Melrose takes season-opening win over Logan

MELROSE - Coming into this season, Melrose has won five of the last six 8-man state football championships.

In this vastly-different and abbreviated campaign, the Buffaloes would love an opportunity to make it six out of seven.

If Friday's season-opening 48-12 win over Logan is any indication, they just might be able to do it. Freshman Michael Cardonita started at quarterback, throwing a 20-yard TD pass to senior Tate Sorgen on the Buffs' first possession, then switched roles with Sorgen and rushed for 218 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Meantime, Sorgen did all right at QB, completing 9-of-16 passes for 215 yards and four TDs - three to senior Devon Bailey - while running for a score as well.

"Michael's a little faster and Tate throws the ball pretty well," Buffs coach Caleb King said in explaining the change. "He threw the ball really well today."

Cardonita said he was OK with the move.

"It doesn't matter to me," he said. "If it helps the team, it helps the team."

In lieu of playoffs, the New Mexico Activities Association is looking at a "bowl" type of game for teams after the four-game regular season, and ostensibly would like to match the top two teams in a class in a would-be championship contest.

While the Buffs finished with 485 total yards against Logan, they were a little slow out of the gates and led just 12-6 late in the second segment before Sorgen connected with the 6-foot-6 Bailey for a 35-yard score on a fourth-and-27 play.

Bailey finished with four catches for 136 yards.

"We've just had so much time off (since the 2019 finals)," King said. "We knew it would be a tough game. Logan was in the (8-man) semifinals last year."

Whatever chances the Longhorns had took an all but mortal blow in the final minute in the half when senior quarterback Wyatt Wright went out with concussion-like symptoms after taking a hard hit on a short run. Logan also lost senior wide receiver Jordan Evans (back) during the second half.

Evans was secured on a board as a precaution before being taken off the field, but King said it's hoped that the injury won't turn out to be severe.

Melrose finished off the win with three touchdowns and three 2-point conversions in the final stanza. The Buffs scored twice and Logan once on the first four plays from scrimmage in the frame.

"The first quarter we weren't doing so good, but the second and third quarters we started playing better," Cardonita said. "We're not perfect. We've got to keep getting better every day."

Melrose's stout defense kept control of the game long enough for the offense to get going. The Buffs held Logan to a net of minus-3 yards on the ground, and 12 of the Longhorns' 22 non-passing plays resulted in losses, including four sacks.

King credited Bailey and Sorgen for leading the way on that side of the ball.

"Devon and Tate have been there for so long, they kind of know where to put everyone," he said. " We have a number of kids in new positions, and it took a while for us to figure it out."

Cardonita said the team is grateful for the opportunity to have a season at this point.

"I've still got three more years, but I'm happy for the seniors," he said.

The Buffs shouldn't face a lot of trouble this Friday when they visit Albuquerque to play Menaul, but they have two toughies to finish their four-game slate when they host Tatum and visit new 8-man entry Fort Sumner.

"Fort Sumner's going to be tough," King said. "They're so talented, and it's a rival game. All the kids know each other and they've played against each other in all the other sports."

Texico 49, Tucumcari 14 - Senior quarterback Gabe Dickerman threw for five touchdowns and the Wolverines cruised, building a 49-0 lead through three quarters against the host Rattlers.

"Our kids were just so hungry to play," Texico coach Bob Gilbreath said. "We had some really good practices leading up to the game."

Dickerman threw scoring passes to junior Cade Collins covering 10 yards in the first quarter and 33 yards in the second, while senior tight end David Davalos hauled in scoring tosses of 15 yards in the first period and 63 yards in the third. The other TD pass was a 22-yarder to senior tight end Josh Myers.

"We really executed things well," Gilbreath said. "We had a lot of big plays.

"Our motto all along has been 'Victory Loves Preparation.' We prepared as well as the state has allowed us to do."

Other Wolverines TDs came on a 35-yard interception return by senior Anders Nelson and a 15-yard run by Collins. Meantime, Gilbreath said the team "had a great game plan" defensively under new defensive co-ordinator Keith Durham.

Texico plays its home opener at 1 p.m. on Saturday against New Mexico Military.