No. 13 West Mesa 48, St Pius X 29 - Final
Albuquerque, NM (Community Stadium) — In a game filled with twists and turns, the No. 13-ranked West Mesa Mustangs overcame a gritty effort from 4A St. Pius X to secure a 48-29 victory on Saturday afternoon. Despite facing numerous challenges, including cycling through four different quarterbacks, the Mustangs found a way to prevail against a determined Sartans squad.
St. Pius X, led by the electrifying Hershul Olloway Jr., started strong, taking a 21-20 lead into halftime. Olloway, a sophomore, racked up 243 yards on 12 carries He showcased his skills with three long touchdown runs in the first half, including a stunning 87-yard sprint that followed a crucial fourth-down stop by the Sartans defense.
West Mesa initially jumped out to a 20-7 lead, but Olloway's 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter cut the deficit to 20-14. Moments later, Olloway delivered another game-changing play with his 87-yard dash to the end zone, giving St. Pius X a 21-20 advantage into halftime.
However, the Mustangs regrouped after halftime, relying on their powerful ground game and physicality at the line of scrimmage. West Mesa’s makeshift quarterback rotation, featuring Ronnie Gilletti — a wide receiver by trade — proved effective. Gilletti scored twice in the third quarter, with touchdown runs of 46 and 3 yards, putting the Mustangs back in control with a 34-21 lead.
The Mustangs dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Sartans 21-0. Jamari Woods added a 32-yard touchdown run late in the quarter, extending West Mesa’s lead to 41-21, effectively sealing the game. The Mustangs' physicality and depth wore down St. Pius X, who couldn’t match West Mesa’s intensity in the second half.
Olloway's brilliant performance was a highlight for St. Pius X, but the Sartans couldn't overcome West Mesa's relentless attack after the break. The Mustangs' resilience and ability to adapt under pressure were key in securing their first win of the season. Records: West Mesa (1-0), St. Pius X (0-1)
No. 17 Farmington 48, No. 14 Clovis 8 - Final
Farmington's quarterback, Waylon Schake, put on a clinic in his debut as the Scorpions' starter, leading his team to a 48-8 victory over Clovis with five total touchdowns—four through the air and one on the ground. After a closely contested first quarter, the Scorpions exploded for 41 unanswered points over the final three quarters to secure their first win of the season.
The game, originally slated for Friday night, was delayed multiple times due to lightning, prompting Clovis to stay overnight in a local hotel. The teams agreed to play the game the following morning at Hutchison Stadium.
Farmington struck first on their opening drive when Alex Serrano found daylight around the right edge, sprinting 19 yards to the end zone and capping off a quick five-play, 50-yard drive. Clovis responded on their first possession with John Royal breaking several tackles en route to an 8-yard touchdown run. Royal was a workhorse for the Wildcats in the first half, rushing 13 times for 108 yards.
The momentum shifted in Farmington's favor later in the first quarter when Schake connected with Michael Beck for a 28-yard touchdown pass, which ultimately proved to be the game-winner. The duo struck again early in the second quarter on a crucial fourth-and-15 play, with Beck making a catch in the flat, turning the corner, and tiptoeing into the end zone to extend Farmington's lead to 19-8.
Schake added to the Scorpions' lead later in the quarter, keeping the ball for a 5-yard touchdown run that sent Farmington into halftime with a comfortable 26-8 advantage. Schake finished the first half completing 13 of 18 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and he wrapped up the game with 17 completions on 25 attempts for over 225 yards.
Farmington dominated the third quarter, with Schake tossing two more touchdown passes. He hit Serrano for a 25-yard score midway through the quarter and then found Sebastian Delgado on a short corner route for a 5-yard touchdown, giving the Scorpions a commanding 40-8 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Clovis struggled to find any offensive rhythm in the second half, with sophomore quarterback Javier Jimenez facing constant pressure, resulting in two sacks and an interception. Schake capped off the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jace Vigil midway through the fourth quarter.
Farmington’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with six different receivers hauling in passes. Beck and Serrano led the way, combining for nine receptions, over 150 yards, and three touchdowns. Records: Farmington (1-0), Clovis (0-1)
St. Michael's 42, Taos 0 - Final
Santa Fe, NM — The St. Michael's Horsemen, the defending Class 3A state champions, opened their season with an emphatic 42-0 victory over the 4A Taos Tigers. The Horsemen wasted no time setting the tone, showcasing a potent ground game and a stifling defense that kept Taos at bay throughout the contest.
St. Michael's took control early, with Isaiah Dominguez leading the charge. Dominguez found the end zone twice in the first quarter, giving the Horsemen a quick 14-0 lead. His powerful running and decisive cuts were too much for the Tigers to handle.
The Horsemen extended their lead in the second quarter when Pete Johnson punched it in from 2 yards out, increasing the margin to 21-0 with 7:30 left before halftime. St. Michael's defense remained relentless, preventing Taos from gaining any momentum.
In the third quarter, Soren Annon added to the scoreboard, sprinting 13 yards into the end zone to make it 35-0 and trigger the running clock. The Horsemen continued to apply pressure, and with 6:44 left in the game, Cole Sandoval sealed the dominant performance with a 14-yard touchdown run, padding the score to 42-0.
St. Michael's defense was a wall, shutting down any attempts by Taos to move the ball effectively. The Tigers struggled to find any rhythm, as the Horsemen's defensive unit consistently made plays, keeping the shutout intact.
The victory marks a strong start for St. Michael's as they look to defend their state title. Their dominance on both sides of the ball sends a clear message to their 3A competitors: the Horsemen are ready to reign supreme once again. Records: St. Michael's (1-0), Taos (0-1)
Key Players:
- Isaiah Dominguez: 2 rushing touchdowns
- Pete Johnson: 1 rushing touchdown
- Soren Annon: 1 rushing touchdown
- Cole Sandoval: 1 rushing touchdown
Saturday's season openers brought victories for Cobre, McCurdy, Eldorado, and Hope Christian.
6A Football: At the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces, Eldorado earned a 21-12 victory over Organ Mountain. The Eagles' offense was propelled by touchdowns from Jahari Morehead, Emiliano Morrison, and freshman Nolan Romero-Williams, sealing their season-opening win.
5A/4A Football: Hope Christian secured a 25-14 win over Manzano at Milne Stadium, with freshman Kash Ewen leading the charge. Ewen was a defensive force, recording five sacks and adding a scoop-and-score touchdown on a fumble recovery. Krew Ward also contributed significantly, rushing for two touchdowns and forcing the fumble that led to Ewen’s score.
3A/2A Football: In a tight matchup, 3A Cobre edged out 2A McCurdy with a 30-26 victory. McCurdy put up a strong fight against Cobre, traditionally a powerhouse, signaling potential changes in their district this season. With Cobre possibly entering a rebuilding phase, teams like Hot Springs and Hatch Valley, who looked strong in their Week 1 performances, could challenge the usual order. In other action, 2A Newcomb defeated 3A Wingate 42-18
8-Man and 6-Man football, Questa dominated Navajo Pine 54-0, and Mescalero Apache rolled over Alamo Navajo 57-6.
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