Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Deputy editor
By most metrics, Clovis quarterback Daulton Hatley estimates, the Wildcats are farther along in their second week of 2015 than at the same time in 2014.
“We’re running the ball better at this point than last year, we’re throwing the ball better at this point,” Hatley said. “We have our skill guys returning this year, and you can tell. The pass protection has also been better. I only got sacked once; I only got hit once, actually.”
But Hatley, in his second year as starting quarterback, knows the path gets more difficult following a 37-14 win that, while impressive, still came against a younger-than-normal Goddard squad.
When asked for something the Wildcats need to do better, he pointed out late in the first half against the Rockets, where Clovis held a 20-7 lead and did nothing on its final possession of the half. The Rockets did capitalize, and went to the locker room down 20-14 instead of 27-7.
“We’ve got to be able to capitalize on the chances we get,” Hatley said.
That’s exactly why the Wildcats, winners of their last 10 against Cibola — tonight’s opponent at Community Stadium in Albuquerque — were able to extend the streak with a 28-23 win. That game went Clovis’ way, coach Eric Roanhaus notes, because the Wildcats were able to capitalize by getting a safety and a touchdown in the final minutes of the second quarter, then score on another possession in the third they received when a high-arcing kickoff bounce created an unplanned but still successful onside kick.
He remembers that the Wildcats have played close contests with the Cougars — with the last five games won by eight or less — and that Cibola has shown the ability to respond to tough setbacks.
He noted that Cibola, which went 7-4 last season in its second campaign under Roderick Williams, lost to Cleveland 43-7 in district play, then turned around to beat the Storm 42-28 in the biggest upset of Class 6A’s first round last year.
Even though Clovis has won 10 of the 11 games in the history of the rivalry, including the last 10, it hasn’t come easy. The last five have been by eight or less, including last season’s win at Clovis.
“They’re a good footbal team,” Roanhaus said. “They’ve got good personnel. They’re solid offensively, solid defensively. Cibola has had a good program for years.”
Roanhaus said the Wildcats are relatively healthy going into Friday’s contest, but do have concerns about junior fullback Bubba Alonzo’s shoulder. If there’s a 20 percent chance Alonzo would get hurt, Roanhaus figures it’s not worth the risk to play him in the first week of September.
“We’ve got a few nagging things bothering us,” Roanhaus said, “but I don’t know that we’ll keep anybody (else) from playing. Alonzo’s a question mark for sure.”
Clovis, while looking to up the streak against Cibola, will also try to get its first win at Community Stadium, which opened in 2013.
Roanhaus noted the Wildcats have only had two games there so far — one a playoff game against a Valley team that was undefeated at the time and the other a regular-season game they gave away late to Atrisco Heritage. In total, the Wildcats haven’t had much opportunity to build any momentum there.
“I wish I’d had the concrete contract on that place; I’d be on an island in the Caribbean right now,” Roanhaus said of Community Stadium. “But we’ve just got to get off the bus and play. It’s just like that part in ‘Hoosiers.’ It’s a 10-foot basket, and it’s a 100-yard field.”
GAMEDAY
Clovis (1-0) at Cibola (1-0)
7 p.m. today,
Community Stadium, Albuquerque
On the air: KCLV-AM 1240, KCLV-FM 99.1, KTQM-FM 99.9. Streaming online at kclvsports.com at ktqmclovis.com.
Coaches: Clovis, Eric Roanhaus, 38th season, 329-133-5. Cibola, Roderick Williams, third season, 14-9.
Last week: The Wildcats topped Class 5A Goddard 37-14 at home. The Cougars topped Albuquerque High 37-7 at Community Stadium.
Last meeting: 2014, Clovis won at home 28-23. Clovis leads the series overall 10-1, and has won 10 straight.
Clovis leaders: After one game, junior Micah Gray leads the Wildcats with 163 yards rushing on 23 carries and two scores. He also has a 34-yard touchdown reception. … Senior Eli Rodriguez has two catches for 48 yards to lead Clovis, while senior quarterback Daulton Hatley has completed 4-of-10 passes for 96 yards. … Linebacker Jared Duncan leads the way with seven tackles, but is followed closely by juniors Skyler Wadas, Fernando Acosta and Tyrell Clewis (six each).
Cougars players to watch: Gannon Chavez, QB, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Jeremiah Bell, RB/LB, 5-10, 170; Corbin Helphrey, WR, 6-0, 215, Sr.
— Compiled by Kevin Wilson
