State preview: La Cueva game capsules

Editor’s note: La Cueva game summaries were compiled from a variety of newspaper Internet sites, including the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Tribune.

Sept 3.

La Cueva 49, Eldorado 0

New season, same stifling defense.

Top-ranked La Cueva shoved Eldorado backward to the tune of minus 4 yards of total offense in an easy win.

The defending Class 5A champions weren’t especially sharp on offense despite rolling up 468 yards.

The final numbers could have been worse. La Cueva was flagged 14 times for 125 yards and had three touchdowns called back.

“I was actually worried about our defense,” La Cueva coach Fred Romero said. “But the kids played well and we ran well tonight, That was very encouraging.”

Senior Frankie Baca rushed for 131 yards, including a 93-yard TD run.

Sept 9.

La Cueva 47, Sandia 0

La Cueva put two touchdowns on the board in the first minute and 26 seconds, led 40-0 at halftime, and put the game on auto pilot in the second half when both teams played reserves.

“To me, they’re better now in the second game than they were last year in the 10th game,” Sandia coach Kevin Barker said.

Baca rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard burst on the game’s second play from scrimmage.

Zach Arnett added a 9-yard scoring run and an interception for La Cueva.

“They probably don’t have the depth they had last year, but they execute real well and feed off Arnett,” Barker said.

Bears senior quarterback Tyler Davis also hit 7 of 8 passes for 114 yards.

Sept. 17

La Cueva 40, Clovis 0

Three games. Three shutouts.

Baca rushed for 186 yards and four TDs in the Bears’ workmanlike destruction of the 1-3 Wildcats.

“We played hard,” Baca said. “They had the momentum a couple of times. But we came back and changed it with big plays. We kept (the momentum) throughout the second half. Toward the end of the second half, we just wore them down and put it to them.”

Sept. 24

La Cueva 34, Las Cruces 7

It was a night of firsts for La Cueva, including the first time the Bears were scored upon this season and the first time they were challenged in a game — at least for a half.

The game included another first — Baca’s first TD pass on a 65-yard halfback option to Nicholas Knee early in the first quarter, which erased Las Cruces’ 7-6 lead. It was the only time La Cueva would trail in a game all season.

“We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities,” Bulldawgs coach Jim Miller said. “La Cueva made some mistakes, but we didn’t make them pay. You can’t afford to let a team that good off the hook.”

Oct. 2

La Cueva 36, St. Pius 7

Davis rebounded from an interception on the opening drive to throw for a pair of touchdowns in a 21-point second quarter that blew the game open.

Senior Clint McPeek was on the receiving end of Davis’ TD passes that covered 61 and 50 yards, helping the Bears to a 30-7 halftime lead.

“We made some mistakes early, but we were able to make up for it before halftime,” Romero said.

Baca added 297 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Oct. 15

La Cueva 79, Alb. High 0

The Bears scored on their first seven possessions and led 63-0 at the halftime en route to their 20th straight win.

La Cueva held the Bulldogs to 11 yards, including minus-25 rushing yards.

“People might look at the box score, but they should come and watch us play,” said Romero, whose squad beat AHS 83-21 in 2003. “That’s the earliest we’ve ever put in our second-string players.”

Oct. 21

La Cueva 50, Del Norte 0

And the beat goes on.

In a game that was over in the first quarter, star senior running back Baca touched the ball just seven times in the first half — which netted 170 yards and three touchdowns.

“We tried to do things,” La Cueva coach Romero said. “We’re always trying to improve our technique and our blocking and tackling.”

If there were a small of concern for the Bears it was the mental aspect of the game. La Cueva uncharacteristically lost three fumbles and was whistled for 10 penalties for 95 yards.

“We got on them about that at halftime,” Romero said.

By that time, La Cueva already led 36-0.

Oct. 30

La Cueva 61, Santa Fe 0

Senior Seth Johnson rushed for the game’s first touchdown and returned punts for 51 and 52 yards to set up the next two La Cueva scores in the Bears’ rout.

Most of La Cueva’s starters only saw rare duty in the second half.

“It’s a workout, especially since I also have to do kickoffs and that’s basically a sprint,” said McPeek, who caught a pair of TD passes and is also a starting safety.

Nov. 5

La Cueva 21, Highland 0

The Bears rode their usual dominating defense to a 22nd straight victory and third consecutive District 2-5A title.

But they did appear human: The 21-point margin of victory was La Cueva’s slimmest since a three-point win in the state Class 5A title game against Mayfield last December.

The first quarter ended with the score 0-0, marking the first time this season La Cueva failed to score a point in the opening period.

“We’re not the indestructible team,” Bears running back Frankie Baca said. “People can play with us.”

Nov. 11

La Cueva 58, Manzano 7

The Bears wrapped up a second straight unbeaten regular season with another rout.

They scored on their first nine possessions and allowed Manzano 41 yards off offense. The Monarchs’ points came on Nick Lawson’s 96-yard kickoff return to start the second half that made the score 48-7.

“We came out and did what we’ve been trying to do all year long,” said Baca, who rushed for 128 yards and scored four touchdowns. “We wanted to make sure we had some momentum going into the playoffs.”

Johnson added 131 yards rushing on eight carries.

Nov. 20

La Cueva 61, Eldorado 0

Round two was even worse for the Eagles.

La Cueva, beat Eldorado 49-0 to open the regular season, held the Eagles to a net of zero yards and without a first down in the first round of the playoffs.

“Just too good,” Eldorado coach David Williams said. “That’s what we talked about at halftime. The ones that aren’t too big are too fast. The ones that aren’t too fast are too strong. They’ve got an amazing crew over there.”

Senior tight end and linebacker Joe Gherardi scored on a 27-yard pass from Davis and a 40-yard interception return.

“We can play better,” Gherardi said. “There’s always room for improvement.”

Nov. 27

La Cueva 35, Las Cruces 0

LAS CRUCES — Baca pounded Las Cruces for 162 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns in the state semifinal game.

Baca also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Davis and returned an interception for a TD.

The Bears amassed 442 total yards to Las Cruces’ 171.