Don’t overlook Bulldawgs; Animas’ title fosters memories
Since record keeping began in 1950, New Mexico’s largest prep football division has never had a longer drought without a southern champion than this one.
Thanks to the combined brilliance of Rio Rancho and Cleveland, it’s been nearly four full calendar years — Las Cruces in 2013 — since one of the traditional southern programs won a state title.
This three-year run by the Rams and Storm is the longest blue trophy streak this half of the state has ever seen.
But even as the north enjoys what might be its most prosperous run in decades — that run continues this year with Manzano and La Cueva, with both Cleveland and Rio Rancho still very much in the picture — this disclaimer is certainly warranted:
It would be an error in judgment to overlook the Las Cruces Bulldawgs.
“We might be under the radar,” Las Cruces coach Mark Lopez said. “Which, given some of the playmakers we have, is surprising.”
While four of the top five seeds call the metro area home, Las Cruces has managed something rare, and that’s getting through a regular season being treated as something of a defacto afterthought.
Las Cruces (9-1) opens the Class 6A playoffs on Friday night at home against Rio Rancho, a rematch of the 2016 championship game won by the Rams. The Bulldawgs, starting with a Week 7 pummeling of Hobbs, have been on a tear of late.
“We’ve been playing well, been playing some really good football,” Lopez said. “But we have some tough times ahead of us.”
Either the Bulldawgs or Mayfield have appeared in the state championship game in 17 of the last 19 years. If that is to become 18 out of 20, Las Cruces would not only have to beat Rio Rancho, which is no certainty, but likely would have to go through Manzano the following week. Is it possible? Sure. With prodigious receiver Ivan Molina finally fully healthy for the first time since a Week 3 home loss to Cleveland when he injured his shoulder, plus a revamped offensive line that has matured rapidly, the Bulldawgs are as dangerous a challenger to Manzano as anyone left in the field. Possibly even the most dangerous challenger.
“Another guy that can change the game in all three phases,” Lopez said of Molina. He gives Las Cruces another weapon to use along side dual-threat quarterback Payton Ball, running back Chase Chaloupek and receiver Brandon Baeza. Those four, healthy and motivated, could make the Bulldawgs a serious threat. FIVE CLASSES TO GO: Congratulations to the first two state football champions, Animas (6-Man) and Fort Sumner/ House (2A).
For those of us who remember Animas’ magical times, it was (is) truly heartening to see the Panthers return to the top, even if they don’t play 11-Man football, anymore.
Animas authored two of the greatest winning streaks the state has ever known, in any sport, in any era. From 1984-90, the Panthers broke a state record by winning outright or sharing (once, in 1984) seven consecutive championships as a 2A program. At one point, Animas also had a 69-game winning streak (1985-90), and their fame spread far outside our borders. Among other national media attention, Animas in 1989 was rewarded with a profile in Life magazine.
Saturday’s 48-22 victory over Reserve in the 6-Man championship game marked Animas’ first title since 1990. Welcome back.
A year after a heartbreaking loss in the final to Lordsburg, the Foxes completed an undefeated season, 55-7 over Escalante in the 2A
title game on Saturday. Fort Sumner/House had lost the previous two years in the final.
SCHEDULING: While I will preview the next playoff round later in the week, I must admit, it’s going to be oddly enjoyable to see La Cueva and Eldorado sharing Nusenda Community Stadium for their 6A quarterfinal showdown on Friday night.
This was absolutely the right way to go for the Bears, whose only other viable option was to play Saturday afternoon at Wilson Stadium, thus giving the burnt orange an extra day to prepare. Now Eldorado must face La Cueva coming off a short week.
La Cueva couldn’t use Wilson because Manzano, as the No. 1 seed, gets first crack at it, and the Monarchs will be there Friday against Clovis.