Texico stampedes into 1A semifinals

Texico senior Mark Peabody scores his third touchdown of Satrurday's win over Springer. CNJ photo by Rick White.

TEXICO — Johnny Serrano and the Texico Wolverines ran wild. Springer’s Matt Tafoya ran for his life.

Texico didn’t turn the ball over. Springer did five times. Texico finished with more than 400 yards. Springer had less than 85.

It was a day of disparity in Saturday’s Class 1A state quarterfinal game as Serrano rushed for 151 yards and Mark Peabody scored three touchdowns as the top-ranked Wolverines crushed Springer 63-0 on an overcast Saturday afternoon at the Field of Hopes and Dreams.

Texico (10-0) plays Cloudcroft (7-3) in a semifinal match Saturday at a time and site to be determined, Texico coach Mike Prokop said.

Prokop said he was worried about how his team would respond to playing on Saturday afternoon instead of Friday night.

“I just didn’t know how we would react,” Prokop said. “We just had a slow start. But we adjusted, and didn’t panic.”

The Wolverines exploded for 28 points in the second quarter, including TD runs of 10 and 6 yards by Peabody, who finished with 84 yards and 10 carries and also caught a 43-yard pass for Texico’s second score.

“It ain’t just me,” said Peabody, who also forced a fumble, one of four turnovers Texico converted into touchdowns. “Anybody could run through the holes our line makes.”

The Wolverines harassed Tafoya into a 10-for-28 day passing with four interceptions. They also sacked the sturdy senior three times.

“We really expected a tougher game,” said Texico senior linebacker Logan Brown. “We knew they could throw the ball, but our secondary did a great job and we were able to get some coverage sacks.”

Texico junior quarterback Braden Vaughan was an efficient 2-for-4 passing for 92 yards and ran for two touchdowns as Texico scored more than 60 points for the second time this season.

Springer (7-4) finished with 85 yards, including minus 24 yards rushing, as the Wolverines recorded their eighth shutout of the season.