Escalante avenged a 39-point defeat to Carrizozo last year with a 28-0 spanking of the Grizzlies Sept. 25 at Carriozo.
Last year, the Grizzlies ran up 46 points on the Escalante Lobos in a victory that knocked the Lobos out of the Class A state playoff contention.
This year, the Lobos made sure there would be no repeat of last season’s disappointment. It was the Lobos’ fourth consecutive victory after opening the season with a 40-20 loss to Estancia.
“Defense, defense, defense,” Escalante coach Diego Brusuelas said. “We were bringing everything we had.”
The first score of the game came courtesy of the defense. After a punt by Justin Atencio pinned the Grizzlies back at their 5-yard line, Carrizozo tried to run an option play, but Isaiah Maldonado intercepted the option pitch and scored for Escalante.
“He just took two steps, and he was in the end zone,” Brusuelas said. “He had a very good game on both sides of the ball.”
Escalante’s second touchdown came on a pass from Atencio to Miguel Archuleta, and the Lobos led 14-0 at halftime. Maldonado broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and Atencio scored on a quarterback sneak for the Lobos final touchdown.
Atencio punted very effectively, pinning the Grizzlies inside their 10-yard line four times. The Lobos intercepted four passes.
“I was pleased with the physicality on defense,” Brusuelas said.
The Lobos host the Pagosa Springs High School junior varsity Saturday for their homecoming game. The Lobos should move up in the statewide coaches poll this week. They were ranked eighth last week, and Carrizozo was ranked sixth.