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A week after winning an overtime thriller, Las Cruces High found itself on the other side of a one-point finish. The Bulldawgs’ playoff exit was one of several developments in a postseason that now has Centennial, Gadsden and Mesilla Valley Christian School preparing for their next challenges.
The Bulldawgs (7-4) fell 21-20 to Rio Rancho on Friday, Nov. 6, after a fourth quarter that saw both teams exchange field goals before heading into overtime tied at 13. Las Cruces scored first in the extra period on a touchdown pass and added the extra point, but Rio Rancho answered with a passing touchdown and converted a two-point pass to secure the victory.
The finish came one week after Las Cruces defeated Centennial 29-28 in overtime when senior Denton Walter blocked an extra-point attempt. This time, the decisive conversion went against the Bulldawgs, who had beaten Rio Rancho 14-7 earlier in the season.
A roughly 30-minute lighting delay interrupted Friday’s game in the third quarter, but the outcome ultimately came down to the final possession. Las Cruces had battled through a difficult stretch of injuries and losses during the regular season before winning its rivalry finale, only to have its postseason end in another one-point overtime game.
Centennial, meanwhile, enters the Class 6A quarterfinals without having played a postseason game. The fourth-seeded Hawks (6-4) earned a first-round bye and will host No. 5 Sandia (9-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Field of Dreams.
Sandia advanced with a 60-7 victory over Farmington, giving the Matadors momentum heading into Las Cruces. The Hawks will look to senior quarterback Ruiz Laborin and a group of playmakers that includes Gavin Woods and Kevan Hernandez. Centennial also has experienced contributors on defense, including seniors Izmael Medina and Johnathon Valenzuela-Chaires, as it prepares to face a Sandia team that has lost just twice this season.
Eight-man playoffs
Mesilla Valley Christian School is one victory away from reaching the eight-man state championship game after defeating Magdalena 34-14 in Friday’s quarterfinals.
The fourth-seeded SonBlazers (9-1) received production throughout their offense, with senior quarterback Kobe Redfearn completing 10 of 15 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Jaxson Warner caught both scoring passes and added 75 rushing yards and another touchdown on 19 carries.
Junior Luke Dwyer gave MVCS another major offensive threat, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for 84 yards. His 207 combined rushing and receiving yards helped the SonBlazers finish with 426 yards of offense, including 241 on the ground. MVCS also brought pressure defensively, recording four sacks against Magdalena. Senior Urijah Martes led the team with nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while Dwyer added an interception.
The SonBlazers now travel to face top-seeded Fort Sumner/House (9-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Fort Sumner High School. The unbeaten Foxes present MVCS with their biggest postseason challenge yet, with a berth in the state championship game awaiting the winner.
Class 5A playoffs
Gadsden continued its postseason run with a 50-0 victory over Mayfield, giving the Panthers consecutive shutouts and sending them into the Class 5A quarterfinals with an 8-3 record.
Sophomore quarterback Rosalio Gomez Jr. completed 8 of 14 passes for 165 yards and four touchdowns, while senior receiver Anthony Palomares caught six passes for 146 yards and three scores. Senior Mauro Almanza added a touchdown reception as Gadsden found success through the air. The Panthers also controlled the ground game. Senior Armando Ramirez rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while sophomore Izaak Carreon added 79 yards and a score on 11 attempts.
The victory followed Gadsden’s 12-0 shutout of Deming in its regular-season finale, giving the Panthers two straight games without allowing a point. Their next opponent, however, brings a different challenge.
Sixth-seeded Gadsden will travel to face No. 3 Artesia at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Bulldog Bowl in Artesia, with a spot in the semifinals at stake.
Mayfield’s season ended at 2-9 in its first year under coach Joseph Frias. Despite the lopsided loss, the Trojans reached the postseason while adjusting to a new system and developing younger players, including sophomore quarterback Levi Montes.
Las Cruces and Mayfield have played their final games, leaving Centennial, Gadsden and MVCS to carry the area’s postseason hopes. All three face higher-seeded opponents this week, and each will have to earn its place in the next round.
