Shorthorns fall to Grady in district opener
Lady Horns win in tough one at Fort Davis
By Roxye Lara
The Shorthorns battled early Friday night, but fell to Grady in their district opener. The Horns competitive first quarter saw the team going score-for-score with the hosting Wildcats, but eventually they ran out of gas as the game progressed, falling 26–71 under the mercy rule.
The Marfa faithful who made the seven-hour round trip to Lenorah, Texas, had plenty to cheer for early on. After Grady’s opening touchdown, Marfa answered quickly with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Alex Rodriguez to Austin McGary with 7:23 left in the first quarter, tying the game 6–6.
The Wildcats struck again at the 4:49 mark to go up 14–6, but Marfa responded once more with a determined drive capped by Ayden Alvarez’s 5-yard touchdown run, which followed his 35-yard gain on the ground, narrowing the score to 14–12 with 3:33 left in the first quarter.
Unfortunately, Grady’s offense found its rhythm soon after, putting up several unanswered touchdowns to take a commanding 35–12 lead by the midpoint of the second quarter. The Shorthorns showed more fight through the air as Rodriguez connected with McGary again for a 60-yard pass that set up another Marfa touchdown, but the Wildcats quickly regained momentum and extended their lead.
The game concluded under the mercy rule with a final score of 71–26, moving Marfa’s district record to 0–1 and their overall record to 3–4. Head Coach Kevin Pippen praised his team’s energy and determination to start the game, noting that the Shorthorns came out with strong focus and effort. However, he emphasized the need for that same level of productivity and intensity to carry through all four quarters and highlighted the growth and leadership shown by seniors Gopher Garry Webb and Darren Campos, whose physical play set the tone early. He commended the efforts of Bubba Abelardo Marquez and JoSaul Baeza for their relentless hustle and their key stops inside the red zone. Coach Pippen closed by saying, “We’re learning, competing, and getting better every week. The effort is there, and now it’s about sustaining that focus from kickoff to the final whistle.”
Despite the loss, the Horns showed flashes of offensive firepower that they’ll look to build on as they host Rankin this Thursday at Martin Field. JH 4:30 p.m. and Varsity 7 p.m.
Lady Horns rally to beat Fort Davis in four sets
The Marfa Lady Horns took the court Saturday afternoon for a critical district matchup against the Fort Davis Indians, a rematch of a previous meeting that didn’t go Marfa’s way. With district play on the line, the Lady Horns stepped up and delivered a statement win, taking the match in four intense sets.
Set 1: A close battle
The match opened with strong energy from Marfa. Ava Flores notched a kill early on, tipping the ball back over the net for a point. Itzel Urrutia stepped up to serve and delivered five consecutive serves, including an ace. While in the front row, she also added a kill. Raven Martinez was a key contributor in this set, tallying 4 kills, an ace from the service line and two set-saving digs. Dariela Muñoz contributed a kill, and Zoey Salgado added a dig to keep the defense sharp. Despite a strong effort, Marfa found themselves trailing 17–21. Coach Osiris Alferez called a timeout, and the team responded with renewed energy. Zoey got another dig, and Dariela added two more kills. Still, Marfa narrowly dropped the first set, 23–25.
Set 2: Marfa answers back
The Lady Horns bounced back with intensity in the second set. Flores and Muñoz each added 2 kills, with Muñoz also recording a block. Giselle Torres served seven times in a row, helping shift momentum. Liliana contributed two key blocks, and Martinez continued her dominant night with 3 kills, a block, and a highlight-reel left-handed point. Marfa took the set convincingly, 25–17.
Set 3: Gaining momentum
Marfa carried their momentum into the third set. Martinez led the offense with 4 more kills— including another with her left hand. Muñoz and Urrutia each added 2 kills, while Liliana Zubia notched a kill and a block point. Fort Davis gave up the final point by hitting out, giving Marfa the set 25–16.
Set 4: Closing strong
The final set featured some of the best gameplay of the match. The Lady Horns were focused and determined to close it out. One standout rally saw Ava go up for a kill, Fort Davis dig it, attempt a kill of their own—only for Raven to shut it down with a block. Ava followed up with another kill that rode the net and dropped in for a point. Kill counts for the set included Ava (4), Itzel (4), Raven (1), Dariela (1), and Zoey (1). Zoey also recorded a block point, and Liliana added one as well. Adeline found her rhythm at the service line, shaking off early nerves and keeping the ball in play. Madison Cash had impeccable control throughout the set, placing her digs and passes with precision. Marfa finished strong, winning the set 25–19 and taking the match 3–1.
Looking ahead
This win keeps Marfa’s district hopes alive. The Lady Horns will host Sierra Blanca on Monday, October 27, followed by a critical third matchup against Fort Davis for district certification on Tuesday.
Marfa girls cross-country competes at regional meet
The Marfa Lady Horns cross-country team traveled to Arlington last weekend to compete in the regional meet on Monday morning. Representing Marfa were Alyssa Hardin, Zoey Salgado, Ava Flores, Itzel Urrutia, Giselle Torres, Mikayla Bentley, and Heidi Montes, all of whom helped the team qualify for regionals.
While the team did not advance to the state meet, they ran hard and stayed focused throughout the race, showing determination and heart on a competitive course. Their performance marks a strong finish to the season and sets a solid foundation for the future.
With only one senior, Ava Flores, graduating this year, the rest of the team will return with valuable experience. The Lady Horns are already looking ahead, hopeful and motivated to come back even stronger next season with their sights set on advancing to state.