Victorious Mustangs smell playoffs
Rio Rancho routs 1-6A rival Cibola
West Mesa is close to scratching a seven-year itch.
Those seven years are the span between playoff appearances for the Mustangs, who almost certainly clinched a Class 6A playoff berth with a 41-8 romp over Valley at Milne Stadium on Friday night.
“We knew going into last week (we had to win out),” said West Mesa coach Ron McMath. “Last week against Albuquerque High was a playoff game, this week was a playoff game, and next week (at Rio Grande) is a playoff game. I don’t see how they can keep us out of the playoffs if we go 7-3.”
Atrisco Heritage already has clinched the district title.
West Mesa (6-3, 3-1 in 4-6A) gouged Valley for huge chunks of yards on its opening two possessions. Quarterback Gabe Martinez busted a 42-yard first-down run on his team’s second play from scrimmage, and four plays later, Mark Garcia scored the first of his three touchdowns, from 4 yards out.
After holding the Valley offense, West Mesa swiftly moved 67 yards for its second score.
The Mustangs converted a third-and-long on a slick 16-yard shovel pass from Martinez to Paul Salazar. Martinez added first-down runs of 21 and 19 yards, and Garcia finished off the drive on a 1-yard plunge.
The Mustangs went to the ground 58 times, amassing 331 of their 419 total yards, while the defense limited Valley to 102 total yards through three quarters.
“We run the ball for over 200 yards a game, and Garcia is getting close to 1,000 yards,” McMath said. “So those guys (blocking) up front have really come along the past few weeks and getting better.”
Valley (3-6, 2-2) avoided the shutout with a 64-yard, fourth-quarter scoring drive.
In Rio Rancho, Logan Bruere threw three first-half touchdown passes and Jaylen Morgan ran for 184 yards as the fifth-ranked Rams held on against the Cougars.
Bruere threw a 40-yard TD pass to Julian Gutierrez to account for the only scoring in the first quarter. He threw scoring strikes to Derrick Reyes of 74 yards and David Patterson of 24 yards in the second period. Cailon Bailon added an 11-yard rushing TD as the Rams built a 28-0 halftime lead.
Cibola (2-8, 1-3 1-6A) scored on a 13-yard TD pass from Evan Sedillo to Nathaniel Manzanares, and then stripped-sacked Bruere to set up its second TD of the third period, a 13-yard TD pass from Sedillo to Justin Salgado.
The Rams (7-2, 1-1) play for second place in 1-6A on Friday at Piedra Vista.
Rio Rancho coach David Howes was asked about the second-half letdown: “I thought the third quarter was sloppy at best. We were very efficient in the first
half, in that third quarter … momentum shifted a little bit.” — Gary Herron
BELEN 35, ST. PIUS 0: In Belen, the Eagles dominated on both sides of the ball, handing the defending state champions Sartans their first shutout since the 2013 season.
Belen (9-0, 3-0 District 5-5A), the last undefeated team in Class 5A, was led by running back Diego Casillas, who scored on touchdown runs of 1, 22, 88 and 29 yards. Casillas’ 88-yard romp was a gutpunch to St. Pius (5-4, 1-2), which drove to the Eagles’ 10-yard line on the ensuing possession, only to be stopped on a 4th-and-1 run.
St. Pius sophomore quarterback Diego Pavia finished with 180 yards of total offense, but broke no runs over 20 yards.
Pavia was also kept in check in the passing game, finishing 8-for17 for 97 yards with one interception. The Eagles were led by Casillas, who finished with 236 yards on 18 carries, and senior quarterback Zach Halterman, who accumulated 203 yards of total offense, going 11-for-16 for 157 passing
yards and scoring one rushing touchdown. Belen outgained St. Pius 462-215 in total yardage.
The Eagles close the regular the season a week from today at Los Lunas (7-2, 3-0) with the 5-5A title, and an undefeated regular season, on the line.
The Tigers defeated crosstown rival Valencia 53-0 on Friday night. — Kenn Rodriguez
ELSEWHERE: Las Cruces clinched the District 4-6A title, belting Oñate 52-0 at the Field of Dreams. … At Nusenda Community Stadium, Piedra Vista outscored Volcano Vista 43-41, as the Panthers knocked the Hawks (5-4, 0-4 in 1-6A) out of the playoff race. … At Leon Williams Stadium in Clovis, the Wildcats blanked visiting Sandia 50-0 in a 2-6A matchup. … In a pairing of undefeated teams in Class 2A, visiting Fort Sumner beat Escalante 35-8. … Farmington, playing at home, outscored Miyamura 54-40, handing the Patriots their first loss. … Hope Christian went on the road to Roswell and routed New Mexico Military Institute 49-10. … Visiting Portales held off Moriarty 13-7.