YSLETA KEEPS ROLLING: INDIANS SURVIVE FORT STOCKTON, IMPROVE TO 3-0

There are games you win comfortably, and then there are games you earn. Ysleta’s 35-28 victory over Fort Stockton on Friday night was very much the latter. The Indians remained unbeaten on the young 2026 season, but the Panthers refused to make it easy, pushing Ysleta throughout the night before the home team ultimately secured the seven-point victory at Hutchins Stadium. The win moves Ysleta to 3-0 for the season, following earlier victories over Big Spring and Burges. And once again, the Indians' offense had plenty of firepower. Martinez Leads the Charge Quarterback Rodrigo Martinez once again showed why he has quickly become one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in El Paso. Martinez accounted for five touchdowns against Fort Stockton — rushing for four touchdowns while adding another through the air. That performance came as part of an offensive night in which Ysleta piled up 313 rushing yards and 134 passing yards, producing 447 total yards of offense. That's a pretty good formula for winning football. But what stands out about this Ysleta team isn't simply the ability to put points on the board. It's the way the Indians have responded when opponents have challenged them. They opened the season by traveling to Big Spring and coming away with a 30-22 victory. A week later, they handled Burges 28-10. Then came Fort Stockton, a team that pushed the Indians into a much more competitive battle. Ysleta answered. Three Games. Three Wins. At 3-0, the Indians have already demonstrated that this isn't simply a team capable of beating opponents when everything goes according to plan. They're learning how to win different kinds of football games. That's important because the schedule is about to get considerably more interesting. Ysleta travels to face Hanks on Friday, September 18, with the Knights entering that matchup at 2-1 after a wild 49-44 loss to Pebble Hills. In other words, expect another high-energy football game. The Indians currently sit among El Paso's unbeaten teams and have established themselves as a legitimate early-season storyline in Class 4A Division I. Dave Campbell's Texas Football lists Ysleta at 3-0 heading into the Hanks matchup. The Bigger Picture It's still September, and nobody is handing out playoff trophies. But three weeks into the season, Ysleta has given its fans something important: reason to believe. The Indians are 3-0. They've won on the road. They've won at home. They've won high-scoring games. And Friday night, they showed they can withstand a punch from an opponent determined to stay in the fight. That's the kind of experience that can matter later in November. For now, though, the message coming out of Hutchins Stadium is pretty simple: Ysleta is undefeated — and the Indians aren't slowing down. Final: Ysleta 35, Fort Stockton 28 Ysleta record: 3-0 Next: @ Hanks — Friday, Sept. 18, 7:00 p.m. Photo: Kickash Photo / PREP1 Sports