Clovis beats Carlsbad for 2-0 start

CARLSBAD — In what turned out to be coined as an “ugly game” by both teams, Clovis turned in a monumental second-half performance to beat Carlsbad 34-14 Friday.

Clovis head coach Eric Roanhaus said, “It is a battle here every time we come down and I think it was an ugly game. It was bad both ways.”

After Clovis (2-0) took an early 7-0 lead, the teams would then trade scores heading into the half, but a missed extra point by Clovis would see the Wildcats down 14-13.

The second half was all Clovis though, with its defense turning up the intensity and the offense knocking off large chunks of yardage one play after another.

Micah Gray once again led Clovis on offense. Even with 200-plus yards rushing and four touchdowns on the night, Gray was given an awfully big hand in the winning effort by the Wildcats’ defense.

Fernando Acosta and Skylar Wadas led the defensive effort, with hardly a defensive play going by without one or both of them being involved. Acosta was constantly breaking through the offensive line into the backfield, harassing the Cavemen (0-2) all night long, while Wadas not only racked up close to double digit tackles, but also made several special team plays.

On the positive side, Clovis’ offensive line and blocking issues seem to be improving every game, with both Gray and Seth Lopez continually putting up large numbers. Lopez’ highlight came on a 20 plus yard run with under two minutes left for his first score of the season and the WIldcats’ final score of the night. Gray had two scores off monster runs, scoring one to open up the second half from 73 yards out and his final touchdown came on a 43 scamper up the middle.

Continuing to struggle with snapping on special teams, Wadas’ two heads-up plays both came on punts. On his own 35, a high snap was recovered by Wadas on his own 20, and the senior scooped it up, turned to the side and made a sidewinder kick that eventually found its way to the Carlsbad 37 — all while being harried by Cavemen defenders. A late personal foul flag after the play on Carlsbad would move the ball to the 22.

“Most of all I’m just trying to keep my cool, not make a bad decision turn into a 20-yard loss and put our defense in a bad spot,” said Wadas of the play.

His coach couldn’t agree more.

“He’s (Wadas) a 4.0 kid, a very smart kid,” said Roanhaus. “He can play a lot of positions and is a very tough kid. He is one of our captains and one of our leaders.”

Despite Wadas’ play, the special teams are becoming a glaring weakness for the Wildcats, something that may cost them in the future.

When asked if he was concerned about special teams or if it was too early in the season, Roanhaus said, “No, I am concerned. I was concerned when we started in August. It’s been a big concern to me. It’s an eyesore we can’t get rid of and its going to cost us sooner or later.”

Gray’s four scores give him 10 on the season thus far. Joe Gallegos recorded one interception, coming late on the game to end Carlsbad’s final drive.