EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- Del Valle High School's strong-armed quarterback Jake Fette has been generating all the buzz for the Conquistadores heading into 2024 season, but Del Valle was able to hold off and defeat host Franklin High 24-14 on Friday night, Sept. 6 thanks to an opportunistic defense and a strong running game. It was a total team effort, as Fette was quick to point out to reporters after the game. "When you have a good defense, it makes it easy on the offense," Fette said. "It takes the stress off me and the offense when they are able to stop what they are doing on the other side of the ball." Twice the Conquistadore defense kept Franklin from scoring in the first half after the Cougars penetrated deep into Del Valle territory. In the second half, Del Valle's defense sealed the win with two late interceptions. Del Valle's Shelton "Manny" Fuller rushed for 115 yards on nine carries including a 17-yard touchdown that effectively sealed the win and put the Conquistadores up for good 24-14 early in the fourth quarter. "Manny Fuller, without him, we don't win the game," Fette said. After Fuller's touchdown run, it was the Del Valle defense that came up with several big plays to keep Franklin from mounting a comeback. Del Valle opened the scoring when Fette hit Ryu Nunez for a 23-yard touchdown with 8:58 left in the second quarter, putting the Conquistadores up 7-0. Photos by Jesus Baltazar/KTSM The Conquistadores added a 32-yard field goal by Diego Frausto to go up 10-0 late in the second quarter. That was the score as the game went into the intermission. In the third quarter, Franklin made it a game with some tough running by Ernie Powers. Powers burst through the Conquistadore defense with a 54-yard touchdown run. That made the score 10-7 with 10:56 left in the quarter. Fette then used his legs to counter for his team. He scrambled for a 38-yard touchdown run with 9:24 left in the third quarter to make the score 17-7. Franklin, however, refused to go away and went on a 17-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard touchdown run by Atreyu De La Riva. That made the score 17-14. That would be as close as Franklin could make it. Del Valle's Fuller later broke free for a 17-yard TD run to provide the final points of the game. After that, it was all Del Valle's defense with interceptions by Johnathan Estrada and Abraham Garcia, sealing the victory. "The defense made some big stops. We have to play complementary football," Fette said. "We have to help the defense and we really appreciate it when they can help us." Powers rushed 23 times for 156 yards and a touchdown to lead Franklin. Del Valle is now 1-0 on the young season after the nondistrict win. Franklin is now 1-1.