Indians claim rare District win

LPR staff

PRAIRIE LEA — Stephen Brown and his Prairie Lea Indians have reason to celebrate after winning their first district game since 2016 Friday night, a 77-32 route of McDade. However, there could be more calls for celebrations down the line, starting with Friday night’s game at Indian Field when Nueces Canyon visits.

It is believed that the last time Prairie Lea won two district games was as far back as 1945, which happens to be the last time, the Indians reached the state playoffs.

Should the Indians win Friday night, their final regular season game at Leakey on Nov. 3 will likely be for second place and the final playoff berth from Texas six-man football District 16.

The win over McDade puts Prairie Lee at 3-4 overall and 1–1 in the District 16. Medina leads the district with a 2-0 record, followed by Nueces Canyon at 1-0. Prairie Lea and Leakey each have one league loss. McDade fell to 2-6 and 0-2.

Nueces Canyon, 3-4 overall, had an open date Friday night.

Friday also marked the first time Prairie Lea’s varsity and middle school football teams won on the same night. The young Indians beat McDade, 31-0.

McDade hung tough against the varsity Indians for about a quarter, trailing 26–20 after one period. 

But Prairie Lea opened a three-score advantage by halftime and ran away from the Bulldogs in the second half. 

Running back Jimmy, Saberones had a night to remember with eight touchdowns among his 15 carries for 371 yards. 

Lane Fiscus added 63 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, Joe Zapata 66 yards and a touchdown on just two attempts, Edwin Canepa 25 yards and a touchdown on one carry, and Gabriel García 25 yards on three attempts,.

Defensively, Zapata led Prairie Lea with 11 tackles, including three sacks. Canepa had 9 tackles, Fiscus 8, Garcia 7, including an interception he returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. 

“We would score, they would score, we would score, and they would score again,” said Brown. “We finally get our feet under us.

“Saberones just ran wild. Our kids are conditioned so well. And, we are peaking.”

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District 16 (6-Man) Standings

All     District

Medina          7-1       2-0

Nueces Canyon         3-4       1-0

Prairie Lea     3-4       1-1

Leakey           3-4       0-1

McDade         2-6       0-2

Last week scores:

Prairie Lea 77, McDade 32

Medina 42, Leakey 8

Nueces Canyon was open

This week’s games:

Canyon at Prairie Lea

Leakey at McDade

Medina is open