Patriots secure 35-21 win over Belen

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

GALLUP – The Friday night showdown between the Miyamura Patriots and the Belen Falcons ended in a hard-fought 35-21 victory for the Patriots.

As tensions ran high, especially in the game’s final moments, the Patriots secured their second district win, setting a four-way tie for second place in the District 1-5A standings.

Despite drawing numerous penalties after a dead-ball, Miyamura’s aggressive approach ultimately paid off for the Patriots.

“I’m excited about how the game turned out,” Miyamura coach David Foley said. “That first 30 minutes, I felt like we played fantastically.”

The Patriots struck early with a 49-yard touchdown pass up the middle from junior quarterback Salid Rashid to a darting senior wide receiver Javier Flores, who shed three defenders on his way into the end zone. A successful two-point conversion by senior tight end Aidan Macias made it 8-0.

Belen’s offense drove down the length of the field but couldn’t convert a 4 th-and-3 yard deep in Miyamura territory, turning the ball over on downs at the 6-yard line.

Both teams exchanged possessions through the first quarter, but the Patriots were in full control entering the second quarter. Rashid connected with Flores for another touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 after a failed 2-point conversion.

Belen responded with a rushing touchdown to make it 14-7, but their momentum was short-lived. After a Miyamura punt, Belen’s quarterback was intercepted by Flores, who was dominant on both sides of the ball. This interception led to a 66-yard touchdown pass from Rashid to a wide-open Macias who snuck behind a defensive back, pushing the score to 20-7.

Coach Foley praised his team’s ability to capitalize on big plays but emphasized discipline moving forward.

“I don’t mind our team being aggressive,” Foley said. “It’s the stuff after the whistle is blown that we have to eliminate.”

After halftime, the Patriots extended their lead even further. Following a Belen fumble, Landon Valera scored on a 1-yard rush, increasing the score to 28-7 after a successful two-point conversion. Belen’s next drive ended in another disaster as their punt was blocked and returned by Macias for another touchdown, putting Miyamura comfortably ahead at 35-7.

Despite the penalties that slowed down Miyamura’s offense, Foley remained optimistic, saying, “If we eliminate the holding penalties and stand in front of the sticks, I like our chances.”

Belen managed to score two touchdowns in the final quarter, closing the gap to 35-21, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Miyamura’s early dominance.

Though the late-game interceptions and penalties could have cost them, the Patriots’ strong defensive plays secured the win.

Looking ahead to the Highland Hornets next week, Foley is confident in his team’s ability to compete in District 5A, adding, “We’re gonna watch the film and we’re gonna know how to prepare. Offensively, we gotta keep improving and reducing the holding penalties. Especially after tonight, I feel like we could be competitive with everybody in our district.”

With a crucial district win secured, Miyamura will now look to build momentum as they head into their bye week following their upcoming game.

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