New Clovis football schedule drops - sans Hobbs

Normally, it's Halloween that falls in the midst of a high school football season, not Easter.

But this is no normal time.

The New Mexico Activities Association, in response to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's announcement that there would be no contact sports in the fall, has allowed for high school football to play a late winter and spring schedule. And that schedule dropped for Clovis High this past week, with the 6A Wildcats kicking off against reigning 5A champion Roswell on the road, March 5 at 7 p.m.

The schedule is somewhat different than the one Clovis was originally supposed to play, beginning Aug. 21 at Hobbs.

A big difference? Fewer games, and Hobbs is not on it.

The traveling trophy rivalry that has had an installment every year since 1967 will take a holiday, a COVID-induced holiday.

"Man, it's frustrating for sure, because they're our rival," said Wildcats quarterback Chance Harris, who will be a senior. "But I'm just glad we get to play at all this year."

Still, no Hobbs? No Hawbs?

"We always look forward to playing those guys," Clovis head coach Cal Fullerton said. "But with the shortened season and everything else, you're trying to scramble for games. ... Luckily we were able to get Roswell High in there - two-time defending state champs in 5A. We always want to play tough teams before district, and this will be no different. Either way you look at it, we've got a very good game, good competition, good coaching staff with Roswell High, so it'll be a great test."

Though the Hobbs game will be missed, Clovis could have done a lot worse than Roswell for an opener.

"They are a pretty good team; they're not bad at all," Harris said. "It's for sure going to be a tough game."

The revised regular-season schedule will be seven games as opposed to the usual 10-game stretch.

After visiting Roswell on that first Friday in March, the Wildcats trek to Albuquerque on March 12 for a clash with La Cueva, a 2018 state 6A champion that Clovis ousted in the state tournament's opening round last year at Leon Williams Stadium.

Then come two new district opponents, with a road game at Albuquerque High on March 19 and the home opener against Santa Fe on March 26.

On April 2, Manzano comes to Leon Williams Stadium. The Wildcats then close their regular-season slate with an April 9 road game against Sandia in Albuquerque, and an April 16 home clash with Eldorado.

"I think the schedule's pretty solid," Harris said.

"It is the exact same order that we were going to play our district (on the original schedule)," Fullerton noted.

The state quarterfinals are scheduled for the weekend of April 23-24, the semifinals for the weekend of April 30-May 1, and the championship for the weekend of May 8-9.

Playing from March until May, like a spring sports team, could be an adjustment.

"I used to coach golf," Fullerton said, "and I know the weather can be a little crazy at that time. We're going to have to battle the wind and the cold. You never know if it's going to be sunny or what it's going to do. I think as coaches, our staff adapts to things as well as anybody does. Whatever the weather throws at us, I think we'll be alright."

Most importantly, there is a football schedule to look forward to. It might be at a strange time of year, it might be a bit shorter, but it's a football schedule ready and waiting for the Wildcats to dive in.

"I'm glad we got our schedule finalized," Fullerton said. "It'll be a little different not playing Hobbs, but it is what it is - 2020, you'll take what you can get."