La Cueva soon can prove it’s title worthy
Earlier this summer, when I perused the 2017 prep football schedule, there were two games I circled immediately.
The first of those two comes up Thursday night, when Cleveland meets La Cueva. The other is the Week 5 showdown between Rio Rancho and Manzano.
These two jump-off-the-page matchups will help to shape and define the season for not only Manzano and La Cueva, but possibly Cleveland and Rio Rancho as well.
The Bears are up first against a team that beat them 38-37 last season. We must measure Albuquerque’s top threats against the formidable hybrid that I call Clevelancho. That’s the nature of the beast.
Putting aside all the southern challengers for the moment, Albuquerque continues to get beat up pretty regularly by Rio Rancho and Cleveland, and this is will be the Duke City’s first shot this year to steer the conversation toward them for a change.
This La Cueva group has serious potential. However, for inclusion on that short list of state contenders, the Bears must win this game. Psychologically, if for no other reason. Then the narrative starts to move in their favor.
WEEK 1 OBSERVATIONS: Included among the teams that actually won, I would also mention two losing schools as winners from Week 1 — Atrisco Heritage and Eldorado.
The Jaguars had some punt-team issues that made their loss to Manzano seem worse than it was. And running back Angel Ramirez had a tremendous showing for the Jags, with 200-plus yards. He will heavily influence District 4-6A’s race in the second half of the year.
The Eagles exploited Las Cruces’ defense in a 56-34 loss at the Field of Dreams. New quarterback Gabe Smith had a huge night for the burnt orange, and Eldorado absolutely should come away confident after this loss. Perhaps the Eagles will make more noise in 2-6A than I thought they might.
■ A shout-out as well to big Volcano Vista running back Moses Young, who also topped 200 yards as the Hawks won Saturday. With that size — he and Atrisco’s Ramirez are almost identically built, about 6-feet and 190 pounds — along the Volcano front, he should flourish.
■ Dylan Summer of La Cueva and Diego Pavia of St. Pius, recent winners in preseason quarterback battles, shined in Week 1. Summer, it is believed, set the school record for passing yards in a game Friday against Cibola. Pavia, a sophomore taking over from the graduated Drew Ortiz, threw four TD passes in his first start against Highland.
(And as a side note, I’m waiting to hear the final receiving yards total from the Bears’ Reece Wilkinson. Near 300, I am told.)
■ Hope Christian QB Vince Quezada also impressed as the Huskies whipped Albuquerque Academy. The southpaw throws an outstanding ball and is quite mobile. He will be a great weapon.
■ Mention must be made of Rio Rancho QB Logan Bruere, who threw for 331 yards and six touchdowns Friday versus Mayfield.
True, the Rams — who are short-handed along the O-line with tackle Evan Tafoya-Vallo (committed to UTEP) out for several weeks — didn’t run the ball all that well. But, with Rio Rancho’s gigantic, athletic set of receivers, I sympathize with any linebackers or defensive backs who have to deal with these guys. Collectively, this might be the biggest group of receivers on one prep team I’ve ever seen.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: If no one else will say it publicly, then I will:
Albuquerque Public Schools must stop doing this doubleheader thing at Nusenda Community Stadium on the first Friday night of the season.
The novelty of this has long since worn off. Yes, Community is a terrific venue. And kicking off the season on a Wednesday remains a pleasant and novel approach.
But it’s time to end this two-games-on-Friday business. Long past time. This is season five for this facility. Makes no sense anymore.
On Friday, La Cueva and Cibola didn’t kick off until 8:30 p.m., 30 minutes later than scheduled. And that’s borderline unacceptable. They didn’t finish until after 11:20 p.m. Moreover, La Cueva was in this 8 p.m. slot just two years ago(!) and, because of rain, that game didn’t end until nearly midnight.
Meanwhile, Sandia and Rio Grande got to play at 5 p.m. on a Friday for the second straight year. Equitable? (Rhetorical question.)
With Wilson Stadium, La Cueva’s home facility, not hosting a game Friday, it’s a bad look for APS to have this one beginning at 8:30. And a terrible look for APS to have it ending at nearly 11:30.
CALL GOOD HOUSEKEEPING: Belen has made another aesthetic change to its locker room during the offseason. The school added … wait for it … artificial turf.
The Eagles have seriously upped the ante on interior design standards with this addition as they laid turf on top of the locker room floor.
“It is old but still unused,” said Belen coach Greg Henington said, who also added some murals and art to the walls last season before he took over the Eagles. “It feels brand new.”