Pojoaque rallied late to beat Los Alamos, 14-13, as the Elks ended 13-seasons of home-field futility against the Hilltoppers in a New Mexico Athletic Association non-district football game Friday night where fans were barred from attending due a joint school decision to bar fans after a social media posting saying ‘Elk Hunt’.
“There have been threats like these over the years, but in today’s climate, we have to take these things seriously,” Elks athletic director Mark Mutz confirmed. “That and with what happened in Georgia and with the release of information about the shooting at Buffalo Thunder (Casino), the right decision was made.”
Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office and Pojoaque Pueblo police investigated the discharge of two gunshots at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort Sunday and believe a 16-year old boy fired two rounds into a hallway ceiling as a scuffle among several Espanola Valley High School students escalated, according to Sheriff’s office reports.
The fans missed an exciting ending as both teams scored 4th quarter touchdowns to take the lead.
Los Alamos (0-3) took a 13-8 lead on Akim Leija’s 61-yard zig-zagging run for a touchdown after a short pass from Kyle Evenhus with 7 minutes, 20 seconds to play, but Pojoaque answered with a clock draining 68-yard scoring drive, capped by Elk quarterback Josh Gonzales’ 2-yard scoring run.
On the previous play, Gonzales ran for a first down on 3rd-and-8, keeping the drive and comeback hopes alive for the Elks (3-0).
The feisty Pojoaque defense sacked Evenhus on 4th down with 1:11 remaining to secure the victory.
The Elks opened their 2014 season with an 18-6 victory at Sullivan Field in Los Alamos and Pojoaque’s last home field victory over the Hilltoppers occurred in 2011.