Sunday Morning Coffee: New Mexico HS Football Week 2 Recap
As the weather begins to shift in New Mexico, so too will the rankings heading into Week 3. In this week’s recap, we delve into the standout performances, surprising upsets, and key moments from Week 2 of the high school football season. From thrilling comebacks to dominant victories, join us as we review the highlights and significant changes shaping the landscape of New Mexico high school football.
La Cueva Hibernates Pinnacle (AZ), 39-32 (2OT)
(Saturday) - Despite facing early challenges and two weather delays, No. 1 La Cueva found themselves playing from behind for most of the game. The Pioneers, a strong Division 6A program from Arizona, appeared to have the game sealed after scoring a touchdown with just 2:07 left in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 15 points. However, La Cueva delivered a stunning comeback, scoring 15 points in the final 127 seconds to push the game into overtime. In the extra periods, the Bears consistently made clutch plays, ultimately securing a thrilling 39-32 double-overtime victory at Coconino High (Arizona).
With 54 seconds remaining in regulation, Cameron Dyer (2025/QB), the Arizona State commit, broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown run—the longest play of the game for either team. The ensuing PAT brought the Bears within eight points, 25-17.
Dyer then connected on a crucial 29-yard pass to Jayden Parsons, bringing the ball to Pinnacle’s 10-yard line. Two plays later, from the 2-yard line, La Cueva’s star linebacker and Wisconsin commit, Mason Posa, took a direct snap and powered into the end zone, making it 25-23. Posa showcased his versatility by playing on offense before QB Dyer found Tanner Montano for the 2-point conversion, tying the game.
Pinnacle (AZ) scored first on fourth down in the initial overtime, but La Cueva responded with another Dyer-to-Montano connection to tie the game at 32. In the second overtime, La Cueva scored first, and Posa came up huge on defense with a critical sack, leading to a defensive stop that sealed the Bears' victory.
Now sitting at 2-0, La Cueva heads into a well-deserved bye week after their impressive trip to Arizona.
New Kids on the Block Shine
Two new schools to 11-man football have made a strong early impression in 2A football this season. Legacy Academy (Albuquerque), transitioning from two seasons of 8-man football, has started their season with a 2-0 record. The Silverbacks notched perhaps the biggest win in their young program’s history by defeating Albuquerque-Hope Christian 21-20 on Saturday. Hope Christian, a team that claimed the state championship in 2019, was a formidable opponent, making this victory even more significant.
Sophomore quarterback Lorenzo Sedillo-Urban (Class of 2026) played a pivotal role, completing 17 of 24 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Adam Quesada was also instrumental, rushing for 102 yards and scoring a touchdown. On the defensive side, senior David Lavery stood out with six total tackles, including four solo stops.
Another program that made headlines on Saturday was the Gallup's Hozho Academy Wolves, who secured the biggest win in their short football history. In just their second year and their first full season of 11-man football, the Wolves earned a 35-23 home victory over Tucumcari. Entering the season ranked last out of 89 teams in 11-man football, Hozho Academy has defied expectations, now sitting at 2-0 after an opening win over Zuni in week 1.
These early successes for both Legacy Academy and Hozho Academy signal that these new kids on the block are ready to compete and make a name for themselves in New Mexico high school football.
Upset State of Mind
One of the most significant wins of the week, among several worthy contenders, belongs to the No. 8 Volcano Vista Hawks, who staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the No. 2 Las Cruces Bulldawgs. Las Cruces held a commanding 14-7 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 21-7 by halftime. However, the Hawks stormed back in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points while holding the Bulldawgs to just a field goal, ultimately pulling off a 27-24 upset in Albuquerque on Friday night.
Key performers for the Hawks included senior quarterback Ilijah Hansen, who completed 7 of 12 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, and senior running back Mason Gurule, who carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards. Freshman running back D'Angelo Mitchell made a significant impact with only six carries, turning two of those into touchdowns while racking up 41 yards.
On the defensive side, standout defensive back Adam Jaramillo recorded a crucial interception with a 43-yard return. Seniors Daniel Rios, Thomas Pettus, and Eli Salas also delivered strong performances, with Pettus leading the defense with seven total tackles, and Salas and Rios each contributing five tackles.
This win solidifies Volcano Vista's place as a force to be reckoned with this season, showing that they can come through in high-pressure situations against top-tier competition.
More: No. 17 Hobbs (6A), coming off a tough opening loss to Lovington, quickly rebounded to pull off a major upset, defeating No. 5 Artesia (5A) in a 44-40 shootout in Hobbs. The Eagles overcame a 19-14 halftime deficit by scoring 30 points in the second half to secure the win. With this victory, Hobbs moves to 1-1 on the season, while Artesia also falls to 1-1, likely shaking up the rankings once again.
More.: Unranked Bloomfield might have the strongest case for the biggest win of the week after their 47-34 victory over No. 10 Piedra Vista (6A) on Friday evening. Bobcats senior quarterback Blake Spencer delivered a near-flawless performance, throwing for 421 yards, five passing touchdowns, and adding a rushing touchdown. Remarkably, he only had two incompletions. Spencer relied heavily on his senior receiver Kaden McCown and juniors Peyton Duncan and Kaleb Hutchens, who consistently put pressure on the Piedra Vista defense.
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RAPID FIRE: THE DRIP
Lighting Up the Scoreboard
Lordsburg has been lighting up the scoreboard, and this week was no exception. The Mavericks poured on the points in a 92-52 victory over Cloudcroft, bringing their season total to an impressive 190 points (95 average). They’re making serious waves in 8-man football.
