Cats seeking second district win

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Putting the entire Clovis offense on the shoulders of the 5-foot-6, 155-pound Seth Lopez might be a little much to ask, with star running back Micah Gray sidelined by a neck injury.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis High senior Jared Duncan locates the throw from senior Daulton Hatley during Wednesday’s Wildcats practice at Leon Williams Stadium. The Wildcats travel to Alamogordo tonight in District 4-6A play.

But the Clovis sophomore insists he’s not shouldering it alone.

“Trying to fill what Micah does in a game is really tough,” said Lopez, who has rushed for 299 of his 619 yards in the last two games. “But Daulton (Hatley) has thorwn a little more. Now that I’ve got Bubba (Alonzo) on the left (to keep the defense honest), I can take more carries.”

Gray is doing non-contact practices with the Wildcats, but his return this season is no guarantee. Unless and until Gray returns, Lopez is getting used to taking on the rushing load.

The Wildcats got 188 yards from Lopez last week with a run, then run, then run game plan in a 38-20 victory at Hobbs to open District 4-6A play. The message is clear against Alamogordo’s spread offense that the game plan won’t change in today’s 7 p.m. District 4-6 A clash at Alamo.

“The big thing for us it to keep the ball out of their hands,” Clovis coach Eric Roanhaus said of Clovis’ first trip to Alamo since pulling out a 20-19 victory in the 2011 season opener. “My philosophy has always been that a ball-control offense complements a good defense.”

The Wildcats (5-3, 1-0 district) will try to move into the driver’s seat in the district, while the Tigers look to avoid a desperate situation after starting the season 6-0.

Following a narrow loss at Artesia, the Tigers dropped their district opener 21-14 to previously winless Carlsbad.

“Certainly,” Roanhaus said, “it’s a surprise whenever an 0-7 team beats a team that’s 6-1. We watched the game film, and basically Alamo lost the game because of mistakes. They had about 200 yards in penalties.”

Tigers coach Dale Hooper said the loss had several elements — Carlsbad being better than their record, the Tigers dealing with injuries and the aforementioned penalties.

“Other than that, our season’s been going pretty well. I think we’re building our program where it needs to be. It’s my third year, and we’re heading in the right direction.”

Junior quarterback Kyle Hooper has excelled in his second season with the Tigers’ spread offense, with just three interceptions — one a hail-mary and another that bounced off a receiver’s hands.

“He’s more mature,” Coach Hooper said. “He’s a junior, he has a lot more confidence in himself and what he wants to throw. He can throw all of the balls, not just the intermediate balls. His confidence in reading defenses, he’s growing a lot.”

As far as facing Clovis following the Carlsbad loss, it’s going from one frying pan into another.

“Roanhaus does a great job,” Hooper said. “He has them ready when it matters. He does that every year. I never look at their early records. They’ve done a good job. I know they’ve had injuries, but their other guys have stepped up.”

The Wildcats enter today’s game without senior Tucker Dobbs, who broke his ankle at Hobbs. Game-time decisions include senior lineman Javy Hermosillo (foot infection) and linebacker Tyler Damron (knee).

GAMEDAY

Clovis at Alamogordo

7 p.m. today

Records: Clovis 5-3 (1-0 District 4-6A, Alamogordo 6-2 (0-1)

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

Coaches: Clovis, Eric Roanhaus, 38th season, 334-136-5. Alamogordo, Dale Hooper, 3rd season, 10-16.

Last week: Alamogordo was shocked by winless Carlsbad at home, 21-14. Clovis cruised to a 38-20 win at Hobbs.

Last meeting: 2014, Clovis won 5-0 at Leon Williams Stadium. The Wildcats lead the overall series 33-7 and have won 16 straight dating back to the 1985 Class 4A state title game.

Go figure: The Wildcats, over the last 15 seasons, are 35-3 in district games and have won 12 district championships.

— Compiled by Kevin Wilson