Cats face tough test against Rio Rancho

Staff writer

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Homecoming’s usually a David-versus-Goliath situation, and tonight’s homecoming affair for the Clovis Wildcats is no exception.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis junior quarterback Daulton Hatley tries to avoid Cleveland junior Landry Hayes during last week’s 35-13 Wildcats loss to the Storm at Rio Rancho. The Wildcats are home for the next two Fridays, starting with Class 6A No. 2 Rio Rancho tonight.

The one difference? Goliath’s on the visiting sideline, as second-ranked Rio Rancho pays a visit to Leon Williams Stadium.

The Rams are 4-0 coming in, with last Friday’s 30-22 victory over then No. 2 Las Cruces their only win of less than three touchdowns.

Playing the part of David is Clovis, which has struggled to a 1-3 mark in a road-heavy schedule that most recently included a 35-13 loss at Cleveland.

Though Clovis trailed 21-0 at the half and 28-0 in the second half, the Wildcats played pretty much even in the second half.

“We need to start the way we finished,” Clovis coach Eric Roanhaus said. “We had a better second half, but you can’t get behind 21-0. And they’re every bit as potent offensively as Cleveland.”

Last season in Rio Rancho, the Rams upended Clovis 62-59 in overtime on what the Albuquerque Journal referred to as a “video game on grass,” and returns much of its offense from that game.

The most notable returnee is senior Easton Bruere, who may be playing better than any quarterback coming to Leon Williams Stadium since current Pittsburgh Steeler Landry Jones guided Artesia to a 2006 win at Clovis.

In measuring quarterback rating, someone who has every pass fall incomplete scores a 39.6. A quarterback who is judged as perfect — at least 10 pass attempts, 77.5 percent completion, 11.875 percent touchdown percentage, 12.5 yards per attempt and no interceptions — scores 158.3.

This season’s rating for Bruere, the Rams’ third-year starter, is 157.6.

“He’s throwing it better,” Roanhaus said. “He’s probably a Division-I quarterback; his dad (Rio Rancho offensive coordinator Carl Bruere) played at Wyoming. (Brady) Patterson’s their top receiver, but they’ve got three really good receivers and they’ve got two good running backs that can really run the ball.”

Defensively, Clovis tackle Alejandro Perez said, the goal is to give Bruere less time to make decisions.

“They’re not as big as they were last year (on the line),” Perez said. “They still have a really good passing game. We’ve got to get some pressure up front, keep him under four seconds.”

Clovis has concerns it wouldn’t fare nearly as well in another shootout, and the offensive numbers bear that out so far. The Wildcats have just three plays of more than 30 yards this season — a 31-yard catch by Kurt Kelley, a 31-yard touchdown catch by Christian Caldwell and a 49-yard catch by Micah Gray.

In last season’s game against Rio Rancho alone, the Wildcats had three touchdowns of 48 or more yards.

That has the Wildcats approaching a game plan similar to what they did against Atrisco Heritage — control the time of possession with long scoring drives, and try to avoid allowing quick scoring drives on defense.

It’s a strategy that worked well against Jones when the Wildcats did it in a 2007 win at Artesia, but not as well two weeks ago. The Wildcats had a 3-to-1 advantage in time of possession, but missed opportunities to score and gave up three long-yardage touchdowns.

“We need to keep the ball,” Roanhaus said. “Time of possession is really important in this game.”

Attempts to contact Rio Rancho coach David Howes were unsuccessful.

GAMEDAY

Rio Rancho (4-0) at Clovis (1-3)

7 p.m. today

Leon Williams Stadium

On the air: KCLV-AM 1240, KCLV-FM 99.1, KTQM-FM 99.9; streaming online at kclvsports.com at ktqmclovis.com.

Coaches: Rio Rancho, David Howes, 6th season, 40-22. Clovis, Eric Roanhaus, 37th season, 323-131-5.

Last week: Both teams played last Friday in Rio Rancho. The Rams defeated Las Cruces 30-22, while Clovis suffered a 35-13 defeat to Cleveland.

Last meeting: 2013, Rio Rancho pulled out a wild 62-59 decision in overtime. The Wildcats lead the overall series 6-4, but the Rams have won four of the last five.

Rams players to watch: Senior QB Easton Bruere has completed 72-of-94 passes for 1,253 yards and 16 touchdowns and no interceptions. His leading receiver is senior Brady Patterson with 15 catches for 352 yards and eight scores, though two other receivers have 18 catches. Senior Angelo Lujan is the Rams’ leading rusher with 311 yards on 49 carries.

Notes: Senior defensive back Kaine Bender returned to practice this week for the Wildcats, but Roanhaus said it was a questionable whether Bender would be available for the game.

— Compiled by Kevin Wilson