Dulce 52, Navajo Pine 36
The Dulce Hawks (1-0) started their 8-man season with a big win over the Warriors (0-2) putting up 52 points in their first game.
Dulce finished last year 3-6 after an 0-5 start, and looks to improve, though the 8-man field has added new strong schools to the fold.
One of those schools, Questa (0-2) who moved down from 2A this year, hosts Dulce for their next game on Saturday. The Wildcats lost their first two games by 50 points to strong teams.
Bernalillo 36, Española Valley 6
The Sundevils (0-2) continue to search for their first win, but also show improvements from previous years. A year ago, Española fell 54-0 to Bernalillo (1-1) in a game called off via mercy rule.
Coach Tylon Wilder said he was happy with the effort from a team that was down five starters due to injury, but dropped passes early in the game led to frustration on offense.
Quarterback Nate Chacon threw 11-for-29 for 115 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Kevin Coffeen was the leading receiver, with five catches for 75 yards and a score. The rushing game saw more success than the week prior, with Kyle Coffeen the leader with 34 yards. Top wideout Adrick Deleon missed the game with a back injury but is expected back for next week.
But Española was gashed on the ground for over 300 yards. They went down 20-0 at halftime, with a touchdown coming in the third quarter.
Española next faces McCurdy (0-2) as they look for their first non-forfeit win since 2019.
NMMI 56, McCurdy 8
The Bobcats’ (0-2) tough schedule continued with a game against one of the top 3A teams in the state, and 2A McCurdy struggled to keep pace with New Mexico Military Institute (2-0).
On a “brutally hot” day, McCurdy coach Robert Nevarez said they learned that some of the schemes did not fit the personnel. But he was impressed with the play from some young defenders, and Nevarez said they will enter next week with three freshman starters on defense.
Last year, a 28-0 Colts win was the first game for McCurdy in nearly three years. Nevarez attributed the difference in score this year to a more aggressive approach from the Bobcats, and he admitted that NMMI could have ran up the score more.
Wide receiver Ryan Montoya scored the lone touchdown for the Bobcats on a left-side run similar to his week one touchdown. Quarterback Lucas Martinez left the game with cramps, but he is expected to play next week against Española Valley (0-2).
Bloomfield 56, Pojoaque 6
Pojoaque’s (0-2) lone touchdown came on a 70-yard pass from Adam Pacheco to Ethan Meloy, but the Elks struggled against the Bobcats (2-0) — a 4A title contender — in a game that included a long weather delay in Bloomfield.
Adam Pacheco threw for 112 yards, and Elias Martinez ran for 58 on nine attempts. Jeremy Quintanna caught two passes for 20 yards.
Bloomfield threw for four touchdowns in the game and gashed Pojoaque’s secondary.
The Elks look to get in the win column after a week offwith a road game on Sept. 9 at Santa Fe Indian School (0-2).