Many may recall Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, when the famous “Helmet Catch” led to the Giants’ 17-14 victory, the only loss on 2007 New England’s record. In more recent history, the Giants also won 24-20 over the Patriots back in Week 9. Now with a chance to get back at New York, the Patriots seek revenge in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

A lot about this playoff  looks similar to the one four years ago. Once again, the New England Patriots (13-3 in the regular season) took the AFC’s No. 1 seed (though Green Bay had the best record this time around) and made their way through two playoff games to punch their ticket.

Once again, the New York Giants (9-7) just slid into the playoffs, and then proceeded to knock off everyone in their path. In the NFC title game, Lawrence Tynes again kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime on the road to win another date with the Patriots.

The only injury to report is Rob Gronkowski, tight end for New England. He suffered a high ankle sprain earlier in the week and was limited in practice Thursday. He remains questionable for Sunday’s game.

Both sides have high offensive strengths they need to establish early on. Rob Gronkowski is still questionable for the game (high ankle sprain), but each day his chance of starting looks better. The Pats’ offense was second in the league for passing offense, their primary attack, but second-to-last in pass defense. The Giants were fifth overall in pass offense, but 29th in pass defense. Both teams are not strong rushers as they finished in the bottom half in rushing offense (the Giants were last), so any rushing game that gets off the ground could make the difference.

This showdown looks to produce another close contest. New England loves to stay ahead. New York loves to come from behind. In each game they’ve played to make it and in their overall records. Stick around the whole game since you might miss something otherwise.

My prediction: Patriots 38, Giants 34.

The Eagles fell behind in the first quarter, down 17-0 after 12 minutes. Senior quarterback Travis Cosby connected with senior wide receiver Isaac Williams for a touchdown to close the gap to 17-7 with 9:35 left in the second quarter. The Eagles stopped Lake Dallas in two consecutive possessions when senior cornerback Will Toliver intercepted a fourth-down pass and the defense won a turnover on downs from within 10 yards of their own goal line. However, the offense did not capitalize on opportunities to gain ground on the Falcons and went silent. Lake Dallas senior quarterback Dalyn Williams rushed for two more touchdowns before halftime, 31-7 Falcons at the half.

Lake Dallas running back and punt returner Dontonio Jordan rushed for a 49-yard touchdown to increase the difference to 38-7. Williams connected with receiver Tyler Vance for his fifth and final touchdown of the day, third passing. Cosby rushed for a one-yard touchdown, the only Canyon score on the ground, but without enough time to come back, the final whistle blew on the Eagles’ season as they lost 45-14.

The Eagles end their season in the bi-district round of the 4A Division II playoffs at 5-6. This includes a district season where they earned fourth in District 3-4A and claimed the final berth in the playoffs.

The first points of the game were scored by junior Graeson Cook with a 39-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Travis Cosby. A good PAT by senior Austin Weaver made the Eagles up 7-0 with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 7-7 with 54 seconds remaining in the half after Canyon’s four penalties, including three facemasks, helped propel Plainview down the field.

Canyon was ahead 14-7 by the end of the third quarter after a three-yard run by Cosby. They scored again with 9:57 left in the game with a catch by sophomore Blake Weaver, coming to the final score of 21-7.

The Eagles face Lake Dallas Saturday at Wichita Falls Memorial Stadium. A final game time is yet to be determined.

The first points of the game were scored by senior quarterback Travis Cosby at the 8:14 mark of the first quarter. Senior Austin Weaver’s extra point was wide, making the score 6-0.

With 1:27 left in the quarter, the Eagles were up 14-0 after a quarterback sneak for a touchdown and a two-point conversion by sophomore Blake Weaver and junior Graeson Cook.

After a handoff from Cosby, senior Ben Wentz ran the ball 44-yards for another Canyon touchdown. Austin Weaver’s extra point was good, putting the Eagles up 21-0 with 3:53 left in the half.

