Cats look to nail down district title

Staff writer

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Where’s The Rebel? Where’s the District 4-6A title? Where’s a Class 6A playoff spot?

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis junior quarterback Daulton Hatley is stopped by Carlsbad defender Drake Albarez after a short gain in last week’s game at Ralph Bowyer Stadium. The Wildcats (4-5, 2-0 district) can wrap up the District 4-6A title with a win tonight against Hobbs.

The Clovis Wildcats hope by the end of the night, the answer to all three questions is the Wildcats’ locker room.

It was one year ago that the cannon-shaped traveling trophy finally did some traveling, as a 30-28 Hobbs victory put the trophy in the Eagles’ hands and out of Clovis’ for the first time in 12 seasons.

Now, Clovis can get The Rebel back, plus take the district title and what could be 4-6A’s only playoff spot with a home win over the Eagles.

“We want the cannon back,” Clovis senior nose guard Garren Bass said. “It’s what we’ve been looking forward to all year. It’s always been in the back of our minds.”

Both teams are coming off district wins last week, with Clovis beating Carlsbad 24-10 and Hobbs beating Alamogordo 24-14.

Clovis takes the district title with a win, but it’s a little more complicated for Hobbs. The Eagles, who dropped their district opener 25-14 against the Cavemen, need a Carlsbad loss against Alamogordo to keep their game with Clovis a simple winner-takes-district battle. Should the Cavemen win, Hobbs would need to beat Clovis and do so by at least 12 to claim the title via point-spread tiebreaker.

The Wildcats have no plans to back into the playoffs, and Clovis coach Eric Roanhaus said the team needs to start strong. In last year’s battle, Clovis missed a short field goal and got stuffed on a fourth-and-goal play in a one-possession loss.

“In a rivalry game, anything can happen,” Roanhaus said. “We squandered some opportunities last year. We’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity. Our defense has been playing well, and we can’t have turnovers to put them in bad positions.”

Bass said the key to Hobbs’ offense lies with junior quarterback Isaac Amaya, who has been a dual threat.

“We have to cover the quarterback,” Bass said. “We’ve got to rush him, but not give him gaps to run. That’s going to be a challenge.”

Attempts to contact Hobbs coach Charles Gleghorn Thursday were unsuccessful.

GAMEDAY

Hobbs at Clovis

7 p.m. today

Leon Williams Stadium

Records: Hobbs 4-5 (1-1 District 6-4A), Clovis 4-5 (2-0)

On the air:KCLV-AM 1240; KCLV-FM 99.1; KTQM-FM 99.9; streaming online at kclvsports.com at ktqmclovis.com.

Coaches: Hobbs, Charles Gleghorn, 3rd season, 13-17. Clovis, Eric Roanhaus, 37th season, 326-133-5.

Last week: Both teams claimed district wins, with Clovis beating Carlsbad 24-10 and Hobbs beating Alamogordo 24-14.

District impact: A Clovis win would give the Wildcats the 4-6A title outright. Hobbs needs a win and a Carlsbad loss to Alamogordo, or a win of at least 12 points if Carlsbad wins, to claim the district via tiebreaker. The district champion is the only team guaranteed a slot in the 12-team Class 6A playoff field.

Last meeting: 2013, Hobbs edged the Wildcats 30-28. The win snapped a 12-game Clovis streak in the series, which Clovis leads 27-16.

Common opponents: The Wildcats and Eagles have each played Goddard, Carlsbad and Alamogordo. The Wildcats are 2-1, while the Eagles are 1-2. Both teams lost to Goddard, and Hobbs lost to Carlsbad 25-14.

Hobbs players to watch: Isaac Amaya, 5-11, 155, Jr., QB; Jeremy Padilla, 5-10, 170, Jr., RB.

Notes: The game will be preceded by the Fifth Annual Eagle Stew Dinner at 6 p.m. in the lobby of Rock Staubus Gymnasium. The fundraiser for the Clovis High girls basketball team is $5 and includes Leal’s green chile stew, crackers and a beverage.

Go figure: 3 — Road victories so far this season for the Eagles.

— Compiled by Kevin Wilson