Farwell hands Wolverines first loss of season

FARWELL – Senior running back Corey Stancell tallied five touchdowns, rushing for 133 yards and three tallies on just 12 carries, and junior quarterback Jonathan Armstrong threw for two scores and ran for another as Farwell defeated Texico 47-22 on Friday night in a battle of area unbeatens.

Texico (4-1), ranked No. 1 in New Mexico Class 2A by MaxPreps, was within 20-14 before the Steers (4-0) closed out the half with a pair of TDs by Stancell to open a 20-point cushion. The first of those scores came on a 61-yard reception from Armstrong.

Farwell led 14-0 at the quarter after rushing touchdowns by Stancell and Armstrong, but the Wolverines made it interesting with a 39-yard run by sophomore Luke Thompson and a 90-yard kickoff return by junior Alex Fuentes.

When play resumed, Stancell added a 5-yard scoring run in the third frame and a pick-6 in the final stanza. Texico's other TD came on a 5-yard run by Fuentes.

Armstrong was 17-of-22 through the air for 163 yards for the Steers, who posted a 357-230 advantage in total yards.

Texico returns to action on Thursday, hosting the Carlsbad junior varsity in a 6 p.m. start, while the Steers visit Friona in a 7 p.m. (CDT) kickoff on Friday.

In other Friday action:

Floyd 63, Carrizozo 37 – At Floyd, senior Isaias Nieto rushed for six touchdowns and the Broncos (2-1) steadily pulled away for a victory over the Grizzlies (1-4).

Nieto tallied on runs of 65 and 13 yards to stake Floyd to a 13-6 lead after one quarter. He later added scoring runs of 76, 46, 9 and 2 yards while catching TD tosses of 48 yards in the first fame and 39 yards, while catching scoring tosses of 48 and 39 yards from junior quarterback Daegan East.

Sophomore Benton Cain had the other three tallies on a run of 60 yards and passes of 48 and 39 yards from senior quarterback Daegan East.

Floyd travels to Roy/Mosquero for a 6 p.m. tilt on Friday.

Muleshoe 61, Tulia 7 – Sophomore Josue Sigala only carried four times, but three of them went for scores as the host Mules (4-0) led the Hornets 61-0 going into the final quarter.

Segala finished with 143 rushing yards for Muleshoe, which outgained Tulia 422-249. Junior Nathan Martens went just 4-of-5 through the air, but tossed touchdown passes of 59 and 28 yards to junior Yahir Quezada and 7 yards to senior Ramzee Martinez.

Martens and senior Daniel Sianez had rushing touchdowns for the Mules, and Sianez added a fumble return for a TD. Muleshoe had 11 tackles for loss and was led in tackles by senior Aaron Morales with 14 (six solos).

Junior Matthew Lopez caught three passes for 110 yards for Tulia, and scored the Hornets' only touchdown in the final canto on a pass from junior David Molina.

Muleshoe travels to Abernathy for a 6 p.m. (CDT) start on Friday.

Olton 26, Bovina 20 – At Bovina, Olton (3-1) got touchdown runs of 2 yards by running back Isahiah Ruiz and 48 yards by quarterback Raymond Ramirez for an early 12-0 lead and held off the Mustangs late.

Olton dominated the game statistically 347-155 in total offense but could never completely pull away, in part because of four turnovers to none for Bovina. Senior Angel Lara returned a fumble 61 yards to pull the Mustangs (1-3) within six points late.

Bovina got its other tallies on passes from senior quarterback Daniel Herrera of 34 yards to senior Michael Nieto in the first quarter and 30 yards to senior Miguel Lopez in the second stanza, making it 20-14 at the half.

Ruiz, who finished with 161 yards on 18 carries, added a 4-yard TD run in the final period to extend the lead, while Ramirez had 23 carries for 111 yards. He went 6-for-13 through the air, but was intercepted three times.

Lopez finished with five catches for 79 yards for the Mustangs.

Bovina is back in action on Friday, hosting Shamrock in a 7 p.m. (CDT) matchup.

Gateway Christian 50, Elida 8 – At Elida, the 6-man No. 1 Warriors dominated the homestanding Tigers, although Gateway (4-0, 2-0 6-man District 2) was unable to end the game early on the point rule.

Senior Seth Jimenez scored the only TD for the Tigers (1-3, 0-2) on a 5-yard run in the third quarter, and senior Klayton Nixon added the 2PAT kick. Nixon set up the score with an interception return inside the Gateway 10.

Elida hosts Mountainair in a 7 p.m. start on Friday.

In other area games on Friday, Melrose (4-1) posted a 50-0 win at Lordsburg (1-3), while Dora (2-1) dropped a 56-6 decision at Whitharral (3-1). Melrose plays an 8-man District 3 contest at Tatum on Friday, while Dora hosts Gateway Christian the same night in 6-man District 2, with both set to kick off at 7 p.m.

In a Saturday contest:

Grady 42, Mountainair 18 – At Grady, senior Zane Rush threw for five touchdowns and kicked three 2-point conversions as the Bronchos (3-2) cruised to victory over the Mustangs (2-2).

Rush tossed TD passes of 13, 36 and 40 yards to junior Chevy Dixon, 3 yards to freshman Zander Ciancio and 36 yards to junior Deakin Ragland. Grady's other tally came on a 66-yard kickoff return by Ragland.

This week, the Bronchos have an open date. They return to action on Sept. 29 in a 6-man District 2 clash at Dora.