Though it was a tough day on the scoreboard, the Española Valley High School football team still had a major bright spot in its first game of the year. Despite trailing big, the Sundevils were determined to make every play count.
After a Moriarty touchdown, the Pintos set up to kick an extra point, with Española ready to defend.
Freshman Jack Purdy lined up on the far right side, and at the snap raced through the line untouched. He went straight at the holder and dove in front of the kick, smacking it straight into the ground.
“Our freshman, Jack Purdy, has a ton of heart and a ton of skill,” Archuleta said. “Any time he sees an opening, he’s going to attack full speed. And that’s what he did. He told me, ‘Coach, I can get in there, there’s no one blocking me.’ I said, ‘Go for it.’”
A young Española Valley football team struggled with turnovers in their first game of the season, and ultimately fell to Moriarty 50-0 in their first game since November 2019.
First-year coach Santiago Archuleta was impressed with his team that has a majority of the roster consisting of freshmen.
“We have a lot of young guys,” Archuleta said. “So we just kind of let them know that this is all about experience. Get in, get some reps, and feel what it feels like to get hit or hit somebody. So, it was all about experience today.”
The weather was unexpectedly cold and windy, with even a light snow appearing in the second quarter.
As an outdoor event, per state public health guidelines, Moriarty could host up to 25 percent capacity. A number of Sundevil fans came to the bleachers wearing face masks and covered in jackets and blankets that did not dampen the spirit.
The Sundevils had been practicing in limited pods the entire year, never sure until last month if they would ever see the field.
“They were really eager,” Archuleta said. “They were just wondering, ‘Are we going to play? Are we going to have a season?’ When it was time to pass out jerseys and they knew they were going to play, they got really excited.”
Archuleta said safety was the highest priority for the team, especially facing their tough schedule this season. In their first practices in early March, seeing contact for the first time in over 16 months, two people got injured on the first day, Archuleta said, so he tried to dial back the amount of contact.
Española struggled to move the ball for much of the game. Their first drive ended in a fumble with Moriarty scoring on the very next play. The Pintos also scored in the first quarter on an interception returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovered in the endzone.
Sophomore quarterback Nathan Chacon tried to rally momentum with downfield passes, and had a few completions even though he could not find the endzone.
“I was actually happy with our passing game,” Archuleta said. “It looks promising. Española hasn’t had a passing game for a long time.”
Archuleta said he liked how Chacon stood against pressure and was willing to take hits while throwing.
The New Mexico mercy rule ended the game at the half after the Sundevils trailed 50-0.
Before the game, Moriarty held a moment of silence for former team members and Moriarty students Pedro and Mateo Sandoval, who were killed in a car crash in January 2020. The team flew flags with their numbers on the sideline.
Española is scheduled to face Capital High School at home on Friday.
“We have a young team,” Archuleta said. “We’re looking to build for the future. And we’re trying to give these seniors one last chance to get on the field and play.”