Cats can't hold big lead in loss to Eldorado

ALBUQUERQUE – Clovis High’s football team appeared to be cruising in building a big halftime lead against Eldorado at Wilson Stadium on Saturday.

They ran roughshod over the Eagles and rolled into the intermission with a 49-20 lead after sophomore Max Roche hauled in a 27-yard scoring pass from freshman Javi Jimenez in the final seconds.

Things changed after the half, though, and Clovis’ season-long battle with depth issues quickly reared its head.

Eldorado outscored the Cats 44-7 in the second half and got a touchdown and 2-point conversion with under a minute left for a 64-56 win.

“Our lack of depth really showed in the second half, and that’s on me,” second-year CHS coach Andrew McCraw said. “I’ve got to do a better job of getting kids ready and getting them on the field.”

Jimenez again shared time with senior Jett Stone at quarterback. While Stone didn’t throw a pass, Jimenez went 3-for-6 through the air for 102 yards and the TD pass to Roche and scored one himself on a 4-yard run.

Stone and senior Kash Roberts both had big days running the ball, with Roberts going for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries while Stone added 180 yards on 21 totes and scored twice. Senior Cayden Lott chipped in a sixth rushing TD from 14 yards out for the Cats (1-4), who visit unbeaten Roswell High (5-0) on Friday night.

Stone had five tackles, two interceptions and two pass break-ups on defense, returning one of the picks 33 yards to set up an early score. Sophomore Josiah Chavarria went 6-for-7 on PAT kicks, and junior Seven Chapman added a 2-point conversion on a pass from Jimenez, tying the game 56-56 late in the final stanza.

McCraw said he thought the warm weather might affect his squad as the game went on.

“It was a hot day,” he said. “I was hoping we could get some stops in the second half so we could play some other guys.”

Roswell High beat the Cats 49-0 at Leon Williams Stadium last season. The Coyotes have outscored their opponents 212-44 and are seeking their fourth consecutive victory over a District 5-6A opponent after winning at Carlsbad 41-7 on Friday.

Top players for the Coyotes include senior quarterback Manny Fuentez and junior safety Xai Carrasco.

McCraw knows it will be a big challenge.

“It is what it is,” he said. “We just have bounce back and have a good week of practice.”

Rams hit the road for Eunice – After three consecutive routs at home, Portales High takes its 5-0 record and early-season dominance to Eunice on Friday.

The Cardinals, ranked second behind Texico in Class 2A, are coming off their first loss of the campaign, a 44-43 verdict against Class 3A No. 1 Dexter.

”They’re a really good football team,” PHS coach Jaime Ramirez said. “They’re probably the best team we’ve seen all year.”

While the Class 4A top-ranked Rams have outscored their first five foes 239-14 – and both touchdowns came in the second quarter of a 48-14 win over West Las Vegas – Eunice had been relatively dominant until last week’s game. The Cardinals outscored their first four opponents – two 2A teams and two 3A squads – by a combined 191-47.

“They basically run the same offense and the same defense we do,” Ramirez said. “We’re a lot alike. We both try to be balanced between run and pass as much as we can.”

Eunice’s offense is led by sophomore quarterback Elijah Melancon. Other key players include junior running back Eljan Woods, senior wide receiver Ashton Thompson and junior wide-out Maddox Mata.

So far, the Rams have really only been tested for one half by West Las Vegas, but Ramirez is wary of his team potentially becoming complacent.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” he said. “Honestly, we’ve got to get better each and every week.”

Portales returns home next week to face Class 5A Valley, then has an open date before beginning District 4-4A play at home against Albuquerque Academy.