‘He’ll bring the juice.’ Electric wide receiver shows new side, leads Eagle to key win
Eagle High School’s Ian Duarte didn’t touch the ball much Friday. But when he did, he left an impression — literally and figuratively.
The 5-9, 165-pound playmaker trucked through an Owyhee defender for the game’s opening score, then he returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown to lead the Mustangs to a 27-7 win in a key 5A SIC River Division matchup.
“That’s the kind of player he is. He’ll bring the juice,” Eagle senior edge Carter Davis said. “He’s kind of a smaller guy. But he plays bigger than he is. He’s the heart of our offense.”
Duarte provided the highlights, but Eagle’s defense turned in a dominant performance, too, evening the Mustangs’ record at 2-2 and keeping them undefeated in the 5A SIC River Division at 2-0.
No. 5-ranked Eagle held Owyhee to just 127 yards of offense, 80 of which came on a late touchdown drive with the game already decided. The Mustangs allowed Owyhee (3-2, 1-2) to cross midfield only twice.
“They were the catalyst of everything we did,” Eagle coach John Hartz said of his defense. “And then, obviously, Duarte is a freaking stud.”
The three-star recruit put Eagle on the scoreboard with a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Known for blazing past defenders or making them miss with dazzling moves, Duarte showcased a different side. He took a pass in the flat, turned up field and ran through an Owyhee defensive back at the goal line, leaving him turtled on his back as Duarte celebrated in the end zone.
A defensive stalemate extended into the fourth quarter until Duarte put the game out of reach in the blink of an eye, returning a punt 67 yards to the house. Only one defender managed to place a single hand on him.
He even made his presence felt on punt coverage, sprinting down the field and downing a Jake Longson kick at the 1-yard line. The poor field position led to Makeo Sneddon’s interception two plays later and, eventually, to a Roy Hull touchdown that gave Eagle a 13-0 lead.
He finished the night with just five catches for 52 yards but left his fingerprints all over the game.
“He’s just a playmaker,” Sneddon said. “... He’s going D-I. That says it all. He’s a great player, he’s dynamic, he’s explosive. I love having him on this team.”
The victory eases Eagle’s memories of a rocky start to the season. The Mustangs laid an egg in Week 0 to fall to No. 3 Meridian. They also lost 17-10 to rival and No. 1 Rocky Mountain last week.
But neither of those games count in the 5A SIC River Division standings. Wins over Kuna and Owyhee mean the preseason favorite in the River Division remains in control of its own destiny as it seeks a division title and a spot in the conference championship game.
UP NEXT
Eagle: The Mustangs host Nampa (3-1, 3-0) next Friday in another crucial battle in the 5A SIC River Division.
Owyhee: The Storm look to bounce back from two straight losses as they take a trip to face Borah (2-3, 0-3) at Dona Larsen Park on Thursday.
This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 11:25 PM.
