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Articles written by Dave Wagner


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  • Wolverines blitz Navajo Prep, advance to Class 2A semifinals

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 19, 2024

    TEXICO – To say Texico barely broke a sweat on Saturday would probably have to be classified as a huge understatement. The Wolverines, defending Class 2A state champions and the top seed this year, ran nine plays in the first quarter – all in Navajo Prep territory – and scored five times en route to a 52-0 win over the Eagles in a quarterfinal round matchup ending at halftime on the 50-point rule. Next up for Texico (10-0) is a trip to fifth-seeded Eunice (9-3), a remat...

  • Steers roll to bi-district win

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 16, 2024

    MULESHOE – Farwell football coach Darren Kelley said he tried to put together a challenging pre-district schedule to help the Steers get ready for the postseason. It appeared to do that on Friday night. Senior quarterback Jonathan Armstrong ran for two touchdowns and threw for one and Farwell built a 22-point, first-half lead en route to a 41-20 victory over Sudan in a Class 2A Division II bi-district matchup. The Steers (5-6) advanced to a 7 p.m. (CST) area round clash on F...

  • Falcons flatten Hounds

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 12, 2024

    It's been a rough season for Eastern New Mexico University's football team. It only got rougher on Saturday afternoon at Steve Loy Stadium. Texas-Permian Basin dominated from start to finish, piling up 575 total yards en route to a 64-14 Lone Star Conference trouncing of the Greyhounds. UTPB (6-4, 5-3 LSC) posted its second-highest yardage output this season and went over 500 yards of total offense for the eighth time in coach Kris McCullough's two campaigns at the helm. "I'm...

  • Lady Coyotes complete season district sweep district

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 9, 2024

    It's been a bit of a dream season for Roswell High's volleyball team, which has won 22 consecutive matches since being swept at Los Lunas in the season opener. In Thursday night's regular-season finale, the Lady Coyotes struggled at times but still posted a fairly comfortable 25-18, 25-12, 22-25, 25-21 victory over Clovis High at Rock Staubus Gymnasium, completing a perfect run through District 4-5A (6-0). Roswell High now awaits the release of the 5A state tourney bracket by...

  • Lobos turn tables on Rams

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 9, 2024

    Chaparral, which squeezed into the 12-team Class 4A playoffs as the No. 12 seed, completely flipped the script against Portales High on Friday night at Steve Loy Stadium. After losing to the Rams 44-19 in the District 4-4A and regular-season finale a week earlier, the Lobos made the cross-state trip again, this time scoring on their first two possessions and making it stand up for a 10-0 victory. With the win, Chaparral (4-7) advances to a 6 p.m. quarterfinal game on Friday...

  • ENMU teams open season in Colorado

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Nov 5, 2024

    Eastern New Mexico University’s basketball teams are slated to open the regular season this weekend in a South Central Region crossover event at Durango, Colo., matching teams from the Lone Star Conference against foes from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Both Greyhounds squads play host Fort Lewis and New Mexico Highlands, in reverse order. The men face Fort Lewis at 7 p.m. on Friday and NMHU at 4 p.m. on Saturday, while the women take on Highlands at 1 p.m. on Friday and the Skyhawks at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Men ...

  • Lady Rams keep share of 4-4A lead

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 2, 2024

    There’s still work to be done, but Portales High’s volleyball team put itself in good position in District 4-4A on Thursday night. After dropping the first set, the Lady Rams came back for a 19-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-22 victory over Artesia at the Ram Athletic Center. PHS (13-8, 3-1 district) completed a three-match season sweep of the Lady Bulldogs (11-10, 2-2), including a victory in a midseason tournament. The Lady Rams stayed tied for the top spot with Roswell Goddard (11-10, 3-1), which thrashed winless Lovington 25-...

  • Rams pull away late, thrash Chaparral

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Nov 2, 2024

    Portales High was all but assured of a berth in the state Class 4A football playoffs before Friday night. Now, after a 44-19 District 2-4A win over Chaparral at Steve Loy Stadium, the Rams are thinking possibly a fourth seed and first-round bye could be in store in the 12-team bracket. Ranked sixth in 4A coming into the game by MaxPreps, Portales was to learn its fate when the New Mexico Activities Association releases playoff pairings this morning. PHS (6-4, 4-2 district) led only 17-13 after three periods but added four...

