Tigers topple Toppers 47-0 in home opener

Taos passes second test of the season and now leads class 4A in points scored

The long-awaited payback has been handed out.

Taos has defeated Los Alamos in football, exacting a revenge for the countless years that the Tigers were like doormats to the mighty Hilltoppers. The turnaround came in Taos’ home opener at Anaya Stadium as the Tigers toppled the green and yellow giants 47-0 Aug. 31.

If this were to be considered retaliation for the last time these two teams met, it could very well be for the game in 2009 in which Los Alamos defeated Taos 39-0. Or maybe it was the previous year’s game in 2008 when the score was 48-0 in favor of L.A.

It would be appropriate if this game was used to get back at the Hilltoppers for running up the score on the Tigers in a crushing loss in 2007 where the final was 61-0. In 2006, it was 51-0. In 2005, Taos fell to Los Alamos by a single touchdown in a high-scoring game that ended with a final score of 45-38. In 2004, the Hilltoppers won, 41-6.

Noting the pattern here, in the last six outings, the Hilltoppers outscored the Tigers 285-44. During that time frame, both Taos and Los Alamos were in the same district.

Historically, it wasn’t any better for Taos when they faced the athletic specimens from down the road. Currently, Taos is a class 4A team and the Hilltoppers are 5A. This difference only applies to football as the two teams are part of District 2-4A and will compete against each other as league rivals in all other sports.

Fast start

Continuing the trend from week one when Taos scored eight touchdowns and handed St. Mike’s a bruising 41-point defeat, the Tigers came out hot and found pay dirt three times in the first quarter alone. It was Taos’ defense, however, that really set the tone for the rest of the game as it swarmed Los Alamos and shut down the running game. Another touchdown and an Angel Limas field goal in the second quarter gave the Tigers a 32-0 lead heading into the locker rooms for halftime.

Two more scores in each of the second half periods slammed the door on any chance for a Hilltopper comeback even when Taos substituted out a few of its starters. With 106 points garnered in two outings (53 points per game average), the Tigers lead all class 4A teams in scoring by a significant margin. And, for this year at least, they solidified the notion that a changing of the gridiron guards has taken place in Northern New Mexico.

Big cat fight coming

Up next for undefeated Taos is a divisional matchup at home against the Aztec High School Tigers Friday (Sept. 7). Aztec enters the game with a 1-1 record, having beaten class 5A Miyamura (Gallup) in week one. Aztec lost 49-20 to class 6A Clovis last week.

Game time is 7 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m. Fans are reminded to dress in layers as temperatures tend to dip in the evenings.

It was Taos’ defense, however, that really set the tone for the rest of the game as it swarmed Los Alamos and shut down the running game.

Morgan Timms

Morgan Timms Above: Despite having a hold on his target, this Los Alamos defender would ultimately understand the futility of his tackling technique, as Taos’ Jonathan Garcia provided the horsepower for a short sleigh ride on the turf of Anaya Stadium Aug. 31. Tigers versus Tigers is next on the docket when Taos hosts Aztec High School for a second straight home game Sept. 7. Right: Nowhere to go but down is where this Los Alamos running back was headed after a wall of Taos defenders greeted the sneaky interloper during the Tigers’ home opener at Anaya Stadium Aug. 31. Setting the tone early on and throughout the entire game, the Taos Tiger defense impeded the Hilltoppers’ running game and air attack to record a 47-0 victory over the class 5A visitors.