Robertson repeats in Class 3A

The Associated Press

PORTALES — Robertson won its second-straight Class 3A football championship Saturday, defeating Portales 28-6.

“I don’t know about a dynasty. We’re just happy to be back-to-back state champs,” Robertson coach Chad Roanhaus said.

“This year, we knew we had the team to win it, we just had to go out and play every week and get it done,” he said.

Senior running back Sean O’Brien rushed for 119 yards as the Cardinals (12-1) scored three touchdowns in the first half.

On Robertson’s second possession, O’Brien dashed in from 1 yard out to score a touchdown with 2:17 left in the first quarter.

Portales (7-6) fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Cardinals recovered at the Rams’ 29.

Seven plays later, Jesse Estrada ran in from the 2-yard line and Robertson grabbed a 14-0 lead.

The TD drive also included a fourth-down conversion on a quarterback sneak by Robertson’s Ethan Maestas at the Portales 17.

“We needed to get that. That was momentum. If we get that, it gives us momentum to score,” Maestas said.

Maestas tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Vigil, giving Robertson a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter.

In the second half, Portales largely controlled the ball as the Rams racked up eight first downs to only two for the Cardinals in the third and fourth quarters.

Portales scored on its first drive after halftime after marching 85 yards in seven plays.

Quarterback Chris Mosier ran for 69 yards to the Robertson 4. Eric Segovia scored the Rams’ lone TD two plays later.

Senior Ricardo Alexander capped Robertson’s scoring with 41 seconds remaining in the game, sprinting 66 yards for a touchdown.