It’s only week three of the football season, but there are already a couple of rivalry games on tap.
Dulce at Escalante,
7 p.m. Friday (9/5)
After coming away with an incredible comeback win in Roswell, the Lobos are ready to roll.
For the Hawks, it’s another chance to improve for a squad that is still trying to make up for lost ground after not having a summer of training.
While the proximity of the teams makes it interesting, both coaches are trying to downplay its importance.
“We’re just approaching it as any other game,” Escalante coach Curtis Casados said. “It’s getting us better for districts.”
Escalante won this meeting last year 56-0, but that was the first time the teams had played since the Hawks last played 11-man football in 2017. Now they’re both in the 8-man division.
“We still have to play well,” Casados said. “Any time we play Dulce, they always play hard. It’s always been that way. They always have athletes. I know they have some athletes coming back. It doesn’t matter the score from the year previous, you can’t underestimate any of these teams.”
Hawks coach Jeremy Wooten said he understands how important this game will be down the road, but right now it’s just another game on the schedule.
“If this was next year or the year after, after I’ve been here with the program for a year or two, it would be different,” he said. “We’re going to focus on it not being a big time game being that we’re three months behind since we didn’t start until Aug. 4. We had no summer with these kids. To us and what we’re trying to preach to the kids is it’s just another game.”
Instead, the focus is just trying to get the players to take something from each game to get better in hopes of competing for a playoff spot when district play rolls around.
“Next year, we’ll talk differently,” Wooten said. “We didn’t even install kick off and kick off return until last week until we had a walk-through about four-five hours before the Hagerman game. That’s how far behind we are. It’s not the kids’ fault that they didn’t have a coach in place. So right now, it’s just about getting better and having these kids improve.”
Pojoaque Valley at
Los Alamos, 6 p.m. Thursday (9/4)
The Elks have had a strong start to the season, but up next, they face a squad that is also rolling after a couple of solid wins.
Pojoaque will have a task to pull this one out against its rivals from atop the mesa.
“The kids look forward to this game,” Elks coach Zeke Villegas said. “A lot of them are friends. They’re only 18 miles up the hill, so it’s one game we love to play. It’s one of our rival games for sure.”
While Pojoaque has made a conscious effort to boost its aerial attack, the Elks will have to be careful with the Los Alamos defensive acumen.
“They’re very aggressive,” Villegas said. “I know they bring a lot of pressure. We just have to be able to pick up the blitz. That’s something we need to work on. They sent a bunch of blitz packages against Española (in week one). They’re well-coached on both sides for sure.”
The Elks will also need to watch out for running back Jordan Herrera, who has already amassed 242 yards and four touchdowns in two games.
“They’re big and physical and they have a big running back in Jordan Herrera,” Villegas said. “I think we’ll be able to do a lot of things to prepare, but our main thing is stop him because he’s the key to their offense.”
Española Valley at Capital,
7 p.m. Friday
Coming off a big win, the Sundevils will face a scuffling group of Jaguars who are looking to make a statement after a couple of tough outings.
But Española has shown that it can score in bunches and looks explosive on both sides of the ball.
The game marks the Sundevils final non-district contest.
McCurdy at Tucumcari, 7 p.m. Friday
After an off week, the Bobcats get back after it with another long road trip.
And if last year is any indication, it should be quite the entertaining game as McCurdy came away with a 50-42 win over the Rattlers.
Tucumcari seems to have strengthened its defense after allowing just six points to Thoreau, but the Rattlers only score eight themselves.
Bobcats coach De’Jor Curtis said the team is using the bye week to work on tightening up some things.
“We’re just working on the kinks and working on being more consistent in what we’re doing,” he said. “And making sure it’s fun.”
Whether it’s a high-scoring affair or a defensive slug fest, Curtis said he thinks it will be pretty close.
“We’re expecting a dog fight,” he said. “We already endured a five-hour bus trip and played in the scorching sun in the heat and now we have another one. We had all the obstacles stacked against us. And we want those games, accept those games, those challenges. We’re going to come back. It makes us a lot more mentally tougher. They knew it was all stacked against them and they’re accepting all challenges.”
