Cats visit rival Hobbs in 2022 football opener

CLOVIS - Clovis High faces its biggest longtime rival when the Wildcats open the 2022 football season on Friday night.

Meantime, Portales High will step up a class in competition and take on an unfamiliar opponent in the Class 5A, Albuquerque-based Highland Hornets.

The Wildcats (3-7 in 2021) hit the road to take on the Hobbs Eagles in a 7 p.m. matchup.

CHS will be under the guidance of first-year coach Andrew McCraw, who was hired in June after Cal Fullerton resigned the position near the end of the school year.

The Cats will be looking to avenge a 21-0 setback to Hobbs in last year's lidlifter at Leon Williams Stadium, the Eagles' first win over Clovis since 2000 and their first win by shutout in the series since 2000.

Hobbs posted a 6-6 record last season, reaching the Class 6A playoff quarterfinals before losing to unbeaten eventual champion Rio Rancho Cleveland 42-14.

Portales, which won the Class 4A state championship in 2019, never got out of the blocks with a relatively inexperienced squad a year ago and finished with a 2-8 record. The Rams open at Greyhound Stadium against Albuquerque-based Highland, which found itself in similar circumstances last season and posted a 3-8 mark.

"Like us, they started a lot of young personnel last year," Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. "This time, they have a lot of experience coming back."

Ramirez said the Rams and Hornets are similar defensively, adding that Highland uses multiple formations on offense.

Meantime, four area small-school games are on tap Friday, with Grady making its return to the sport. The Broncos are slated to open against Animas in a 1:30 p.m. neutral-field game at Carrizozo.

Other openers on Friday send Albuquerque-based Legacy Academy to Melrose in a 6 p.m. start, Dora to Floyd at 1 p.m. and Carrizozo to Elida in a 7 p.m. matchup.

One game is scheduled for Saturday, with the Texico Wolverines entertaining Estancia in a 2 p.m. kickoff.