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CLOVIS — The Clovis Wildcats hadn’t played a meaningful down of football in 468 days, so it could be understood and probably condoned if the rust outweighed the rhythm Saturday night at Leon Williams Stadium.
But rust and rhythm eventually gave way to resiliency, and the Wildcats simply found a way to top rival Hobbs 14-10 and keep the “Rebel” traveling trophy in Clovis — where it has stayed since 2014 and will be at stake again later this year when the spring 2021 season cedes to the fall 2021 season.
The Wildcats (1-0) managed just 82 yards and seven first downs against a spry Eagles squad, but took advantage of some fortuitous special teams bounces and stopped Hobbs on a red-zone opportunity in the closing minute to notch the seventh consecutive win in the series and 19th in the last 20 contests.
“Hats off to Hobbs,” Clovis coach Cal Fullerton said. “They had a game plan and they played hard. We’re lucky to come out of top.”
Hobbs posted just 199 yards themselves, but were haunted by missed red-zone opportunities and a pair of special teams bounces that led to Clovis’ two short-field touchdown drives.
“I’m really satisfied with our effort,” Hobbs coach Ken Stevens said. “Our kids played with great effort, great intensity, a lot of heart. I’m disappointed for the seniors, getting that last chance and not getting the win over Clovis after getting so close and having those opportunities. They’ve got a really good defensive line, and they gave us a lot of trouble. Special teams, with only eight days of practice, we were not quite where we needed to be.”
The Wildcats got their first score early in the second when a fumbled snap turned a punt attempt into a broken play run, and senior quarterback C.J. Gutierrez needed just one play to find Robert Nora for the 16-yard scoring toss.
Gutierrez, troubled by timing issues with his receivers and line breakdowns at bad times, completed eight of 18 passes, with his lone interception returned 35 yards to set up Colton Graham’s 21-yard go-ahead field goal with 7:08 remaining.
The Wildcats immediately got another special teams error in their favor, when a fumble by return man Blake Muscato got recovered by a teammate in traffic right on the Hobbs 39. Seven plays later, Gutierrez found Jeston Webskowski for the 8-yard go-ahead score.
Webskowski, who has committed to the University of New Mexico, rushed for just 31 yards on the night, but had three carries for 17 yards and a first down on the game-winning drive.
“We got a push up front,” Fullerton said of the final drive. “We didn’t have that (earlier in the game). It got Webs into the middle of the defense, and it takes two guys to take him down. It gets us in position when we’re not in third and long.”
Fullerton felt the production from Gutierrez, the next man up when Chance Harris opted to graduate early and go to Colorado State, was an indication of the overall team struggles on the night.
“I thought C.J. threw good at times,” Fullerton said. “A couple of times, he was a little rushed. I don’t think we got into a good rhythm in the first half at all. Whether it was a bad snap, missed block, mistake by somebody, we didn’t get into a rhythm. There wasn’t anything he did wrong.”
Hobbs, to their credit, had a lot to do with that, and had a great chance at a victory save their own troubles on offense.
“Defensively, we’re pretty good,” Stevens said. “We’ve got seven starters back from last year. I think our defensive line gave Clovis’ offensive line fits ... just like they gave it to us.”
The 24-point output was the lowest in a Clovis-Hobbs clash since 2005, when the Wildcats took a 14-7 win to open the District 4-5A season.
Graham accounted for all 10 of the Eagles’ points, between the fourth quarter field goal and a 36-yard quarterback keeper that also saw him kick the extra point.
Both coaches said it was good just to get back out onto the field, with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping both teams idle since Clovis fell to Cleveland in the 2019 Class 6A semifinals.
“We had a walkthrough and it was just a different feeling,” Fullerton said. “Coach (Drew) Hatley had figured out it had been 468 days since we played last. That’s a long dang time for those kids to be waiting.”
Stevens, in his second season at Hobbs after success at Eunice, echoed those sentiments.
“Being able to see them play and do what they do,” Stevens said, “I’m thankful to the Lord for that opportunity.”