Ruidoso wins big; Pius, Hope are eliminated
Playing a rigorous regular-season schedule doesn’t guarantee a better performance later in the season. For Ruidoso, though, it’s clearly proving beneficial.
The No. 6-seeded Warriors, eight-time state champions, advanced to Class 4A football semifinals by rolling past No. 3-seeded St. Pius, 33-8, at Nusenda Community Stadium on Saturday. The victory sends Ruidoso (7-5) into the semifinals against No. 2 seed Bloomfield.
“You know, our team is clicking and peaking at the right time,” said Ruidoso head coach Kief Johnson. “We played a tough, tough schedule … you win some, and we lost a couple games we could’ve won.”
The Warriors failed at an opening-game onside kick that gave St. Pius the ball at midfield. Despite that great field position, the Sartans were unable to gain a first down, failing on a fourth-and-short.
Coming off that big defensive stop, Ruidoso marched swiftly for the game’s opening score. Following a near interception by St. Pius defensive back Joaquin Torres on the fifth play of the drive, multi-purpose back Griffin Hooker took a handoff on a misdirection play and went 45 yards untouched. Those two possessions foretold each team’s fortunes the rest of the way.
“We settled in and moved the ball, we just made too many mistakes,” said St. Pius coach David Montoya. “That’s playoff football. We did all the things you cannot do if you want to win a football game.”
St. Pius (8-3) had two second-quarter drives deep in Ruidoso territory that were thwarted by big defensive plays, turning the ball over on downs at the Ruidoso 19 and on a sack and fumble at the Ruidoso 10.
Ruidoso did botch the ensuing snap on the latter play that went out of the end zone, giving the Sartans a safety. That play, though, was one of the Warriors’ few mistakes.
Bracxton Hall had a pair of second-half TD runs for Ruidoso, and quarterback Cooper Pritchett threw two fourth-quarter TD passes.
No. 6 RUIDOSO 33, No. 3 ST. PIUS 8 Ruidoso 7 0 13 13 — 33 St. Pius 0 2 6 0 — 8 Scoring:
R, Griffin Hooker 45 run (Oscar Enriquez kick); SP, safety, Ruidoso bad snap out of the endzone; R, Bracxton Hall 2 run (Enriquez kick); SP, Dominic Esparza 76 kickoff return (kick failed); R, Hall 1 run (pass failed); R, Mikey Sandoval 11 pass from Cooper Pritchett (Enriquez kick); R, Jeremy Biscaino 35 pass from Pritchett (kick failed). First downs: R 14, SP 7. Rushes-yards: R 38-276; SP 31-85. Passing: R 7-15-0—127; SP 11-22-1— 136. Total yards: R 403; SP 221. Punts-avg: R 4-34.3; SP 3-36.3. Fumbleslost: R 1-0; SP 2-1. Penalties-yards: R 7-75; SP 7-57.
Class 5A quarterfinals
No. 2 LOS LUNAS 31, No. 7 BELEN 0: In Los Lunas, Darryn Romero returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and the Tigers (11-0) beat the Eagles (7-4) for the second time in three weeks. Los Lunas (11-0) is home next Saturday at 1 p.m. to No. 6 Goddard in the semifinals.
LOS LUNAS 31, BELEN 0 Belen 0 0 0 0 — 0 Los Lunas 21 3 7 0 — 0 Scoring:
LL, Darryn Romero 95 kickoff return (Bell kick); LL, Paul Cieremans 6 run (Bell kick); LL, Fabian Trujillo 54 pass from Cieremans (Bell kick); LL, Bell 28 FG; LL, Cash Aragon 4 run (Bell kick). Records: B 7-4, LL 11-0. First downs: B 10; LL 14; Rushes -yards: B 37-103; LL 31-152; Passing: B 3-100 - 60; LL 7-12-0 - 116; Total Offense: B 163; LL 268; Punts-avg.: B 5-32; LL 1-29; Fumbles-lost: B 1-1; LL 0; Penalties-yards: B 5-55; LL 6-53.
No. 4 ARTESIA 35, No. 5 MAYFIELD 21: At Bulldog Bowl, Artesia (8-3) scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 15-second span to break a 21-all tie and beat the Trojans (7-5). Artesia will play host to No. 1 Farmington in the semifinals at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
Payton Deans scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter for a 28-21 lead, and after a fumble recovery, Jake Barrera added a 34-yard run.
Class 3A quarterfinal
No. 1 RATON 49, No. 8 HOPE CHRISTIAN 12: In Raton, junior Cayden Walton rushed for four touchdowns, three of them in a huge first half, and the Tigers (11-0) led 42-0 at halftime against the Huskies (7-5). The Tigers visit No. 4 St. Michael’s at 1 p.m. next Saturday in the semifinals.
ALSO SATURDAY: Class 4A’s No. 1 seed, Lovington (8-3) edged visiting Silver 14-7 and advanced to the semifinals next Saturday at 1 p.m. at home against No. 4 seed Moriarty. Tayten Hilliard’s touchdown catch late in the third quarter was the difference. … No. 3 Robertson and No. 4 St. Michael’s joined Raton from District 2-3A in the 3A semifinals. The Cardinals beat cross-city rival West Las Vegas 27-6, while the Horsemen beat No. 5 New Mexico Military Institute 34-14 in Santa Fe. No. 2 Socorro is at Robertson next Saturday in the semis. … No. 3 Eunice thrashed second-seeded Tularosa 45-6 in the Class 2A semifinals. Eunice will travel to Lea County rival Jal on Friday for the title.