Week 9 Recap: New Mexico High School Football (Oct. 17-19)
NMPreps brings you comprehensive coverage of Week 9 in New Mexico high school football, highlighting the standout performances and key moments from across the state. This article will be updated throughout the weekend as more results come in, so be sure to check back for the latest scores and recaps.
THURSDAY NIGHT (OCT. 17)
No. 1 La Cueva 42, Atrisco Heritage 6 – Final
Top-ranked La Cueva cruised past Atrisco Heritage in District 2-6A play. The Bears struck early, scoring with 8:07 left in the first quarter and never looked back. By the end of the third quarter, the game was firmly in La Cueva's control at 42-6.
With the win, La Cueva improves to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in District 2-6A. Atrisco Heritage drops to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in district play.
No. 5 Las Cruces 59, No. 22 Alamogordo 7 – Final
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs made quick work of the Alamogordo Tigers on Thursday night, dominating in a 59-7 rout. The tone was set early as Las Cruces running back Daniel Amaro found the end zone just two plays into the game. Amaro’s 20-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful extra point, gave the Bulldawgs a 7-0 lead with 9:52 left in the first quarter.
Alamogordo struggled to gain momentum offensively, although quarterback Nathanael Best managed a 21-yard run that briefly put the Tigers in scoring position at the Las Cruces 19-yard line. However, the drive stalled, and Las Cruces regained control. Bulldawgs quarterback Isaiah Guardiola orchestrated a precise drive, connecting on a 29-yard pass and then finding a receiver on a dig route for another touchdown before the first quarter ended. Las Cruces led 14-0.
Despite some effective runs, penalties and missed opportunities plagued Alamogordo's offense. A key holding penalty derailed one of their drives, forcing a punt. Meanwhile, Amaro continued his stellar night, scoring his second touchdown on a power toss, pushing the lead to 21-0.
Alamogordo finally answered midway through the second quarter when Best found tight end Andrew Tellez for a 6-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 21-7. But Las Cruces responded immediately, with Amaro powering in for his third touchdown on a toss play to the left, restoring the 28-7 lead.
Las Cruces' defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs after snuffing out a fake punt attempt by Alamogordo. Jaxon Alba capitalized on the excellent field position, scoring on the very next play to extend the lead to 35-7. A field goal at the end of the half made it 38-7 at halftime.
With most of the Cruces starters resting, the second half was more of the same. The Dawgs' JV squad added two more touchdowns, and Hergenreder capped the scoring with a 21-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Alamogordo's struggles continued as they fell to 1-8 on the season, while Las Cruces improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in District 3-6A play.
No. 13 Deming 44, Santa Teresa 12 – Final
In a District 2-5A matchup on Thursday night in the southwestern corner of the state, Deming dominated Santa Teresa with a 44-12 victory.
Deming took control early, scoring on a rushing touchdown in the first quarter and adding a second score shortly after, leading 22-0 by the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats continued to extend their lead, with two more touchdowns before halftime, bringing the score to 37-0 at the break.
Santa Teresa fought back in the second half, scoring twice—once on a 9-yard pass from Nicholas Vierra to Ulysses Montes in the third quarter, and another on a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter—but it wasn’t enough to overcome Deming’s powerful offense. Deming added a 60-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth to seal the win.
Deming improves to 6-2 overall, while Santa Teresa drops to 1-7 on the season and 0-5 in district play.
No. 15 Farmington 37, No. 25 Cibola 0 – Final
Farmington snapped a three-game losing streak with a dominant 37-0 victory over Cibola in District 1-6A play on Thursday night at Hutchison Stadium, thrilling the homecoming crowd. The Scorpions exploded for 28 points in the first quarter and added another touchdown in the second, along with a safety in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Farmington quarterback Waylon Schake was the star of the night, passing for over 175 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for two more. His first touchdown was a 32-yard strike to Cayden Haliburton.
With the win, Farmington improves to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district play. Cibola drops to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in district.
Highland 18, Belen 7 – Final
In a key District 1-5A matchup, the Highland Hornets leaned heavily on their star running back Amiri Mumba, whose big-play ability powered them to an 18-7 victory over the Belen Eagles at Milne Stadium.
The game started cautiously for both teams, with neither finding the end zone in a scoreless first quarter. Highland's aggressive approach was evident early when they went for it on fourth-and-2 but were stopped short by the Eagles defense. Belen took over near midfield but couldn’t capitalize on two separate fourth-down attempts in Highland territory, with the Hornets' defense holding strong each time.
Highland finally broke the stalemate early in the second quarter. Mumba, who was the workhorse for the Hornets, capped a 64-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 6-0 with 9:48 remaining in the first half.
