rushing attack. MONTION AND MARQUEZ PROVIDE THE SPARK Montion, a junior quarterback, has quickly become an important piece of the Thunderbirds' offense. Through the opening three games, he was averaging 181.7 passing yards per game, while Marquez was averaging 84.3 rushing yards per game entering the matchup. The Thunderbirds also entered Friday averaging nearly 176 receiving yards per game, with Christian Frias Jr. among the team's leading offensive contributors. That combination gives Coronado multiple ways to attack a defense — something Burges experienced firsthand. DEFENSE GETS IN ON THE ACTION The Thunderbirds weren't simply winning the shootout. They were making plays defensively. Coronado recorded 58 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions in the game, according to MaxPreps' postgame statistics. That defensive pressure helped prevent Burges from establishing the offensive consistency it had shown during its first two games. Burges quarterback Angel Canales entered the night averaging 158 passing yards per game, while the Mustangs had been averaging 266.3 total yards per game. Friday, Coronado made sure those numbers didn't translate into another close game. BURGES FACES A TOUGH NIGHT The Mustangs opened the season with a statement of their own — a 35-14 victory over Socorro — before falling to Ysleta 28-10. Friday's 44-17 defeat gave Burges consecutive losses and dropped the Mustangs to 1-2. Still, the season is far from decided. Burges begins district play later this fall, and the Mustangs will have an opportunity to regroup when they host El Dorado on September 18. A NEW START FOR CORONADO For Coronado, Friday night was about more than correcting the record. It was about finding an identity. The Thunderbirds had lost their first two games by a combined 15 points, including an 11-19 loss at Odessa. Against Burges, Coronado finally put together the kind of offensive production that had been missing. Now the Thunderbirds have momentum. And they won't have to wait long for another challenge. Coronado travels to face Del Valle on September 18, followed by a September 24 matchup at Socorro. Friday night belonged to Coronado. The Thunderbirds played fast, created turnovers, generated pressure and — most importantly — finished. FINAL: CORONADO 44, BURGES 17 Coronado: 1-2 Burges: 1-2 Next for Coronado: @ Del Valle — Sept. 18 Next for Burges: vs. El Dorado — Sept. 18 Photo: Raymond Lerma | @LermaSportsVisuals