Lee’s offense produced the bigger numbers Friday night, but the play that changed the game belonged to the Rebels’ special teams. With El Paso Franklin leading by two and threatening to add to it, Tyler Day blocked a 38-yard field-goal attempt, recovered the loose ball and returned it to the Franklin 43-yard line. Two plays later, JP Reyes found Maddox Marquez for a 47-yard touchdown. Marquez added the two-point conversion, turning a potential five-point deficit into a 16–10 Lee lead.
The Rebels never trailed again
Reyes threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns, Ja’Braylen Anders returned a kickoff 105 yards for a score and Lee blanked Franklin after halftime in a 48–17 victory at Astound Broadband Stadium. Lee improved to 2–0 after scoring the final 24 points and pulling away from a Franklin team that had remained within one possession late in the first half.
Special teams deliver the turning point
Lee needed only 14 seconds to answer Franklin’s opening 44-yard field goal. Anders fielded the ensuing kickoff five yards deep in the end zone, found daylight and went 105 yards for the Rebels’ first touchdown. Hayes Hamm ran in the conversion to give Lee an 8–3 advantage. Franklin regained the lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Barrientos to Santiago Perez, and the Cougars appeared ready to extend their 10–8 edge when they lined up for another field goal.
Day’s block changed the direction of the game
Instead of Franklin taking a 13–8 lead, Reyes’ touchdown strike to Marquez put Lee in front for good. It was part of a big night for Day, who also helped the Rebels contain Franklin’s running game from his safety position.”, who also helped the Rebels contain Franklin’s running game from his safety position. Head coach Clint Hartman praised Lee’s contributions across all three phases afterward, particularly the physicality of the defense.
Reyes takes what Franklin gives him
Franklin committed additional defenders to stopping the run, holding Lee to one rushing yard on seven first-half attempts.
Reyes made the Cougars pay through the air. The senior completed 18 of 25 passes for 292 yards, distributing the ball to five receivers who finished with at least 28 yards. His first touchdown pass came on third-and-14, when he hit Jordon Shields in stride for a 69-yard score. Later in the second quarter, Lee again faced third-and-14 when Reyes connected with Marquez for the 47-yard touchdown following Day’s blocked kick. Reyes also found Hamm for a 9-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Kameron Norman for a 15-yard score in the fourth.
Shields finished with two catches for 80 yards, while Anders caught seven passes for 74 yards in addition to his kickoff return. Norman added three receptions for 56 yards, Marquez had three for 54, and Hamm caught three passes for 28 yards. Reyes’ lone interception came when a dropped pass deflected into the hands of Franklin defensive back Rhet Packer.
Defense closes the door after one costly escape
Franklin running back Kylen Green kept the Cougars within striking distance when he broke outside for a 70-yard touchdown with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter, cutting Lee’s lead to 24–17. It was Franklin’s final score. Lee answered with a 32-yard field goal from Nicolas Pelcastre before halftime, then held the Cougars scoreless over the final two quarters. Green finished with 117 yards on 13 carries, accounting for all but two of Franklin’s 119 rushing yards. The Cougars managed only nine first downs and 249 total yards.
Lee led 27–17 at halftime, extended the margin to 34–17 on Hamm’s third-quarter touchdown and put the game away with two scores in the fourth. Backup quarterback Santiago Mendoza supplied the final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 46 seconds remaining. His 45-yard run earlier in the possession helped him finish as Lee’s leading rusher with 52 yards on three carries.
A convincing win with room to improve
The final margin should not obscure the areas Lee will want to address. The Rebels’ conventional running game struggled before Mendoza’s late burst. Lee finished with 80 rushing yards on 15 attempts, but 45 of those yards came on one play after the outcome had effectively been decided.
Lee also committed 10 penalties for 69 yards and turned the ball over twice. Against Franklin, the passing game, special teams and second-half defense were enough to overcome those mistakes. The competition ahead may not be as forgiving.
Still, the Rebels showed they could adjust when Franklin took away the run, respond immediately to adversity and finish a game emphatically. After Green’s touchdown made it a seven-point contest, Lee scored 24 unanswered points.
WHAT IT MEANS
Lee is 2–0 for the first time since 2023, with consecutive non-district victories over Plano and El Paso Franklin.
The Rebels next face another unbeaten team when they travel to play El Paso Eastlake (2–0) on Friday, Sept. 11, at SISD Student Activities Complex II in El Paso. Kickoff is listed for 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, 7:30 p.m. Central.
