St. Michael’s, Robertson renewing rivalry today
Horsemen pounded division rivals just two weeks ago
It must be Robertson-St. Michael’s weekend.
First, the two school’s volleyball teams faced off in the Class 3A semifinals on Friday afternoon. If that isn’t enough for fans wearing either St. Michael’s blue-and-white school colors or Robertson’s black and red, they get another heaping of one of the best rivalries in the state — this time on the football field.
The fourth-seeded Horsemen will entertain No. 5 Las Vegas Robertson in a 3A quarterfinal at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex at 1 p.m. Saturday.
It is a rematch of an Oct. 27 District 2-3A game in which St. Michael’s (6-4) dominated, jumping out to a 27-0 halftime lead. Senior quarterback Dominic Morgan had his best performance, throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns, while converted running back Luke Kastendieck had a 64-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening play.
St. Michael’s, the 2-3A champion, had a first-round bye last week, while Robertson was workman-like in a 21-6 win over No. 12 Raton. The Cardinals (9-2) came into the game averaging 189.7 rushing yards per game, but had only 133 yards against a determined Tigers defense.
The winner faces the No. 9 Tularosa/No. 1 Albuquerque Hope Christian winner in the semifinals next week.
In Class 4A, the No. 3 Taos Tigers (9-1) get quite the quarterfinal challenge against No. 6 Lovington (6-5), which beat No. 11 Bernalillo 41-0 at Wildcat Stadium in last week’s opening round. The Tigers’ task is to slow down the Wildcats’ dual-threat quarterback Casey Perez. The junior has 1,998 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air, and he leads the team in rushing with 562 yards.
Against the Spartans, Perez threw for 168 yards and three touchdowns, while gaining another 137 yards on the ground and scoring three TDs.
The winner will take on the No. 7 Grants/No. 2 Portales winner in a 4A semifinal next week.