Roswell, Taos and Dexter claim state titles.

TAOS — Two big special teams plays and a game-saving, goal-line stand were all third-seeded Taos needed Saturday to earn its championship stripes.

The 14-7 win over No. 5 Bloomfield in the Class 4A finale gave the Tigers (12-1) their first-ever football championship.

“It was hard fought, it was really well put together,” said Taos coach Art Abreu Jr. as he clutched the blue trophy. “It was everything I thought it would be. I think I aged my heart by about 50 years. But whatever. I think I can die tomorrow and I can be a happy man.”

Offense was truly an afterthought as the teams tried to deal with a bitter crosswind that made passing an adventure.

“It was a great battle,” said Bloomfield coach Bob Allcorn. “For a football fan, this was a game you wanted to be at.”

The game started with some quick fireworks as Jonathan Garcia emerged from a little razzledazzle on the opening kickoff and went 75 yards untouched up the middle for a Taos touchdown.

“We call it starburst,” Garcia said of the play that began with Anthony Maestas fielding the kick at the 20, moving into the middle to hand it to Justin Good, who then handed it to Garcia.

“It’s a bunch of reverses and stuff,” Garcia said. “Justin handed it to me and the middle was wide open. The plan was to give it to me on the first play of the game. I saw a whole lot of green and one guy to beat so I ran around him.”

Bloomfield (9-4) seemed so shook by the play that it committed penalties on its first three plays and ended up punting.

And on Taos’ next play, Good went around the end for a 52-yard scoring scamper that was called back for a holding. Taos would not have similar offensive success the rest of the game, finishing with 96 yards of total offense.

“We definitely thought we could present them with some different fronts and different formations and hit them in different gaps to exploit their defense,” Abreu said. “But their defense showed up (Saturday) and they put out, wow.”

The Bobcats offense faced similar struggles trying to move the ball until midway through the second quarter when quarterback Rogelio Gonzales scrambled to the right, then stepped up and hurled a deep ball to Noah Gurule for a 43-yard, game-tying touchdown.

The second half was more of the same until Bloomfield was called for a chop block on a leaping Taos defender on a punt from deep in the Bobcats’ end.

“What I saw was a Taos player tried to jump over our kid and so he blocked him to protect himself and they called him for cut block,” Allcorn said. “That’s the way they saw it. I didn’t agree with it but that’s the way they saw it and it was a huge impact on the game obviously. I think it’s really unfortunate that happened on a call like that.”

The next play was the game’s turning point as the Taos line overwhelmed Bloomfield, the punt never got off and Tigers lineman Noah Armijo fell on the loose ball for a touchdown.

“We were all there to block it, it was good team effort to that part,” he said. “And I was right there on top of it and I got it and scooped it in for a touchdown. I was just thinking, ‘Oh, get that ball at any cost.’ ”

In the closing minutes, Bloomfield popped a big play, with Kenyon Mosley going down the sideline for a 40-yard gain, getting pushed out by Good at the 2. The Bobcats came up negative on three rushing plays before Gonzales was sacked on fourth down with 1:25 left to clinch it.

The Bobcats, in their first final since 1990, were trying to win state for the first time since 1966. — Glen Rosales CLASS 5A: At the Wool Bowl in Roswell, senior tailback Justin Carrasco ran for 120 yards and scored three touchdowns, Dominica Nava intercepted three passes, and host Roswell dominated Los Lunas 42-6 to win state for the first time in 18 years.

“It feels good,” said Coyotes head coach Jeff Lynn. “I’m super happy for our kids and our community. Six years ago, our coaching staff came here, and it’s been an uphill climb. Nobody really gave us a chance early on and it’s a great feeling for these kids to accomplish this.”

Roswell (11-2) struck first. On their opening drive, Carrasco carried seven times for 46 yards, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown.

“He’s going to be awfully hard to replace,” said Lynn. “He’s a great kid. He’s worked his tail off and he’s a really good football player.”

Los Lunas (9-3) punted on its first series, and Roswell junior Jasia Reese returned the kick 90 yards for another score.

However, it was the Coyotes’ defense — notably, junior free safety Nava, who returned one of his interceptions 39 yards for a touchdown — that made the biggest difference as it kept Los Lunas’ high-powered offense scoreless until the fourth quarter.

“(Nava) had a pick-six last week against Artesia,” said Lynn. “He’s just a ballplayer. He’ll go out with the basketball team and win with them tonight at point guard, too.”

Nava said the experience of returning an interception for a touchdown at a state championship game was hard to describe.

“It was intense knowing that everyone was cheering for you,” said Nava. “It’s a great feeling.”

Los Lunas will return plenty of key players, including junior quarterback Kade Benavidez. Among the graduation holes to fill will be hard-hitting linebacker/ running back Diego Sanchez.

Los Lunas head coach Jeremy Maupin was proud of his team’s effort and held himself accountable for the loss.

“I’m real proud of what they’ve done all season,” said Maupin. “We just didn’t show up today. That happens sometimes in football, and you just hate that it happens at the state championship. I take a lot of blame for that. … They gave me everything they had.”

— Dustan Copeland CLASS 3A: In Dexter, the second-seeded Demons (11-2) never trailed and defeated No. 5 Robertson 22-12 as the Demons, playing in their first state final in nine years, won the school’s first blue trophy since 1997. That was the same year the current Demons’ coach, Arturo Duran, was the team’s quarterback.

The Cardinals (11-3) lost in a state championship game for the fourth straight year.