Clovis faces tough Texas test

CLOVIS - As Monday's football practice was wrapping up at Clovis High School, the dust from last Friday's 60-27 win over Lubbock Monterey was still settling.

Wildcats junior quarterback Chance Harris was coming off a weekend in which he threw more touchdown passes than Tua. Clovis' defense was coming off a weekend in which it contained a loaded and lethal Monterey attack.

And yet, the Wildcats were no longer basking in the glow of trouncing a Lubbock team, one that had beaten them by double digits a year earlier. The 'Cats were back to business Monday, knowing they still faced two more games against Lubbock teams, then four district games after that.

"We had a really good practice today. We talked to our kids early about not being satisfied with last week," Clovis head coach Cal Fullerton said. "If what you did last week was important, that means you haven't done much this week. We've come off a big win, but we know we've got bigger things ahead of us. We've got to keep working, keep getting better each week."

"We had a really good day on offense for a Monday," Harris said. "The line was really sharp."

All the Wildcats will need to be sharp this Friday at Lowrey Field (7:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time, 6:30 p.m. MDT), when they make their first Lubbock visit since playing Monterey there on Sept. 14 of last year. A week after that Monterey game, Clovis hosted Coronado and was dealt a 34-7 loss. The Wildcats may be more successful when facing the Mustangs this year, but it likely won't be any easier.

Blair Conwright - who had a 100-yard pick-six and 65-yard touchdown reception in last year's matchup at Leon Williams Stadium - is now playing receiver for Texas Christian University. But Coronado quarterback Sawyer Robertson is still just a junior. It was Robertson who threw that touchdown bomb to Conwright.

And that's just one example of an already-impressive résumé. Robertson, who lists at 6-3 1/2, 190 pounds, was selected as the 2018 Texas District 2-5A-I Offensive Newcomer of the Year after passing for 3,683 yards and 43 touchdowns. So far this season, he has passed for 843 yards and seven touchdowns, with three interceptions.

Robertson has offers from Southern Methodist, Wisconsin and Tulsa, and according to one online scouting report, is a "High-major QB prospect with (a) long-term NFL Draft ceiling." Another online report describes Robertson as a "Pro-Style Quarterback."

His Mustangs are 1-2, though, notching their first win of the season by defeating Odessa 44-27 last Thursday. Coronado's two prior games were competitive losses - 36-30 against Estacado on Aug. 30, and 35-21 at Lubbock Cooper on Sept. 6.

Fullerton knows the Mustangs can't be taken lightly, even with their sub-.500 record.

"Oh gosh, they're really good," Fullerton said. "Their record doesn't show how good they are; they were in both of the football games that they lost and had chances to win. So they could easily be 3-0. ... They just got their first victory; I know they were hungry for it, so they've probably got some momentum going into this week. They know what they did to us last year at home here in Clovis, so they're going to be high up, their coaches are going to have their kids ready to play."

Clovis too will be ready, pumped to achieve a 4-1 start, which the program hasn't done since 2008. The Wildcats started 3-1 in 2016 and '17, but suffered Week 5 losses against Lubbock Cooper each year. It took double overtime in 2017, but the 'Cats lost 35-28 and dropped to 3-2.

Even after a couple of 3-0 starts in the past 10 years (2009, '15), the 'Cats were 3-2 five games in.

They'll give 4-1 another go this Friday, but what's the best way to get there? Clovis was able to pass with ease last week against Monterey, with Harris notching over 400 yards and six touchdowns through the air. Every team is different, but Fullerton says the approach against Coronado should be generally the same.

"We're going to do what we do," he said, "try to take what the defense gives us, and hopefully we'll be able to move the ball, take time off the clock, keep our defense off the field. They've got a real high-powered offense and they like to hurry up, like to get it in the end zone a lot, try to get your defense off balance."

"We've just really got to execute, passing and running," Harris said. "Discipline, for sure. ... Playing as a team, obviously, and playing as hard as we can."

No matter how much Clovis prepares, taking on another Lubbock team, this time in Lubbock, is what it is - a tough obstacle between the Wildcats and win No. 4.

"Yeah, for sure. I think it's their homecoming, too," Fullerton said. "So they'll have a good crowd, their student section will be fired up, their kids will be fired up. So it'll be a challenge."