The second half started with an interception by junior Dak Olson, giving the Eagles possession on their own 38 yard line. With a pass to Cook and Austin Weaver’s PAT, the Eagles were up 28-0 with 8:09 to play in the third quarter.

Canyon’s defense caused the Demons to punt yet again and the Eagles were up 34-0 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter after a six-yard run by junior Steven Hansen and a blocked PAT.

Dumas made a quarterback change to Rylan Gerber after Clayton Baker was sacked by sophomore Trey Barrentos. After only one completion, Gerber threw an interception to Olson and Canyon had the ball on their 28 the end the third quarter.

The Demons scored with 3:33 remaining in the game with a 36-yard touchdown and a good PAT. Their defense caused the Eagles to go three and out and Dumas used the last minute of the game to score a four-yard touchdown pass to end the game 34-14.

The varsity team will close their regular season out in Plainview this Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The entire game consisted of high offense and quick responses. Defensive stops were few and far in the matchup as both teams surpassed 500 yards of offense with Canyon’s Travis Cosby (481 yards total and 4 TD) and Caprock’s Michael Guerrero (466 yards total and 5 TD) contributing the majority of each team’s offense.

Neither side pulled into any position to run away with the game. In the final seconds of the fourth quarter, Caprock drove downfield with the score tied 49-49 and in position to win. Junior secondary defender Jesse Stigler intercepted Guerrero in the end zone and forced the two sides into overtime

The UIL’s overtime rules are the same as the NCAA’s. Officials spot the ball at the defense’s own 25 yard line, and the game continues without a game clock. If the first overtime does not determine a winner, the team who defended first plays offense first in the second overtime. Teams alternate possession in this serpentine manner for as many periods as necessary.

Canyon started with the ball and scored in five plays. A low snap bounced away from holder Blake Weaver, and Caprock took possession with another chance to put the game away. The Longhorns scored in two plays, though a high snap forced a second overtime period with the score at 55 even. Caprock earned another touchdown in five plays and converted for two points. Cosby ran in another score from 4 yards out, but fell a yard short of the goal line in the two-point conversion the Eagles needed to continue the game, and the Longhorns won out 63-61 in double overtime.

The Eagles slip to 3-5 overall, 1-4 in district and play the Dumas Demons Friday on Senior Night and will conclude their season at Plainview against the Bulldogs. The varsity squad must win both upcoming games to remain in contention among four other teams, Caprock, Palo Duro, Hereford and Dumas, for two remaining playoff spots.

The first points in the game didn’t come until 2:52 left in the first half when Hereford’s D. J. Garcia found Brian Hill for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Edgar Tobias’s extra point was good, putting the Whitefaces up 7-0.

The Eagles caught fire in the second half of the game.

A carry by senior Ben Wentz put Canyon on the board. The Eagles then faked a kick for the extra point and sophomore Blake Weaver found sophomore Dylan Douglass in the end zone for a two-point conversion. With 8:55 left in the third quarter, the Eagles were ahead 8-7.

In only 37 seconds and two plays, the Eagles had their next six up on the board with a carry from Wentz, then a 15-yard keeper from senior quarterback Travis Cosby and an extra point from senior Austin Weaver. Canyon then led 29-7.

The Whitefaces had made it to the Eagles 28-yard line with 1:54 left in the game, Garcia threw an interception and senior Will Toliver ran it back 77-yards for a touchdown.  Austin Weaver’s kick settle the score at 36-7.

The varsity team will play Caprock this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. The JV and freshmen teams will also face the Longhorns Thursday night at 5 p.m., JV at Caprock and freshmen at Kimbrough.

With only four games left in the district season, the team is reconfiguring their strategy.

“We are just taking it one game at a time,” senior quarterback Travis Cosby said.

The Eagles will face the Hereford Whitefaces tonight in Hereford at 7:30 p.m.

“Friday night starts a new four game season for us,” senior corner back J.D. Moreno said. “We are just going to have to lay it all down.”

