CCS faces familar foe in playoffs

Corey Robinson is hoping the third time is the charm.

The first-year Clovis Christian football coach leads his team into the 6-man state quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Saturday in Santa Fe against third-seeded New Mexico School for the Deaf (8-1).

The Roadrunners had their way with CCS earlier this season, winning 55-0 in Sante Fe in the season opener and 56-6 two weeks later at Jim Hill Field, a game added when both teams were trying to fill an open date.

"We played better," Robinson said of the latter tilt. "We just couldn't get off the field on fourth down."

Despite the apparent mismatch, Robinson is confident the Eagles (2-6) can at least make a game of it.

"When I look at their record, they haven't beaten a team with a winning record except San Jon (San Jon/Grady)," Robinson said. "I told our kids, 'Let's go and compete and not just give it away.'"

The numbers-thin Eagles expect to have nine players available this week, Robinson said, up from seven in their most recent game, a 64-12 loss at top-ranked Dora.

The winner plays next week at second-seeded Lake Arthur.

The other first-round matchup, played Friday saw fifth-seeded Hondo beat No. 4 San Jon/Grady 105-90. The Coyotes travel to top-seeded Dora in a semifinal game next week.