FRANKLIN OWNS THE WESTSIDE: COUGARS TAKE DOWN CORONADO 24-7 TO CLAIM 2026 WESTSIDE BOWL

EL PASO, Texas — November 5, 2026 | PHOTO COURTESY: Raymond Lerma | @lermasportsvisuals There is something different about the Westside Bowl. It's more than a football game, more than a traveling trophy and certainly more than bragging rights. It's neighborhood pride, school tradition and a rivalry that brings two communities together under the brightest lights in El Paso. On Thursday night, the historic Sun Bowl provided the stage for another chapter between the Franklin Cougars and Coronado Thunderbirds. And when the final whistle sounded, it was Franklin celebrating. The Cougars defeated Coronado 24-7, capturing the 2026 Westside Bowl trophy, extending their winning streak against the Thunderbirds to nine consecutive games and, perhaps most importantly, punching their ticket to the UIL Class 6A state playoffs. For Franklin, this one carried plenty of meaning. The Cougars entered the season facing adversity after an 0-3 start. Rather than allowing that opening stretch to define their season, they regrouped, found their rhythm and put together the wins necessary to earn another opportunity in the postseason. Thursday's performance was the latest chapter in that turnaround. A SECOND-HALF STATEMENT The first half reflected the intensity expected from a rivalry of this magnitude. Franklin entered the locker room holding a narrow 10-7 lead. Senior Santiago Perez provided the opening offensive spark with a 17-yard touchdown run, while Nick Magallanes added a 32-yard field goal. Coronado answered with a 19-yard touchdown reception by CJ Frescas, keeping the Thunderbirds within striking distance. But the second half belonged to the Cougars. Franklin's defense continued to make life difficult for Coronado's offense, while the Cougars found another gear offensively. Franklin outscored the Thunderbirds 14-0 after halftime, turning a three-point contest into a convincing 17-point victory. The Cougars' ability to control the second half ultimately separated the two programs. FROM 0-3 TO THE PLAYOFFS Perhaps the biggest storyline surrounding Franklin isn't simply winning the Westside Bowl. It's how the Cougars got here. An 0-3 start could have derailed a season. Instead, Franklin continued to work, battled through adversity and found a way to finish the regular season with a winning record. Under head coach Ruben Torres, the Cougars now finish 5-5 overall and 4-2 in District 1-6A, earning a UIL Class 6A playoff berth. For a program that began the season searching for answers, Thursday night's celebration represented a significant turnaround. And there's something special about earning a playoff opportunity on the same night you capture one of the city's most recognizable rivalry trophies. CORONADO: THE WORK CONTINUES For Coronado, the outcome wasn't what the Thunderbirds envisioned for their Westside Bowl finale. At 4-6 overall and 2-4 in district play, the Thunderbirds close their regular season on a difficult four-game losing streak. Still, the rivalry deserves recognition beyond the scoreboard. Both programs represent a tremendous football tradition on El Paso's west side, and Thursday's atmosphere once again demonstrated how much this matchup means to the community. The Thunderbirds will have plenty to evaluate as they look toward the offseason and the opportunity to build on their returning talent. WHO OWNS THE WESTSIDE? For another year, the answer belongs to the Franklin Cougars. Since the rivalry began in 1995, the Westside Bowl has developed into more than an annual football matchup. It's a celebration of two neighboring communities, generations of athletes, school pride and the traditions that make high school football special in El Paso. The Sun Bowl delivered another memorable setting, and Franklin left with the trophy, the bragging rights and something even bigger: a ticket to the Texas high school football playoffs. The Cougars didn't just win the Westside Bowl. They earned themselves another Friday night. 2026 WESTSIDE BOWL FRANKLIN COUGARS 24 CORONADO THUNDERBIRDS 7 Location UTEP Sun Bowl Date November 5, 2026 Franklin record 5-5 | Playoff Bound Coronado record 4-6 WESTSIDE BOWL CHAMPIONS: FRANKLIN PREP1 Network | El Paso High School Sports