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MAYFIELD VS. CRUCES

‘The Game’ still has epic feel to it despite changes

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The annual football grudge match between Las Cruces and Mayfield high schools had a little bit different feel this year, but is still a huge deal.

You can’t help but feel the history and electricity down on the field when Las Cruces’ two oldest high schools play.

Since the late 1960s, the two schools have met each year on the gridiron, usually with a district championship on the line. Twice, the schools have met in the state title game.

In the past, the annual grudge match was usually played on the first weekend of November, but that changed this year because the two schools are no longer in the same district.

Mayfield, which has been dealing with declining enrollment in recent years, is now in 5A while Las Cruces remains in 6A.

But the earlier date for the game didn’t seem to diminish the intensity of the rivalry when the two schools met Friday, Sept. 17.

The Field of Dreams was nearly filled to capacity. Both schools’ fans were out in force, tailgating before the games. And of course, the bands and cheerleaders provided the usual amount of pomp and color.

Las Cruces, which came into the game with an uncharacteristic 1-3 record, used a dominating second half to beat Mayfield 35-14. The game was tied 14-all at the break.

The Bulldawgs are hoping they can use the win as a springboard for a successful district season. They have a bye this week and then will face Carlsbad in their district opening the following weekend.

“I don’t think we are a 1-3 team at heart,” Las Cruces coach Mark Lopez said after the game. “Obviously, our record is what it says you are. But at the end of the day, we felt we were playing tough teams week in and week out.

“We are preaching to our guys to follow the process and really start believing and understanding what football is all about,” Lopez said. “You have to rebuild the groundwork after what happened last year (Covid pandemic wiping out the fall season). A lot of these kids didn’t play last year or had like two JV games.”

Lopez said the only difference he felt in the rivalry game being played at mid-season instead of at the end of the year was: “It’s a lot hotter now.”

“This rivalry is huge,” Lopez said. “You see this community. We have such an incredible community that supports high-school athletics. There is such a bond between this community and high-school athletics and activities – the band, the band parents. The band is incredible. Our cheer program is incredible. You just see everyone coming together for a week like this.”

Mayfield coach Michael Bradley said the rivalry game with Las Cruces is still huge event.

“It is tradition,” he said.

“Our schools, our assemblies, everything is built on this rivalry, but it is just one week and then you move on,” Bradley said. “Usually, it is the last game of the year. Now, it is the fifth. It is a little bit different. I think it is just as big and this will grow into something bigger than it is.”

Mayfield dropped to 2-3 with the loss and will travel to Roswell for its district opener on Friday, Sept. 24. Roswell has won the state 5A title in 2019 and 2018, the last two years New Mexico had full football seasons.

“I’m so proud of our kids,” Bradley said. “I know we are going to continue to get better. We have a lot of young people, sophomores and juniors, who are playing their first 6A teams. We will take our licks, but we got to keep on ticking and staying positive.”

Mayfield, Las Cruces

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