Belen responded quickly, running the option to perfection as quarterback Gonzalo Cano pitched the ball to Brady Aragon, who raced 14 yards for a touchdown. The successful extra point gave Belen a 7-6 lead with 6:53 left in the second quarter.
A pivotal moment came shortly after when a Highland punt attempt went awry. A low snap forced the punter to scramble, and his delayed kick was blocked, giving Belen excellent field position at the Highland 32-yard line. However, the Eagles couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs at the Hornets' 28-yard line.
With just seconds left in the first half, Highland delivered a momentum-shifting play. After calling a timeout with eight seconds remaining, Mumba took a direct snap and weaved his way through the Belen defense, breaking tackles en route to a stunning 67-yard touchdown run. Highland entered halftime with a 12-7 lead.
In the third quarter, both teams struggled to generate offense, with the wind playing a factor. Highland gambled on a fourth-and-2, and once again, Mumba delivered with a crucial 5-yard gain to keep the drive alive. The quarter ended without any scoring, and Highland carried its 12-7 lead into the final period.
Highland had an opportunity to extend its lead early in the fourth quarter but botched a 35-yard field goal attempt. Belen took over at their 16-yard line, but Mumba soon struck again. He broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run, pushing Highland's lead to 18-7 with 9:21 remaining.
Belen had one final chance to get back into the game, driving to the Highland 31-yard line, but a critical interception with 6:55 left sealed their fate. The Eagles couldn’t recover, and Highland’s defense held firm to secure the win.
Mumba was the star of the night, racking up nearly 300 rushing yards in his best performance since Week 1 against Manzano. Highland improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in District 1-5A, while Belen fell to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in district play.
Socorro 54, Cobre 0 – Final
In District 3-3A action, the Socorro Warriors dominated the Cobre Indians in a commanding 54-0 victory. By the end of the first quarter, Socorro had built a 21-0 lead behind two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown. The second quarter brought more of the same, as the Warriors added a quick rushing touchdown before the defense stepped up with back-to-back fumble recoveries returned for scores, making it 42-0.
Another rushing touchdown just before halftime extended the lead to 48-0, though a failed two-point conversion prevented the mercy rule from taking effect at the break.
In the third quarter, Socorro capped off their scoring with a passing touchdown, making it 54-0 with about eight minutes to play, ending the game.
Socorro improves to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in District 3-3A, while Cobre drops to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in district play.
NMPreps brings you comprehensive coverage of Week 9 in New Mexico high school football, highlighting the standout performances and key moments from across the state. This article will be updated throughout the weekend as more results come in, so be sure to check back for the latest scores and recaps.
THURSDAY NIGHT (OCT. 17)
No. 1 La Cueva 42, Atrisco Heritage 6 – Final
Top-ranked La Cueva cruised past Atrisco Heritage in District 2-6A play. The Bears struck early, scoring with 8:07 left in the first quarter and never looked back. By the end of the third quarter, the game was firmly in La Cueva's control at 42-6.
With the win, La Cueva improves to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in District 2-6A. Atrisco Heritage drops to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in district play.
No. 5 Las Cruces 59, No. 22 Alamogordo 7 – Final
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs made quick work of the Alamogordo Tigers on Thursday night, dominating in a 59-7 rout. The tone was set early as Las Cruces running back Daniel Amaro found the end zone just two plays into the game. Amaro’s 20-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful extra point, gave the Bulldawgs a 7-0 lead with 9:52 left in the first quarter.
Alamogordo struggled to gain momentum offensively, although quarterback Nathanael Best managed a 21-yard run that briefly put the Tigers in scoring position at the Las Cruces 19-yard line. However, the drive stalled, and Las Cruces regained control. Bulldawgs quarterback Isaiah Guardiola orchestrated a precise drive, connecting on a 29-yard pass and then finding a receiver on a dig route for another touchdown before the first quarter ended. Las Cruces led 14-0.
Despite some effective runs, penalties and missed opportunities plagued Alamogordo's offense. A key holding penalty derailed one of their drives, forcing a punt. Meanwhile, Amaro continued his stellar night, scoring his second touchdown on a power toss, pushing the lead to 21-0.
Alamogordo finally answered midway through the second quarter when Best found tight end Andrew Tellez for a 6-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 21-7. But Las Cruces responded immediately, with Amaro powering in for his third touchdown on a toss play to the left, restoring the 28-7 lead.
Las Cruces' defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs after snuffing out a fake punt attempt by Alamogordo. Jaxon Alba capitalized on the excellent field position, scoring on the very next play to extend the lead to 35-7. A field goal at the end of the half made it 38-7 at halftime.