  • No. 2 Hawks blank Cats 49-0

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Oct 26, 2024

    Clovis High figured out a way to move the ball against Class 6A second-ranked Centennial on Friday night. The Wildcats just couldn't push it in the end zone. Suffice it to say, the Hawks could. They scored on their first seven possessions, all of them needing five plays or less, before backing off in the second half and claiming a 49-0 District 3-6A victory at Leon Williams Stadium. Prior to the game, the field at the stadium was named in honor of legendary CHS football coach...

  • Cats top Coyotes, await 5A soccer selections

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Oct 26, 2024

    With a 14-5 overall record, which includes five one-goal defeats with three in overtime, the Clovis High boys soccer team believes it deserves a spot in the upcoming Class 5A state tournament. For now, though, the Wildcats just have to wait. Selections will be made today by the New Mexico Activities Association and, despite their record, the Cats entered the week ranked 15th. They last made the 5A state meet in 2018, when they reached the semifinals. The biggest question mark for Clovis is its overall strength of schedule....

  • AREA ROUNDUP: Buffs keep rolling in 8-man

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 19, 2024

    MELROSE – Melrose thought it came out perhaps a little lethargic on Friday night. You'd have had a hard time selling that to the Lordsburg Mavericks. Senior Brayden Eldridge and junior Jaxon Odom had three touchdowns apiece, and the Buffaloes cruised to a 52-0 win over the Mavericks in 8-man District 3 action. The game ended with just over seven minutes left on the 50-point lead rule. Melrose (9-0, 5-0 district), ranked No. 1 in 8-man and the defending state champion, p...

  • Lady Cats move to 2-0 in district

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 19, 2024

    Clovis High's volleyball team is sure glad to have Ashlynn Evans back. The senior outside hitter missed four matches with a shoulder issue before returning this week to help the Lady Wildcats win a pair of District 4-5A home matches. Evans compiled 19 kills, three blocks, seven digs and a couple of aces on Thursday night as CHS defeated Hobbs 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-18 at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. The Lady Cats (9-9 overall) now take on sixth-ranked Roswell High (18-1, 2-0) in...

  • Hounds score late to edge OC

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 19, 2024

    For all the world, it looked like Eastern New Mexico University and Oklahoma Christian were headed to a scoreless draw in Wednesday’s Lone Star Conference men’s soccer tilt at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. But the Greyhounds upped their pressure as the match headed into the final stretch, and sophomore forward Robin Vandewalle was able to break through from point-blank range with just under eight minutes left for a 1-0 victory over the Eagles. ENMU (4-3-4, 2-1-1 LSC) is currently tied for fourth place in the 11-...

  • Lady Rams turn back Texico

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 15, 2024

    TEXICO – Whenever Portales High's volleyball team needed a key point on Saturday, the Lady Rams knew where to go. Five-foot-11 junior middle hitter Skyler Massey compiled 19 kills, and the Lady Rams turned back defending Class 2A state champion Texico 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 25-18 in a battle of top-five teams. Portales (10-7), ranked fourth in Class 4A by MaxPreps, erased an early five-point deficit in Game 4 after it looked like the Lady Wolverines (12-3), No. 3 this week in 2...

  • Lady Buffs turn back Elida in district tilt

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 12, 2024

    MELROSE – They've got a ways to go to return to the glory days of seven consecutive state small-school volleyball championships (2010-16), but it's clear the Elida Lady Tigers are headed in the right direction. Still, Melrose has been the dominant program in this decade, winning three of the last four Class 1A titles, and the Lady Buffs handed Elida a 25-18, 25-15, 25-23 District 4-1A setback on Thursday night to move ahead of the Lady Tigers for the early lead in the district...

  • Cats, Lady Cats drop 2-1 verdicts to Roswell High

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 12, 2024

    MELROSE – They've got a ways to go to return to the glory days of seven consecutive state small-school volleyball championships (2010-16), but it's clear the Elida Lady Tigers are headed in the right direction. Still, Melrose has been the dominant program in this decade, winning three of the last four Class 1A titles, and the Lady Buffs handed Elida a 25-18, 25-15, 25-23 District 4-1A setback on Thursday night to move ahead of the Lady Tigers for the early lead in the district...

  • Sartans cruise past Rams

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 12, 2024

    After three possessions, it looked like anything but an offensive eruption for St. Pius. The Sartans surrendered a safety less than a minute into the game, followed by punts on their next two tries. Then sophomore running back Hershul Olloway Jr. broke off a 62-yard touchdown run, and the floodgates opened. St. Pius piled up 511 total yards and rolled to a 48-18 District 2-4A victory over Portales High on Friday night at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. Olloway netted 160...