Eastlake opened with a 41–27 victory over Del Valle before holding off El Paso El Dorado, 48–43, in Week 2.
The Rebels never trailed again
Reyes threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns, Ja’Braylen Anders returned a kickoff 105 yards for a score and Lee blanked Franklin after halftime in a 48–17 victory at Astound Broadband Stadium. Lee improved to 2–0 after scoring the final 24 points and pulling away from a Franklin team that had remained within one possession late in the first half.
Special teams deliver the turning point
Lee needed only 14 seconds to answer Franklin’s opening 44-yard field goal. Anders fielded the ensuing kickoff five yards deep in the end zone, found daylight and went 105 yards for the Rebels’ first touchdown. Hayes Hamm ran in the conversion to give Lee an 8–3 advantage. Franklin regained the lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Barrientos to Santiago Perez, and the Cougars appeared ready to extend their 10–8 edge when they lined up for another field goal.
Day’s block changed the direction of the game
Instead of Franklin taking a 13–8 lead, Reyes’ touchdown strike to Marquez put Lee in front for good. It was part of a big night for Day, who also helped the Rebels contain Franklin’s running game from his safety position.”, who also helped the Rebels contain Franklin’s running game from his safety position. Head coach Clint Hartman praised Lee’s contributions across all three phases afterward, particularly the physicality of the defense.
Reyes takes what Franklin gives him
Franklin committed additional defenders to stopping the run, holding Lee to one rushing yard on seven first-half attempts.
Reyes made the Cougars pay through the air. The senior completed 18 of 25 passes for 292 yards, distributing the ball to five receivers who finished with at least 28 yards. His first touchdown pass came on third-and-14, when he hit Jordon Shields in stride for a 69-yard score. Later in the second quarter, Lee again faced third-and-14 when Reyes connected with Marquez for the 47-yard touchdown following Day’s blocked kick. Reyes also found Hamm for a 9-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Kameron Norman for a 15-yard score in the fourth.
Shields finished with two catches for 80 yards, while Anders caught seven passes for 74 yards in addition to his kickoff return. Norman added three receptions for 56 yards, Marquez had three for 54, and Hamm caught three passes for 28 yards. Reyes’ lone interception came when a dropped pass deflected into the hands of Franklin defensive back Rhet Packer.
Defense closes the door after one costly escape
Franklin running back Kylen Green kept the Cougars within striking distance when he broke outside for a 70-yard touchdown with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter, cutting Lee’s lead to 24–17. It was Franklin’s final score. Lee answered with a 32-yard field goal from Nicolas Pelcastre before halftime, then held the Cougars scoreless over the final two quarters. Green finished with 117 yards on 13 carries, accounting for all but two of Franklin’s 119 rushing yards. The Cougars managed only nine first downs and 249 total yards.
Lee led 27–17 at halftime, extended the margin to 34–17 on Hamm’s third-quarter touchdown and put the game away with two scores in the fourth. Backup quarterback Santiago Mendoza supplied the final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 46 seconds remaining. His 45-yard run earlier in the possession helped him finish as Lee’s leading rusher with 52 yards on three carries.
A convincing win with room to improve
The final margin should not obscure the areas Lee will want to address. The Rebels’ conventional running game struggled before Mendoza’s late burst. Lee finished with 80 rushing yards on 15 attempts, but 45 of those yards came on one play after the outcome had effectively been decided.
Lee also committed 10 penalties for 69 yards and turned the ball over twice. Against Franklin, the passing game, special teams and second-half defense were enough to overcome those mistakes. The competition ahead may not be as forgiving.
Still, the Rebels showed they could adjust when Franklin took away the run, respond immediately to adversity and finish a game emphatically. After Green’s touchdown made it a seven-point contest, Lee scored 24 unanswered points.
WHAT IT MEANS
Lee is 2–0 for the first time since 2023, with consecutive non-district victories over Plano and El Paso Franklin.
The Rebels next face another unbeaten team when they travel to play El Paso Eastlake (2–0) on Friday, Sept. 11, at SISD Student Activities Complex II in El Paso. Kickoff is listed for 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, 7:30 p.m. Central.
Eastlake opened with a 41–27 victory over Del Valle before holding off El Paso El Dorado, 48–43, in Week 2.
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