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Texico seeks title

TEXICO — One big roadblock remains in the Texico Wolverines’ bid to secure the school’s first state football crown since 2008.

Texico visits two-time state champion Eunice for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday in a battle for the Class 2A title.

The teams met on Sept. 27 at Eunice, with the Cardinals posting a 34-19 win. Since then, though, the Wolverines (8-4) have won six in a row to clinch their first winning campaign since 2012.

“We went through a lot of adversity early,” first-year Texico coach Bob Gilbreath said. “I would say it took until the Eunice game before we got our confidence.”

Injuries played a part in the slow start, he said, and it took some time to get everyone on the same page. Texico lost its starting quarterback and top two running backs during the season.

“Since then, it’s been the next-man-up concept,” Gilbreath said. “This bunch is essentially the definition of a team.”

Junior quarterback Gabe Dickerman, who began the season as a receiver, said the Wolverines are a different team at this stage of the season.

“I think we’re stronger, mentally and physically,” said Dickerman, who saw some duty at QB last season. “I think we all have realized what we’re playing for, and it’s motivated us.”

Both teams have been dominant in the playoffs. Following first-round byes, the third-seeded Wolverines have dispatched Capitan 41-0 and Hagerman 38-7 while the top-seeded, top-ranked Cardinals (10-1) blew out Santa Rosa 55-0 and handed Fort Sumner a 51-20 setback.

Gilbreath said Dickerman has embraced the role of being a leader on the field, noting that he completed 17-of-23 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns in Saturday’s win over the Bobcats.

“Gabe had a really good game,” Gilbreath said. “This team has gotten really good at taking what the defense gives us.”

Sophomore Cade Collins caught four passes for 95 yards and three scores for the Wolverines, while sophomore Zeke Soliz posted five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Eunice, the Class 3A champion in 2017 and the 2A title-winner last year, has outscored its 11 foes 519-148, including five games in a row over 50 points. Its only loss was at Class 3A semifinalist Tularosa 33-26.

‘They’re a really good football team with some really good players,” said Gilbreath, who inherited a program which went 4-8 in 2018. “Our kids gained some confidence (from the first meeting). The year before, they’d gotten mercy-ruled twice (losing to the Cardinals 51-6 in the regular season and 50-0 in a quarterfinal-round game).”

Eunice will be playing at home for the sixth time in its last seven games after starting with four of five on the road.

The Cardinals rely heavily on a passing game out of a spread formation. Senior quarterback Mason Caperton leads the attack, while junior Hayden Dean and senior Avante Stevens are his primary targets.

Dickerman, who also sees spot duty in the Wolverines’ secondary, said the team believes it has the ability to stop, or at least contain, the Cardinals’ potent attack.

“We have a defensive package that’s specifically for stopping the kind of passing game that they have,” he said.

Meantime, the Wolverines have also been dominant overall, outscoring their opposition 410-165. Their four losses have been by a combined 33 points, including two which came down to the final minute.

Gilbreath said the losses have helped toughen up the Wolverines.

“We’re just excited to be able to go play,” he said. “These kids love each other, and love working together. Every good team I’ve ever been a part of has been that way.”

 

 
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