Jr. Horns bring the heat, varsity looks to regroup
The Marfa Junior High Shorthorns fought hard in an exciting 21–19 victory over the Grandfalls Cowboys on the road Friday night to bring their win streak to two games. The win came behind an outstanding all-around performance from Nathaniel Ramos, who accounted for all three Marfa touchdowns. Two of Ramos’ scores came on pass receptions from quarterback Logan Pippen, showing timing and execution between the pair.
On defense, Logan Pippen anchored the Shorthorns with several solo tackles, while Ty Bejaran continued to shine with explosive runs and receptions that consistently put Marfa in strong offensive field position. Solid contributions also came from Aiden Salgado, Raivon Hamilton, Matthew Marquez, and Fabian Marquez, who each made key plays on both sides of the ball.
A highlight moment came when Diego Labrado delivered a hard hit that forced a fumble, setting up a Marfa recovery. The Shorthorns also recovered another loose ball later in the game, giving the defense two total fumble recoveries for the night and keeping momentum on their side.
In the varsity matchup, the Marfa High School Shorthorns fell to Grandfalls, 61–16, after a night of turnovers and missed scoring opportunities hampered the Horns’ ability to advance the ball. Despite the loss, the Horns showed signs of promise. Darren Campos led the defensive effort with seven solo tackles and several quarterback pressures that disrupted Grandfalls’ passing attack. On offense, Ayden Alvarez and Alex Rodriguez each recorded a rushing touchdown, with both players breaking off multiple long runs to fuel Marfa’s scoring drives.
Head Coach Kevin Pippen praised his players for their progress and resilience, saying, “Every week we’ve gotten better, step by step. After our bye week, I feel like we’ll be ready for district play. We’re in one of the toughest districts in the state, but we’ll be prepared and able to compete.”
The Shorthorns enter their bye week focused on recovery, refinement, and building momentum for a strong district campaign ahead.
Lady Horns drop district opener, but Van Horn win sparks comeback
On Saturday, the Lady Horns traveled to Fort Davis for their first district matchup, where they were swept by the Indians in three sets: 25–23, 25–20, 25–15.
Despite a competitive first set and a gym full of Marfa fans, the Lady Horns struggled to find their rhythm. Dariela Muñoz delivered a series of strong serves, and Raven, Ava, and Itzel each had standout kills that energized the crowd, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum.
It was a tough loss to open district play, but the team is looking ahead and ready to bounce back.
On a brighter note, earlier in the week the Lady Horns traveled to Van Horn, where both JV and Varsity teams hit the court. The Varsity squad swept the Lady Eagles in a thrilling match, while the JV team put up a strong fight but fell in two sets, 25–19 and 25–16. Ora Webb and Daniela Fernandez saw some valuable playing time for JV, contributing to solid team effort, even though they came up short.
Varsity’s match was nothing short of a nail-biter. The Lady Horns came out strong, jumping to a 13–7 lead that forced Van Horn to take their first timeout. Marfa maintained the momentum, leading 20–15 before Van Horn clawed back. Down 24–22, the Lady Horns called a timeout of their own. That’s when the comeback began. A clutch ball-saving bump by Ava Flores tied the score at 24, and moments later, another hustle play made it 25–25. Raven Martinez sealed the set with a powerful kill, giving Marfa the 27–25 win.
In Set 2, Raven continued to dominate with two kills, a block point, and an ace. Itzel Urrutia and Ava Flores each delivered key kills, including a clever fake set from Ava that caught the defense off guard. Zoey Salgado and Madison Cash anchored the back row with solid digs, helping the team close out the set 25–20.
Set 3 saw the front row firing on all cylinders. Raven, Ava, and Itzel each tallied at least four kills, while Giselle Torres kept the momentum alive with multiple digs. Amaya Gomez went on a seven-serve streak at the line, and Liliana Zubia stood tall at the net with key blocks. The final point came from Ava Flores, who soared for a game-winning block, sealing the set 25–23.
While Van Horn isn’t a district opponent, the victory was a much-needed confidence booster for the Lady Horns. They’ll use the upcoming open Saturday to rest and prepare for their next district matchup on Tuesday, October 14, when they travel to Sierra Blanca.
Also on Saturday, the Jr. Lady Horns will head to Fort Davis to compete in a volleyball tournament. Brackets will be posted on the Shorthorns Facebook page as soon as they’re available — be sure to check in and support our teams!
