A rough start helped Del Valle build a big lead as Pebble Hills was unable to erase the deficit as the Conquistadores defeated the Spartans 45-31 Friday night Sept. 3 at Conquest Stadium. 

What started from a botched snap, which eventually led to the first two points for Del Valle was a sign of things to come as they took control early on and ended the first quarter with an 11-0 lead.

Del Valle continued to score ending the first half with a 25-3 lead. 

Things would continue as Del Valle started the second half with a scoring drive in their first possession and extended the 32-3 lead.

A blocked kick by junior outside linebacker Dallas Salazar forced a Del Valle turnover. Pebble Hills would capitalize and get their first touchdown in the third quarter making the score 32-10.

The Spartans would try and close the gap with 21 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too late as time expired.

“The main adjustment needed would probably be our mindset,” said senior running back Erik Marin looking back to Friday’s game. “After playing Permian, a top 25 team in Texas, coming close to beating them, made us believe we can win any game.”

With such a strong start in Pebble Hills’ season opener, and a solid fourth quarter against Del Valle, the team has shown strides.

“We certainly laid an egg in the first half against Del Valle, coming off a strong performance in Odessa,” head coach Mark Torres said. “I think we responded well in the second half of the game with Del Valle, I think coming back on Saturday and Monday for workouts, the guys understand what they’re capable of and that they have to have their mind right if they want to be successful, and that was not the case in the first half at Del Valle,” head coach Mark Torres said.

For the first time in school history, the Spartans are 0-2 in the season and look to bounce back as they welcome the El Dorado Aztecs Friday night at the SAC at 7:30 p.m.

The Aztecs, who are also 0-2, enter the game desperate for a win. El Dorado is fresh off a close loss to Austin. 

“Well when you prepare it has to be much harder than the competition so that’s the plan, the plan is to practice much harder and make practice much harder than the competition is going to be on Friday,” Torres said.