Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Clovis sophomore Rheal Kuchta is brought down by a trio of Grants defenders on a third-quarter run during Friday night’s game at Leon Williams Stadium. Kuchta had 87 yards rushing in the second half of Clovis’ 49-0 win.
Deputy editor
The most exciting thing on the field in the second quarter of Friday night’s 49-0 Clovis win might not have been a Wildcat or a Tiger, but a bat.
link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson
Clovis sophomore Rheal Kuchta is brought down by a trio of Grants defenders on a third-quarter run during Friday night’s game at Leon Williams Stadium. Kuchta had 87 yards rushing in the second half of Clovis’ 49-0 win.
But Clovis senior Kurt Kelley, with some help from his teammates, was a close second.
After the surprise visitor took its time finding its way off the field, startling more than its fair share of players, coaches and officials, it was Clovis starting the period with a second and 1 from the 38.
Nine seconds later, Kelley was in the end zone, as he got 10 yards behind the Grants defender before turning around to catch Daulton Hatley’s bomb. Although the home-run play after the unusual stoppage caught the Pirates completely off guard, Kelley said the bat incident was unrelated.
“We were going to run it before that,” Kelley said. “After everything that happened, we said we were still running it. I had a lot of space to work with, and Daulton threw a great ball.”
Kelley struck again late in the half, with Grants punting from its own 21. Kelley bobbled the ball, then darted up and down the sideline looking for room.
“I was just trying ti do something with it because we didn’t have much time,” said Kelley, whose 50-yard return probably covered 80 yards of ground. “I got some great blocks; Elighio (Rodriguez) threw a great block.
A final block by Taitt Kuchta sprung Kelley free from Grants’ Chris Salazar, and the senior beat Joshua Bustos to the right corner of the end zone with 19 seconds to play. It ended up being the final play with the running clock, as Luke Bussen’s extra-point try went through as the clock hit zeroes.
Keeping one in the chamber: Following his two most productive games of the season, senior Roland Chavez was a non-factor in the passing game Friday.
It wasn’t the fault of Chavez, coming off back-to-back 100-yard games, including both of Clovis’ offensive touchdowns in the 29-21 loss at Wolfforth Frenship. Clovis coach Eric Roanhaus said he didn’t want to take a chance injuring Chavez, and he didn’t want to show District 4-6A too many looks at the tight end that has a pair of Division I and numerous Division II offers.
“We’ve got plenty of ways to get Roland open. No point putting him on film to show Hobbs and Alamo.”
Chavez has 10 catches for 272 yards and three touchdowns — all for at least 38 yards.
One more tuneup: Grants has an unusual district tuneup, with two games in three weeks against district rival Moriarty. The teams play Friday in Moriarty, followed by a bye and a second game at Grants Oct. 30, with the latter counted in the District 5-5A standings.
Coach Rio Thompson said the two-fer was the result of Academy dropping the Pirates on the schedule.
Elsewhere in 4-6A: A look at the rest of the teams in District 4A, with Clovis’ game against each in parentheses.
All four teams have byes this week, following a 2-2 performance overall.
• The Hobbs Eagles (Oct. 23, road) have won three of their last four since starting the season 0-2, and cruised to a 53-7 win over Lovington.
• The district no longer has an unbeaten team, as the Alamogordo Tigers (Oct. 30, road) fell at Artesia 34-30 on Friday. The Tigers host Carlsbad on Oct. 23.
• The Carlsbad Cavemen (Nov. 6, home) were close, but no cigar as Goddard held on for a 28-26 victory on Friday. The Rockets have won 11 straight in the series, starting with a 15-0 win in 2005.
