Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
All Times MDT
Clovis Christian at Lake Arthur
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
2004 records: Clovis Christian 2-7, Lake Arthur 3-5.
Coaches: Clovis Christian, Greg Darden; Lake Arthur, Jose Porras.
Last meeting: First times teams have met.
Lake Arthur players to watch: Manuel Salcido, 5-10, 175, Sr., QB-S; Edward Rubio, 5-6, 145, So., WR-DE; Laramie Teel, 5-8, 220, So., C-DE.
Keys to the game: Both teams are relatively young, so whoever plays well early should have a distinct advantage.
By the numbers: 5 — Years that Darden coached the Clovis Christian football program before sitting out the 2004 campaign.
Quotable: “I don’t know anything about them. We’re just going in there blind, and I hope we can just get out of there with a win.” — Darden.
Hagerman at Fort Sumner
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
2004 records: Hagerman n/a, Fort Sumner 7-4.
Coaches: Hagerman, Kerry Scott; Fort Sumner, Dexter McDaniel.
Last meeting: 2004, Fort Sumner defeated the Bobcats 46-6 in the season opener.
Hagerman players to watch: Jacob Aguilar, Jr., QB; Allen Pilley, Sr., RB-LB.
Keys to the game: McDaniel expects the Bobcats to put the ball in the air and said the Foxes can’t afford to get beat in the secondary.
By the numbers: 5 — years since two teams played for the 2000 Class 1A state championship game. Hagerman beat the Foxes 17-7 at Fort Sumner.
Quotable: “They’re much-improved over last year. They’ve got good speed on the outside, and good receivers.” — McDaniel, on Hagerman.
Gateway Christian at Melrose
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
2004 records: Gateway Christian 7-2, Melrose 11-1.
Coaches: Gateway Christian, Shaun Wigley; Melrose, Dickie Roybal.
Last meeting: 2001, Gateway Christian defeated Melrose in Roswell.
Gateway Christian players to watch: Jevvon Hunter, 5-11,165, Jr., TB-DB; Ben Chavez, 5-9, 180, So., FB-LB; Lizando Feliciano, 5-11, 236, Jr., OL-DE; Jared Wilson, 6-2, 190, So., WR-DB.
Keys to the game: Roybal said Melrose wants to establish its ground game early, led by speedy senior Carlos Ruiz. “I’m hoping if we block better (than in a scrimmage last weekend), we can get something going,” he said.
By the numbers: 5 — trips to the six-man state championship game in Roybal’s eight seasons as coach. Melrose has won titles in 1999 and 2004.
Quotable: “They’ve got some great coaches. They’ve got some good-looking athletes with great speed.” — Roybal, on Gateway Christian.
Smyer (Texas) at Texico
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
2004 records: Smyer 5-5, Texico 12-0.
Coaches: Smyer, Tim Duncan. Texico, Mike Prokop.
Last meeting: First time teams have met.
Smyer players to watch: Padon Holt, 6-5, 200, Sr., TE-DE; Cody Preston, 5-7, 150, Sr., RB-LB; Patrick Sherrill, 5-9, 145, Sr., SE-LB.
Keys to the game: Texico assistant coach Chris Hanks said the Wolverines, who lost a number of key players to graduation, will have to contain the Bobcats’ Veer option attack. “They surprised us when they scrimmaged,” Hanks said. “They did a lot of good things.”
By the numbers: 24 — Texico’s current winning streak. The Wolverines have gone 12-0 each of the past two seasons in capturing back-to-back Class 1A titles.
Quotable: “Our kids always work hard and execute. We might not be as big as we were in the past, but I think we’re quicker.” — Hanks.
Farwell at Plains
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Farwell, Jacob Thompson; Plains, Blake McWhirter.
2004 records: Farwell 5-5, Plains 4-6.
Last meeting: 2004, the teams met in the season opener at Farwell and the Steers posted a 27-13 victory.
Plains players to watch: Todd Williams, 5-9, 159, Sr., RB-DB; Ramiro Martinez, 5-9, 160, Sr., WR-DB; Antonio Martinez, 5-10, 170, Jr., OL-DL.
Keys to the game: Thompson believes the Steers will have to control the ball in order to be successful.
By the numbers: 3 — consecutive season-opening wins for Farwell against Plains.
Quotable: “We have a little bit of history on our side.” — Thompson.
Friona at Muleshoe
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Friona, Bob Ferguson; Muleshoe, David Wood.
2004 records: Friona, 6-4, Muleshoe, 9-3.
Last meeting: 2004, Muleshoe posted a 24-0 victory over the Chieftains.
Players to watch: Daniel Aguilar, 5-10, 166, Sr., OL/DL; A.J. Cordova, 5-8, 190, Sr., OL/DL; Fabian Dominguez, 5-10, 252, Sr., OL/DL; Jesus Gonzalez, 5-8, 210, Jr., OL/DL.
Keys to the game: Wood said the turnover battle will decide the game.
By the numbers: 1,365 — The number of rushing yards in 2004 for Black.
Quotable: “For either team to move the ball will be a luxury.” — Wood.
Bovina at Morton
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Bovina, Kent Torbert; Morton, Don Rives.
2004 records: Bovina 2-8, Morton 11-1.
Last meeting: 2004, the Indians traveled to Bovina and came away with a 34-6 victory.
Morton players to watch: Brandon Eubanks, 6-0, 190, Sr., QB-LB; Bryan Alvarado, 5-10, 190, Sr., OL-LB; John Mark Silhan, 5-10, 160, Sr., OL-LB; James Cornish, 5-9, 155, Sr. RB-S.
Keys to the game: Torbert said the Mustangs hope to create havoc for the Indians’ offense with some different looks.
By the numbers: 0 — career games started at quarterback by Eubanks.
Quotable: “If he (Eubanks) does the things on offense that we think he can do, we should have a good chance to win the game.” — Rives.
— Compiled by Jesse Wolfersberger and Dave Wagner
