Playoff football takes shape

Denton Walter had already scored four touchdowns against Centennial when Las Cruces High needed one more play from him. 

The senior and University of New Mexico commit delivered, blocking Centennial’s extra-point attempt in overtime to secure a 29-28 victory Friday, Oct. 30. Now the Bulldawgs (7-3) must carry that performance into the Class 6A state playoffs, beginning with Rio Rancho (5-5) at 7 p.m. Friday at the Field of Dreams. 

Las Cruces coach Mark Lopez said Walter’s impact extended beyond the scoring plays. 

“He just played lights out, man. I mean, he was lights out defensively, offensively, special teams,” Lopez said. “He played at a really high physical level, very disciplined.” 

The rivalry victory followed a difficult stretch that included injuries and losses, but Lopez believes the Bulldawgs have improved considerably since beating Rio Rancho 14-7 earlier this season. He pointed to the offensive line’s development, Diego Lopez’s versatility at tight end and a defense that has helped the team control field position. 

Against a Rio Rancho team he described as explosive, the coach wants the Bulldawgs to remain disciplined, protect the football and establish their physical running game. 

“We’ve got to kind of play true to our personality and who we are and how we’ve won these ball games this year,” Lopez said. “And if we do that, I like our chances.” 

Despite the overtime loss, Centennial (6-4) retained the No. 4 seed in Class 6A and a first-round bye. The Hawks will face the winner of No. 5 Sandia and No. 12 Farmington in the Nov. 13-14 quarterfinals. 

Quarterback Ruiz Laborin threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns against Las Cruces. Gavin Woods contributed a rushing touchdown and a receiving score, while sophomore Kevan Hernandez added another touchdown on the ground. 

The extra week gives Centennial time to regroup after a rivalry game decided by a single point, while the Bulldawgs face a quicker turnaround. 

Eight-man playoffs 

Mesilla Valley Christian School has spent its first-round bye working rather than resting. 

The fourth-seeded SonBlazers (8-1) return to action Friday against Magdalena (8-2) in the eight-man state quarterfinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hatch Valley High School. 

MVCS closed the regular season Oct. 23 with a 48-12 win over Lordsburg, led by sophomore Jaxson Warner’s five-touchdown performance. Warner rushed for 213 yards and four scores on 13 carries and caught a 37-yard touchdown pass. 

He enters the postseason with 1,218 rushing yards, 29 total touchdowns and five interceptions on defense. Senior Kobe Redfearn has also been central to the SonBlazers’ offense, throwing for 1,266 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Coach Caldwell said the bye allowed his team to address details that could become decisive in November, including special teams, alignments and snap counts. 

“You find some of the minutiae to clean up,” Caldwell said. 

The SonBlazers have already beaten Magdalena this season, but Caldwell cautioned against treating that result as a predictor. He expects the Steers to make adjustments and emphasized the importance of tackling their physical runners. 

“You beat somebody once, it’s really hard to beat them a second time,” Caldwell said. “It’s not an easy task.” 

Caldwell credited his team’s success to its work along both lines and the willingness of players to handle multiple positions. That flexibility will be tested against a familiar opponent with a semifinal berth on the line. 

Class 5A playoffs 

Gadsden and Mayfield enter Friday’s first-round meeting with different records, but a shared understanding that neither guarantees anything in the postseason. 

The Panthers (7-3) are coming off a 12-0 shutout of Deming, a game played in rainy, muddy conditions with five starters unavailable. Coach Facio was encouraged by the younger players who filled those openings and helped preserve the shutout. 

“We were actually down five starters due to injuries and other things, and I was really pleased with how our depth stepped up and filled in in those roles where they were needed most,” Facio said. 

Gadsden rushed for 261 yards against Deming, including 131 yards and a touchdown from sophomore Izaak Carreon. Senior Armando Ramirez added 119 rushing yards as the Panthers finished the regular season with their seventh victory. 

Mayfield (2-8), meanwhile, is looking to extend its first season under coach Frias after a 49-10 loss to Artesia. 

The Trojans have adjusted to a new system while facing a demanding schedule. Frias praised the leadership of seniors Israel Cabañas, Nathaniel Dominguez and Hunter Sanchez, along with sophomore quarterback Levi Montes, who stepped into the starting role during the season. 

Despite the record, Frias said his players have approached the week with a different mindset. 

“The record is 0-0 for everyone, so we still got a chance to sit there and do something,” Frias said. 

Gadsden won the teams’ earlier meeting, but Facio said that game was closer than the final score suggested. He expects Mayfield to present another challenge, particularly with both teams familiar with each other’s personnel. 

The rematch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Gadsden High School. Frias wants the Trojans to tackle well, limit mistakes and control possession against the Panthers’ rushing attack, while Facio has emphasized protecting the ball and forcing turnovers. 

With a quarterfinal berth at stake, the Gadsden coach sees little value in looking back at the regular-season standings. 

“Their record is not a reflection of anything going into this postseason,” Facio said. “The winner moves on, and the loser goes home.”