The game began with both teams chalking up touchdowns, Canyon on a goal-line rush from junior running back Hunter Burrell, who rushed 5 times for 3 yards and the touchdown, and Palo Duro on a 52-yard pass. On the ensuing possession, referees called a penalty on senior quarterback Travis Cosby for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The Dons added a touchdown on their second possession. Canyon answered with a touchdown pass from Cosby to senior wide receiver Will Toliver, who along with the touchdown, had three catches for 55 yards. Canyon took the lead when junior secondary Dak Olson intercepted a batted pass and returned it 31 yards for the touchdown, which put the Eagles up 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw more offensive action as senior placekicker Austin Weaver made a 42-yard field goal to push the lead to 8, though the Dons tied the score with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Cosby ran in a touchdown from five yards out, as he would end with 17 rushes for 87 yards with said touchdown, though the Dons carried  in one of their own to tie the score at 31 each. As the half expired, the Dons got a hand on Weaver’s field goal try and sent it off-course, keeping the teams even.

The second half started with a defensive third quarter as only one field goal from PD made the scoreboard in the 12-minute stretch. With less than 6:30 to play, Cosby connected with junior running back Steven Hansen to put the Eagles up 38-34. Canyon looked poised to seal the game as junior linebacker Jace Vessels knocked the ball loose and junior nose tackle Tanner Patterson recovered within the Dons’ half of the field.

On fourth down, Weaver’s miss from 37 yard out spotted the Dons on their own 21 with 1:45 left, and they marched straight up the field for a touchdown. With 42 seconds left in the game, Palo Duro rolled the dice and pulled a surprise squib kick, aiming for the front receiving line’s legs. The trick worked, and the ball ricocheted back to the Dons, sealing their district opener victory, 41-38.

Palo Duro picks up their first win of the season, the Eagles go 2-2, 0-1 in the district and take on Randall in Friday’s rivalry game.

Battling at home in front of a homecoming crowd, the Eagles fought hard to end up on top 17-14. Canyon was predicted by the Harris ratings to lose by 21 to the Matadors.

The first points of the game were scored with 31 seconds left in the first quarter when Estacado’s quarterback, Shaquille Bogus, ran three yards for a touchdown. Gary Cervantes’s extra point put the Matadors on the board, 7-0.

The second quarter was a battle between the defenses until the last 39 seconds when Canyon’s senior quarterback Travis Cosby ran and stretched for the four-yard touchdown. The first half ended tied 7-7 after senior Austin Weaver’s extra point.

Estacado scored again eight minutes into the third quarter with a five-yard run by Bogus, and Cervantes’s kick put the Matadors up14-7.

Canyon scored again in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter with a 17-yard touchdown catch by sophomore Blake Weaver and a good PAT kick from his brother, Austin. The score was tied yet again at 14-14.

The Eagles got their first lead of the game with only 31 seconds left in the game with a 21-yard field goal made by Austin Weaver.

With the Matadors on the Canyon 37 with a first down and only 10 seconds left on the clock, the Eagles clenched their victory when junior Dak Olsen knocked the touchdown pass by Bogus to Jalen Moore away.

The Eagles will play their first district game at home against the Palo Duro Dons this Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles took the first lead of the night with a touchdown but failed the two-point conversion. The game stayed close the entire night as the biggest lead was when Goddard held an eight-point advantage early in the third quarter, five lead changes and two ties. Eagles senior quarterback Travis Cosby took the offense on his shoulders as he had 20 carries for 135 yards, went 10 for 16 passing and picked up 126 yards through the air and two touchdowns overall, though junior running back Hunter Burrell also earned his keep as he handled goal-line rushes, carrying three times for 10 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

In the final minute of the game, Goddard scored a touchdown, though missed the extra point to go up 34-28. The Eagles returned to their own 41 and attempted a last-ditch drive. Though Cosby completed a pass and got off a timeout with a second left, his final pass to the end zone fell to the ground when Rocket defenders swatted it away. With that, New Mexico’s No. 1 in Class 4A escaped with the win 34-28.

The Eagles are now 1-1 and play Lubbock-Estacado on Sept. 16 for this year’s Homecoming Game.