# 1

The breathtaking, nail-biting goal-line stand by the Taos Tiger defense that barricaded the end zone for four plays and won the Tigers their first ever football state championship.

With 2:20 on the clock in the fourth quarter and Taos with a 14-7 lead, the Bloomfield Bobcats lined up for first-and-goal on the Tiger 2-yard line. The Bobcats first-and-goal attempt was stuffed back to the 5-yard line by Estevan Valerio. On second-and-goal, Brian Moraga sent them back again. After a timeout, Bloomfield quarterback Rogelio Gonzales attempted a pass to the end zone, but Simon Torrez saw to it that it didn’t connect. With 1:32 left on the clock and a stadium buzzing with excitement from both sides, the Bobcats took a timeout. On fourth-andgoal, Gonzales dropped back, pursued by Isaiah Martinez of Taos, who brought him down, ending Bloomfield’s hope at a championship.

John T. Denne