With most of the Cruces starters resting, the second half was more of the same. The Dawgs' JV squad added two more touchdowns, and Hergenreder capped the scoring with a 21-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Alamogordo's struggles continued as they fell to 1-8 on the season, while Las Cruces improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in District 3-6A play.
No. 13 Deming 44, Santa Teresa 12 – Final
In a District 2-5A matchup on Thursday night in the southwestern corner of the state, Deming dominated Santa Teresa with a 44-12 victory.
Deming took control early, scoring on a rushing touchdown in the first quarter and adding a second score shortly after, leading 22-0 by the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats continued to extend their lead, with two more touchdowns before halftime, bringing the score to 37-0 at the break.
Santa Teresa fought back in the second half, scoring twice—once on a 9-yard pass from Nicholas Vierra to Ulysses Montes in the third quarter, and another on a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter—but it wasn’t enough to overcome Deming’s powerful offense. Deming added a 60-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth to seal the win.
Deming improves to 6-2 overall, while Santa Teresa drops to 1-7 on the season and 0-5 in district play.
No. 15 Farmington 37, No. 25 Cibola 0 – Final
Farmington snapped a three-game losing streak with a dominant 37-0 victory over Cibola in District 1-6A play on Thursday night at Hutchison Stadium, thrilling the homecoming crowd. The Scorpions exploded for 28 points in the first quarter and added another touchdown in the second, along with a safety in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Farmington quarterback Waylon Schake was the star of the night, passing for over 175 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for two more. His first touchdown was a 32-yard strike to Cayden Haliburton.
With the win, Farmington improves to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district play. Cibola drops to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in district.
Highland 18, Belen 7 – Final
In a key District 1-5A matchup, the Highland Hornets leaned heavily on their star running back Amiri Mumba, whose big-play ability powered them to an 18-7 victory over the Belen Eagles at Milne Stadium.
The game started cautiously for both teams, with neither finding the end zone in a scoreless first quarter. Highland's aggressive approach was evident early when they went for it on fourth-and-2 but were stopped short by the Eagles defense. Belen took over near midfield but couldn’t capitalize on two separate fourth-down attempts in Highland territory, with the Hornets' defense holding strong each time.
Highland finally broke the stalemate early in the second quarter. Mumba, who was the workhorse for the Hornets, capped a 64-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 6-0 with 9:48 remaining in the first half.
Belen responded quickly, running the option to perfection as quarterback Gonzalo Cano pitched the ball to Brady Aragon, who raced 14 yards for a touchdown. The successful extra point gave Belen a 7-6 lead with 6:53 left in the second quarter.
A pivotal moment came shortly after when a Highland punt attempt went awry. A low snap forced the punter to scramble, and his delayed kick was blocked, giving Belen excellent field position at the Highland 32-yard line. However, the Eagles couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs at the Hornets' 28-yard line.
With just seconds left in the first half, Highland delivered a momentum-shifting play. After calling a timeout with eight seconds remaining, Mumba took a direct snap and weaved his way through the Belen defense, breaking tackles en route to a stunning 67-yard touchdown run. Highland entered halftime with a 12-7 lead.
In the third quarter, both teams struggled to generate offense, with the wind playing a factor. Highland gambled on a fourth-and-2, and once again, Mumba delivered with a crucial 5-yard gain to keep the drive alive. The quarter ended without any scoring, and Highland carried its 12-7 lead into the final period.
Highland had an opportunity to extend its lead early in the fourth quarter but botched a 35-yard field goal attempt. Belen took over at their 16-yard line, but Mumba soon struck again. He broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run, pushing Highland's lead to 18-7 with 9:21 remaining.
Belen had one final chance to get back into the game, driving to the Highland 31-yard line, but a critical interception with 6:55 left sealed their fate. The Eagles couldn’t recover, and Highland’s defense held firm to secure the win.
Mumba was the star of the night, racking up nearly 300 rushing yards in his best performance since Week 1 against Manzano. Highland improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in District 1-5A, while Belen fell to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in district play.
Socorro 54, Cobre 0 – Final
In District 3-3A action, the Socorro Warriors dominated the Cobre Indians in a commanding 54-0 victory. By the end of the first quarter, Socorro had built a 21-0 lead behind two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown. The second quarter brought more of the same, as the Warriors added a quick rushing touchdown before the defense stepped up with back-to-back fumble recoveries returned for scores, making it 42-0.
Another rushing touchdown just before halftime extended the lead to 48-0, though a failed two-point conversion prevented the mercy rule from taking effect at the break.
In the third quarter, Socorro capped off their scoring with a passing touchdown, making it 54-0 with about eight minutes to play, ending the game.
Socorro improves to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in District 3-3A, while Cobre drops to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in district play.