  • Eagles edge Cats on overtime goal

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 8, 2024

    Clovis High went back and forth for 80 minutes with Hobbs in Saturday's District 4-5A boys soccer match at Leon Williams Stadium. It didn't take the Eagles long to break through, though, when the contest went into overtime. Senior Alexis Sanchez found an opening just inside the 18-yard box and punched the ball into the net just 32 seconds into sudden-death overtime to give the Eagles a 1-0 victory. It was a tough loss for the Wildcats (12-3, 1-1 district), snapping their...

  • Rams look to stay in district race against Sartans

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 8, 2024

    After fighting through an injury-plagued start to the football season, Portales High finds itself with a chance to either win the District 4-2A championship or at least earn a trip to the postseason. On Friday night, the Rams face district co-leader St. Pius in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. “They’re a good football team,” Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said of the Sartans (4-2, 2-0 district). “We’re out to get better every week. We’re starting to get healthy.” St. Pius currently shares the top spot in t...

  • Lady Cats fall to Artesia

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 5, 2024

    Apparently well on its way to victory, Artesia seemed to forget Thursday's volleyball match against Clovis High at Rock Staubus Gymnasium was a best-of-five. After cruising through the first two sets, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves down 20-9 in Game 3. They rallied to make it close, then fought off the Lady Wildcats in the fourth set to complete a 25-13, 25-16, 23-25, 25-22 victory. Senior middle blocker Hattie Harrison took over in the latter stages of the match and...

  • Lady Rams capture own tourney

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 3, 2024

    Portales High’s volleyball team claimed the championship in its eight-team Peyton Chavez Invitational on Saturday, defeating Las Vegas Robertson 25-12, 25-14, 19-25, 25-23 in the championship match at the Ram Athletic Center. Portales (8-5) took the top seed from Pool A on Friday with a 5-1 record in games, then defeated Roswell Goddard 25-12, 12-19, 25-14 in Friday night’s bracket quarterfinals. The Lady Rams bested Melrose 25-12, 25-19, 25-13 in Saturday’s semifinals. Porta...

  • Centennial shuts out Lady Cats

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 1, 2024

    Centennial got an early goal, then stayed put for most of the rest of the day. Clovis High’s soccer girls, though, couldn’t find the net and the Las Cruces-based Lady Hawks added a late insurance tally to claim a 2-0 win on Saturday at Leon Williams Stadium. The match was a makeup of a Sept. 21 contest postponed due to inclement weather. Sophomore forward Cleo Coca tallied both goals for Centennial (7-7), which was in control much of the way and kept the Lady Cats (4-8-2) from finding many opportunities. “We created some chan...

  • Rams looking to build on victory over Valencia

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 1, 2024

    After reaching the Class 4A state championship game in 2023, Portales High’s football team has had a bit of a rough go this season, in part due to injuries. Still, the Rams (3-3, 1-1 District 2-4A) find themselves in reasonably good shape in the district after Friday’s 34-21 victory over Valencia at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. They’ll try to keep it that way on Friday when they visit Silver (2-4, 0-2) in a 7 p.m. kickoff. Things haven’t gone all that well this season for the Colts, either, but Rams coach Jaime R...

  • Cavemen keep Cats reeling with 56-8 triumph

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Even though Clovis High's football team has struggled mightily this season, Carlsbad coach Cale Sanders wasn't about to take anything for granted on Friday night. After all, the Wildcats were also struggling last year at this time before ambushing the Cavemen 33-23 at Leon Williams Stadium, eventually winning a district title and earning Class 6A state playoff berth. Not this time, though. Senior quarterback Kaden Perez threw for six touchdowns and ran for another, and Carlsba...

  • Antelopes outlast Steers late

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 21, 2024

    FARWELL – Farwell had trouble stopping Abernathy in the first half, then seemed to figure things out. A missed conversion kick helped keep hope alive for the visiting Antelopes, though, and they rallied for two touchdowns in the final three minutes to stun the Steers 42-41. Sophomore quarterback Jagger Wiley's fifth touchdown pass of the night, a 24-yarder to sophomore Dre Minfield with 2:24 remaining, capped a 79-yard, nine play drive and made it 41-35. Then the Steers m...

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