It was an eerie environment in Española.
Due to a security threat that surfaced on social media and was identified by the schools, administrations from Española Valley and Pojoaque Valley jointly decided to close the game off to spectators.
They moved the game time from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. to play in the daylight, and the game featured an increased security presence.
But in front of no fans, the Sundevils (7-3, 3-0 in district) made history, becoming the first team in school history to beat all of their district opponents as they wrapped up a district championship in a 50-0 defeat of Pojoaque (3-7, 0-3) on Friday. They enter the state playoffs on a six-game win streak and with momentum after sweeping the district.
“It felt weird, but it is what it is,” said Española sophomore quarterback Irvin Primero. “Things happen. We just have to push through it, rise to the occasion.”
Española Coach Tylon Wilder said the game felt like a “glorified practice” given the silence through the stadium.
Española scored 35 points in the first quarter and held Pojoaque’s offense in check as they dominated in the trenches. The game ended at halftime with the Sundevils ahead by the mercy rule. Andres Valenzuela was perfect on seven extra points, and Española ran for a 2-point conversion after its seventh touchdown.
Jack Purdy ran for 59 yards on seven attempts and scored two touchdowns. Adrick DeLeon scored on all three carries with 57 yards as Española tried to rest him as much as possible (he ran four times, including the 2-point conversion). Ezekial Cuevas and Miguel Galvan also scored touchdowns.
“It felt amazing, now I know what the guys feel when they get their first touchdown,” Cuevas said.
Sandoval, a junior, is the younger brother of David Sandoval, who was at times a year ago a key running back for the team. The younger Sandoval mostly stays on the defensive line, where he has been a wrecking ball, leading the team in tackles. He recovered a fumble in this game, and a week ago had a sack, multiple tackles for loss, and recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown. And he brings an energetic presence to the sideline.
“When we first started the season, he wasn’t a leader in our leadership council,” Wilder said. But soon he was chosen for that group. “Because of his energy and the way he plays. He’s always holding people accountable. Plus, he holds himself accountable.”
The Sundevils did not pass the ball once in the game. Instead, eight different ballcarries took carries, including bigger players like Cuevas and Nick Sandoval, not traditional skill players.
Pojoaque senior quarterback Ethan Meloy completed two of nine passes for 56 yards. The Elks combined for six yards on nine rushing attempts.
Española has rebounded from a 1-3 start to the season to now winning six straight games, several by huge margins.
“Our mentality has just gotten so much better, our confidence,” Cuevas said. “We were always strong enough and fast enough, we just had to play like it.”
On Sunday morning, Española Valley will watch the state selection show to see where they are seeded and who they face in the first round. They are hoping for a first-round home game, of which they are currently right on the bubble.
Pojoaque Excited for Next Season
Meloy, Pojoaque’s quarterback, was feeling all of the emotions after his final career game.
“I’m going through it,” Meloy said. “It’s sad knowing that I’m walking away from it all. All these guys, it’s like a family.”
While Pojoaque did not have the end to the season that they hoped, they expect to come back strong next year. Outside of Meloy, only a few seniors depart from the team. Villegas said he has been in contact with middle-schoolers who will join the team in the spring.
“We’ve come a long way from last year,” First-Year Pojoaque Coach Zeke Villegas said. “Offseason will start again in January. Just got to get in the weight room, get stronger.”
Villegas said Pojoaque was “kind of out of it” without any fans or parents in the stands.
“I did see that effect on them,” he said. “They weren’t themselves.”
Injuries took their toll on Pojoaque throughout the season, and too many lost players became too hard to overcome. Villegas counted 18 players unable to play by the end of the season.
The Elks were held together with duct tape at many positions due to their injuries. Isaiah Martinez took the game’s first two carries at running back while wearing No. 50 and weighing 240 pounds.
“We had our right guard at running back,” Villegas said. “That was my sixth running back I’ve put back there this year. That kind of tells you the pieces we’ve had to move around.”
Next year, Pojoaque will be led by an up-and-coming duo of current freshmen in quarterback Josh Gonzales and running back Jonah Villegas (neither of whom played against Española due to injuries). The pair will be electric to watch for years to come.
“I see a lot of athleticism, I see a lot of talent, a lot of skill, a lot of heart,” Meloy said. “These guys know what needs to get done. And I think they’re going to get it done.”