Football: Dulce 56, Questa 52
Dulce football continued a fantastic start to the season with a thrilling win over Questa (0-3) to reach 3-0 on the season.
Dulce scored the game’s first 18 points, and early in the third quarter went up 34-0. Then, Questa scored 20 points in the third quarter, and 24 more in the fourth quarter to make it a close game, but their run came too late in the game, and Dulce recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock after Questa got within a score for the first time.
“We’ve just got to tighten up in the second half,” said Dulce coach Lawry Johnson. “But those are just growing pains.” Johnson added that they are not used to having big leads in games.
Quarterback Issak Reval led the team with 234 yards and three touchdowns, many on successful short passing routes. Aljae Dixon scored two touchdowns. And James Johnson and Jaren Johnson each had both a receiving score and a kick-return touchdown.
“Every time Questa responded with a big play or a touchdown, the kids responded well,” Lawry Johnson said.
The Hawks will get their biggest test of the year on Thursday as they host Ft. Sumner/House, (1-0) the defending state champions. Over the last two years, the Foxes have defeated Dulce by a combined 114-6.
“It’ll be good for us to see where we are at this point in the season,” Johnson said.
Volleyball: Tohatchi def. Escalante
The Lobos (1-2) are still adjusting to a new coaching staff.
Mikaela Martinez, the previous middle school coach, is the new varsity head coach for the 2023 season. She takes over a team that had been strong in two seasons under Kathleen Salazar-Valdez, including a 19-0 record in district play.
“The first couple of weeks have been really good,” Martinez said. “We’ve just been getting used to the adjustments and changes with new coaching. But the girls have been doing really awesome.”
But this year, they regroup after losing a group of seniors that included three all-state players.
Aubrey Valdez, in her first year on the varsity team, is the team’s new starting setter, replacing longtime starter Emma Maestas.
“It’s been a learning experience,” Martinez said. “But she’s taken to the challenge very well, and she’s very determined to be able to perform at her best.”
Martinez said that the coaching staff noticed during summer practices that Valdez had good natural hands as a setter, even though she had never played the position before.
“We just liked her drive and her tenacity,” Martinez said.
In a home match against Tohatchi (2-1), the Lobos lost in straight sets, but played close. In the third set, they fought to the end but lost the set 26-24. Martinez said they have to work on mental toughness, which was the difference in that match.
The Lobos faced Santa Fe Indian (2-0) after press deadline on Tuesday, and next play Thursday at home against Monte Del Sol (0-3).
Elk Soccer Stays Undefeated
The Pojoaque Valley soccer team is among the hottest in the state to start the season. Through four matches, Pojoaque is 4-0 without signs of slowing down.
In the first week of the season, Pojoaque took first place at the Oak Grove Tournament in Albuquerque, including a shootout win over Socorro.
Most recently, Pojoaque defeated St. Michael’s in double overtime, 2-1, with goals from Elijah Hall and Ira Borth-Jorgensen, with Borth-Jorgensen knocking in the game winner. Borth-Jorgensen leads the team with four assists this season, and Matteo Nagle has scored four goals. And goaltender Omar Hernandez has recorded 21 saves.
Pojoaque faced Oak Grove (3-2) on Tuesday after press deadline, and next travels to Bernalillo (3-3) on Thursday.