Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Cats coach likes effort from young Wildcats squad
RUIDOSO — The Clovis Wildcats got their first taste of hitting somebody in another jersey for a change, and they felt good about the process despite the slight discrepancy on the scoreboard.
In a neutral-site scrimmage at Ruidoso High School, Las Cruces scored five touchdowns to Clovis’ four.
The format of the scrimmage was each squad’s first-team offense getting 15 plays, followed by each team’s second team offense getting 12 plays. The first-team offenses went back out for 15 more plays, and the scrimmage wrapped up with goal-line situations — each offense got four more plays from the 10 and four more plays from the 5.
Clovis’ scores came from the second-team offense on a Caden Zarikta pass to Jaylen Mason and three touchdown runs in the goal-line situations — two from Montez Wright and one from DeMarco Fitch.
The Wildcat first-team offense didn’t score on its 30 plays, but coach Cal Fullerton said that wasn’t indicative of how it played.
“We started on the 30, drove it right down their throats to start the scrimmage,” Fullerton said. “We got to the 10. With the rules, you only get three downs. We ran some plays, didn’t get it in the end zone so we had to go back to the 30.
“Our first team was really good. Line really played well. Our running backs did a good job.”
Fullerton said the Bulldawgs are pretty similar to the Wildcats, with a sophomore quarterback, a young line and a good group at the skill positions.
Though Mason was second-team offense on Wednesday, Fullerton said he expects the senior to get some time with the first-team offense.
“He won’t come off the field on defense,” Fullerton said of Mason, “and he’ll come on in spurts on offense.”
Fullerton also credited middle linebacker Ian Yruegas and free safety Jeston Webskowski with great efforts in the scrimmage.
The scrimmage, Fullerton said, provided plenty of experience to build on heading into the Aug. 24 season opener at Hobbs.
“We had six sophomores getting playing time,” Fullerton said, “and it was really an eye-opener for those guys.”
