CORONADO SURVIVES SOCORRO THRILLER, 38-35, IN DISTRICT 1-6A OPENER

EL PASO, Texas — Coronado and Socorro opened District 1-6A play Thursday night at SAC I with the kind of game that simply refused to be decided until the final seconds. When it was finally over, the Coronado Thunderbirds escaped with a dramatic 38-35 victory over the Socorro Bulldogs, securing their third consecutive win and starting district play 1-0. The matchup featured nine lead changes and approximately 800 combined yards of offense, according to reporting from the El Paso Times. And somehow, after all that offense, the game came down to defense. Socorro held a 35-31 advantage with 5:29 remaining, putting Coronado in a must-answer situation. The Thunderbirds responded with a composed 78-yard drive, keeping the football primarily on the ground and chewing away at the clock. Then came the play of the night. Facing 4th-and-7 from the Socorro 15, Coronado quarterback Nolan Montion connected with CJ Frescas, who made a toe-tapping touchdown grab near the sideline with 1:54 remaining, pushing the Thunderbirds back in front, 38-35. Frescas had already made his presence felt defensively with a third-quarter interception. But the Bulldogs weren't finished. Socorro mounted one final drive and pushed the football all the way to the Coronado 1-yard line. With only three seconds remaining, the Bulldogs had an opportunity to steal the game at the horn. The Thunderbird defense slammed the door. Coronado stuffed Socorro's final rushing attempt at the 1-yard line as time expired, completing a goal-line stand and setting off a celebration on the Coronado sideline. The finish was fitting for a Coronado team whose defense had been one of its strengths entering district play. This time, though, the Thunderbirds needed contributions everywhere. Socorro quarterback Isaac Anaya and receiver Jacob Herrera helped ignite the Bulldogs' offense, including touchdown connections of 34 and 44 yards during the first half. Coronado answered explosive play with explosive play, including a 66-yard Montion-to-Christian Frias touchdown immediately following one of Socorro's scores. It became a heavyweight exchange: Socorro landed a shot, Coronado answered. Coronado grabbed momentum, Socorro took it back. Until the Thunderbirds delivered the final two punches — Frescas' fourth-down touchdown and a goal-line stand with the game on the line. The victory moves Coronado to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in District 1-6A, while Socorro falls to 2-2 and 0-1 in district play. Coronado will host Montwood next Friday, Oct. 2, while Socorro travels to Franklin. For Coronado, it's more than another number in the win column. The Thunderbirds have now put together three straight victories, and Thursday's district opener showed they can win a shootout, execute under late-game pressure and make a defensive stand when there is literally no field left behind them. FINAL | DISTRICT 1-6A 🏈 Coronado 38, Socorro 35 Photo Courtesy: Ricky Sera (Riks Photography) | PREP1 Network PREP1 | El Paso High School Football Coverage #PREP1 #PREP1Network #CoronadoFootball #Thunderbirds #SocorroFootball #Bulldogs #TXHSFB #ElPasoFootball