3A Contenders
Dexter continues to prove they’re a force to be reckoned with in 3A football. The Demons traveled north and defeated West Las Vegas, with quarterback CJ Granados needing just five completions to rack up 102 passing yards, including a touchdown. He also added 37 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Dexter leaned on their ground game, with top backs Omar Loya (70 yards), Kaesn George (60 yards), and Julian Manzanares (56 yards, 1 touchdown) leading the charge.
The Dominance Continues
The Lovington Wildcats were expected to undergo a rebuilding phase, but under new head coach Josh Bailey, they've come out in prime form. Following last week's victory, the Wildcats secured another big win, defeating Portales 30-7 and starting the season 2-0. After winning the 4A state championship in 2023, Lovington has moved up to 5A football and is already in the conversation as a contender in their challenging new district, which includes powerhouses like Artesia and Roswell.
The Wildcats' new senior duo of running back Ondalis Cardenas and quarterback Matthew Prudencio stood out in this week's game. Prudencio threw for 229 yards and a touchdown, while Cardenas rushed for 110 yards and scored two touchdowns. Receiver Jayden Gutierrez also had a major impact, racking up 89 receiving yards and a touchdown.
However, the big story of the night was Lovington's defense, which stifled a potent Portales offense. Junior Kyler Reaves led the way with nine total tackles and a sack, while seniors Landon Trevino and Patrick Sanchez added eight and seven tackles, respectively. This balanced performance on both sides of the ball has Lovington looking like a team ready to make waves in 5A football.
Bulldog City
Worthy of a shoutout is Albuquerque High, which bounced back impressively after a potentially disastrous overtime loss last week to Cibola. The Bulldogs quickly regrouped and delivered a dominant 26-0 victory over Valley, showcasing their resilience and determination.
Vibe Check: Something is Brewing in Santa Fe for Week 3
The spotlight in Week 3 could shine brightest on the Horsemen-Demon showdown, with both teams now sitting at 2-0. St. Michael's secured a commanding 37-0 victory over Santa Fe's other 5A team, Capital, on Friday night. Meanwhile, Santa Fe High earned a significant win at home, edging out 5A Belen with a 34-28 victory.
A key moment for St. Michael's was a 67-yard rushing touchdown by senior RB Soren Annon, which extended their lead to 15-0. The Horsemen racked up 180 rushing yards on the night, bringing their season average to 170 rushing yards per game. Impressively, St. Michael's defense, under the leadership of acting head coach and defensive coordinator Joey Butler, has yet to allow a point this season. They've started their campaign with back-to-back shutouts, including a 42-0 win over Taos in their opener.
The Horsemen are now preparing for a high-stakes matchup against Santa Fe High, which has also advanced to 2-0 following a 34-28 comeback victory over Belen. This upcoming game will mark the second time in three seasons that both teams head into the contest with undefeated records, enhancing the excitement for next week’s clash at Ivan Head Stadium.
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Thursday, August 29th
Capitan 36, Alamo (JV) 6 - F
Carlsbad 45, Goddard 22 - F
Dora 59, Carrizozo 0 - F
Fort Sumner/House 58, Mescalero Apache 6 - F
Mountain View, TX 33, Santa Teresa 7 - F
Newcomb 26, Santa Fe Indian 8 - F
NMSD 52, Floyd 12 - F
Sandia 37, Cibola 7 - F
St. Pius X 40, Grants 7 - F
Friday, August 30th
Albuquerque Academy 56, Del Norte 6 - F
Albuquerque High, 26 Valley 0 - F
Bernalillo 20, Highland 19 - F
Bloomfield 47, Piedra Vista 34 - F
Cleveland 55, Los Lunas 7 - F
Deming 28, Organ Mountain 21 - F
Dexter 22, West Las Vegas 13 - F
Elida 57, Hondo 6 - F
Espanola 42, Cuba 7 - F
Eunice 62, Estancia 12 - F
Farmington 21, Durango (CO) 20 - F
Gadsden 38, Valencia 0 - F
Gateway Christian 54, Escalante 0 - F
Grady 53, Animas 0 - F
Hagerman 40, Alamo Navajo 22 - F
Hobbs 44, Artesia 40 - F
Laguna-Acoma 48, Zuni 18 - F
Lamar 28 (CO), Raton 14 - F
Logan 73, Mountainair 19 - F
Lordsburg 92, Cloudcroft 52 - F
Lovington 30, Portales 7 - F
Manzano 56, Rio Grande 6 - F
Melrose 50, Mancos (CO) 22 - F
Miyamura 48, Aztec 15 - F
Montezuma (CO) 54, Crownpoint 0 - F
Moriarty 54, Shiprock 0 - F
Navajo Prep 40, Wingate 18 - F
NMMI 35, Loving 0 - F
Pagosa Springs (CO) 42, Kirtland Central 27- F
Pojoaque Valley 48, Hot Springs 6 - F
Rio Rancho 50, Clovis 0 - F
Roswell 41, Alamogordo 14 - F
Santa Fe 34, Belen 28 - F
Santa Rosa 37, Jal 20 - F
St. Michael's 37, Capital 0 - F
Socorro 37, Thoreau 14 - F
Taos 35 Los, Alamos 20 - F
Tatum 52, Ramah 0 - F
Texico 50, Bovina (TX) 12 - F
Tularosa 24 Ruidoso 22 - F
Volcano Vista 27 Las Cruces 24 - F
Hatch Valley at Chaparral - missing score
Saturday, August 31st
Centennial 54, Atrisco Heritage 27 - F
Clayton vs Turpin OK - Missing Score
Hozho Academy 35, Tucumcari 23 - F
La Cueva 39, Pinnacle AZ 32 - F/OT
Legacy Academy 21, Hope Christian 20 - F
Mesilla Valley 34, Magdalena 12 - F
Robertson 49, Cobre 0 - F
Silver 54, Gallup 0 - F
West Mesa 41, Mayfield 33 - F
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Share your key takeaways from Week 2.
