Diamond Hill-Jarvis snaps another losing streak to win ‘Battle of the Eagle’ trophy
The inaugural ‘Battle of the Eagle’ trophy waited quietly for the winner of Diamond Hill-Jarvis and Carter-Riverside Friday night at Scarborough-Handley Field.
Coaches and principals at both schools thought it was time to spark up the longtime rivalry.
DHJ scored the final 16 points to beat CRHS, 29-17, and, in doing so, accomplished two things for the first time since 2005.
DHJ (3-1) snapped an 8-game losing streak in the series – it last beat CRHS 40-12 in 2005 … the same year it last won three games.
“It was important to see if the kids could bounce back after the loss last week vs. North Side,” coach Oscar Castillo said. “They did, but it wasn’t easy.”
After trailing 17-13 early in the third quarter, DHJ running back Eddrick Hampton ran in a 7-yard TD to give his team a 20-17 lead with 4:44 left in the frame.
Deon Ross added some insurance with a 10-yard TD run midway through the fourth, and Erik Sontoyo nailed a 27-yard field goal with 1:46 to play.
Carter-Riverside had won four-straight meetings from 2006-09 and again from 2014-17. It outscored DHJ 271-59 in that span.
“The coaches taught us since the first day of practice to never give up and dig down deep, and to see what you’re really about,” senior lineman Daniel Robles said. “We came to play tonight and took care of business. Our goal was to give them a fight and take this trophy home with us.”
Kam Kimble gave Diamond Hill a 7-0 lead with his 2-yard TD run in the first quarter.
After a 30-minute lightning delay, Carter-Riverside pinned DHJ at the 1-yard line and recorded a safety to make it 7-2 late in the opening frame.
DHJ fumbled just under 10 minutes before half and Carlos Vasquez snatched the football and returned it for a 73-yard TD to give Carter-Riverside an 8-7 lead.
Hampton scored his first TD on a 3-yard run out of the Wildcat formation to put DHJ back in front 13-8 with 6:11 in the second, but the CRHS defense added another TD return just before the break with a 53-yard pick-six from Justin Gray.
Elisiel Conchas booted a 22-yard field to extend Carter-Riverside’s lead to 17-13.
“We wanted to do what winning teams do – win back-to-back games, face adversity and bounce back after tough losses,” Castillo said. “Next step is to go out and win district games.”
Hampton rushed 25 times for 157 yards. His final carry went for 59 to set up Sontoyo’s field goal.
Adrian Gutierrez went 8 of 10 for 139 yards for DHJ. David Mora was the leading receiver with five catches for 45 yards. DHJ out-gained CRHS 301-69.
“I wanted something difficult for the kids and they came through,” Castillo said.
Diamond Hill is coming off a historic year – and it’s only Week 4. It won its first two games of the season – snapping a 77-game losing streak that dated back to 2010. The two-consecutive wins were also a first for the program since 1999.
Both teams start district play on 7 p.m. Thursday. DHJ hosts Lake Worth back at Handley while Carter-Riverside plays North Side at Clark.
This story was originally published September 21, 2018 at 10:28 PM.