By Glen Rosales
Special to the SUN
It’s only week three of the football season, but there are already a couple of rivalry games on tap.
Dulce at Escalante,
7 p.m. Friday (9/5)
After coming away with an incredible comeback win in Roswell, the Lobos are ready to roll.
For the Hawks, it’s another chance to improve for a squad that is still trying to make up for lost ground after not having a summer of training.
While the proximity of the teams makes it interesting, both coaches are trying to downplay its importance.
“We’re just approaching it as any other game,” Escalante coach Curtis Casados said. “It’s getting us better for districts.”
Escalante won this meeting last year 56-0, but that was the first time the teams had played since the Hawks last played 11-man football in 2017. Now they’re both in the 8-man division.
“We still have to play well,” Casados said. “Any time we play Dulce, they always play hard. It’s always been that way. They always have athletes. I know they have some athletes coming back. It doesn’t matter the score from the year previous, you can’t underestimate any of these teams.”
Hawks coach Jeremy Wooten said he understands how important this game will be down the road, but right now it’s just another game on the schedule.
“If this was next year or the year after, after I’ve been here with the program for a year or two, it would be different,” he said. “We’re going to focus on it not being a big time game being that we’re three months behind since we didn’t start until Aug. 4. We had no summer with these kids. To us and what we’re trying to preach to the kids is it’s just another game.”
Instead, the focus is just trying to get the players to take something from each game to get better in hopes of competing for a playoff spot when district play rolls around.
“Next year, we’ll talk differently,” Wooten said. “We didn’t even install kick off and kick off return until last week until we had a walk-through about four-five hours before the Hagerman game. That’s how far behind we are. It’s not the kids’ fault that they didn’t have a coach in place. So right now, it’s just about getting better and having these kids improve.”
Pojoaque Valley at
Los Alamos, 6 p.m. Thursday (9/4)
The Elks have had a strong start to the season, but up next, they face a squad that is also rolling after a couple of solid wins.
Pojoaque will have a task to pull this one out against its rivals from atop the mesa.
“The kids look forward to this game,” Elks coach Zeke Villegas said. “A lot of them are friends. They’re only 18 miles up the hill, so it’s one game we love to play. It’s one of our rival games for sure.”
While Pojoaque has made a conscious effort to boost its aerial attack, the Elks will have to be careful with the Los Alamos defensive acumen.
“They’re very aggressive,” Villegas said. “I know they bring a lot of pressure. We just have to be able to pick up the blitz. That’s something we need to work on. They sent a bunch of blitz packages against Española (in week one). They’re well-coached on both sides for sure.”
The Elks will also need to watch out for running back Jordan Herrera, who has already amassed 242 yards and four touchdowns in two games.
“They’re big and physical and they have a big running back in Jordan Herrera,” Villegas said. “I think we’ll be able to do a lot of things to prepare, but our main thing is stop him because he’s the key to their offense.”
Española Valley at Capital,
7 p.m. Friday
Coming off a big win, the Sundevils will face a scuffling group of Jaguars who are looking to make a statement after a couple of tough outings.
But Española has shown that it can score in bunches and looks explosive on both sides of the ball.
The game marks the Sundevils final non-district contest.
McCurdy at Tucumcari, 7 p.m. Friday
After an off week, the Bobcats get back after it with another long road trip.
And if last year is any indication, it should be quite the entertaining game as McCurdy came away with a 50-42 win over the Rattlers.
Tucumcari seems to have strengthened its defense after allowing just six points to Thoreau, but the Rattlers only score eight themselves.
Bobcats coach De’Jor Curtis said the team is using the bye week to work on tightening up some things.
“We’re just working on the kinks and working on being more consistent in what we’re doing,” he said. “And making sure it’s fun.”
Whether it’s a high-scoring affair or a defensive slug fest, Curtis said he thinks it will be pretty close.
“We’re expecting a dog fight,” he said. “We already endured a five-hour bus trip and played in the scorching sun in the heat and now we have another one. We had all the obstacles stacked against us. And we want those games, accept those games, those challenges. We’re going to come back. It makes us a lot more mentally tougher. They knew it was all stacked against them and they’re accepting all challenges.”