Eagles blank CHS in opener

CLOVIS - Hobbs gave Clovis High's football team a feeling it hadn't had in quite some time on Friday.

The Eagles stormed downfield score on their first possession in each half and generally controlled the game in handing the Wildcats a 21-0 loss in the season opener for both teams at Leon Williams Stadium.

It was the first win for the Eagles over Clovis since a 30-28 triumph in 2013, their second win over the Cats since 2000 and the first by shutout since 1970.

The Eagles last won at Leon Williams Stadium in 1999, the middle of a three-game streak for Hobbs in the series.

"It hurts to lose, no matter who you're playing," Clovis coach Cal Fullerton said. "At the same time, we've got to be better coaches and the kids have to be willing to be coached."

Senior quarterback Colton Graham threw for 134 yards on 12-of-17 passing, finding six different receivers, and also rushed for 78 yards for Hobbs. He got the Eagles' first TD on a 1-yard sneak, capping 11-play, 80-yard drive, then ended any doubt about the outcome with a 22-yard scoring strike to junior Jordan Chism in the first minute of the fourth period.

Both teams were a bit shorthanded with players out due to COVID contact tracing.

"It's going to be a strange year," fourth-year Eagles coach Ken Stevens said. "We had three starters out due to COVID (protocols), and I'm sure Clovis had some kids missing, too. But I'm proud that we found a way to win."

Typical of an early-season matchup, both teams had 12 penalties. The Cats, in fact, overcame three false-start infractions on a second-quarter possession and rode a 20-yard run from junior R.J. Nora on a fake punt to set up one of their few scoring chances of the night.

When they did get opportunities, though, they weren't able to convert.

"Overall, I thought the effort was there," said Fullerton, who had nine varsity players out due to contact tracing. "We made some (bad) mistakes. We're going to have to practice harder and coach harder, and just try to get better every week."

Senior running back Angel Chavarria carried 17 times for 61 yards for the Cats, and also caught a 39-yard pass from quarterback Milo Acosta early in the final period. But the team's only run of more than nine yards came on the fake punt.

Meantime, Graham was able to help the Eagles stay in control.

"He's a good athlete," Sanders said. "He's a great kid and makes good decisions."

Last spring, Graham and the Eagles narrowly missed winning in Clovis as the Cats held on late for a 14-10 triumph.

"We knew coming in he was a good quarterback," Fullerton said.

The Cats got an early opportunity when junior Ezequiel Coronado recovered a muffed punt by Hobbs at the Clovis 25, but they couldn't do anything with it. They had another scoring chance in the final period, reaching the Hobbs 9 with the help of three Eagles personal-foul penalties, but turned the ball over on downs after Acosta came up empty on two passes to the end zone.

Fullerton said he didn't want to use the players missing to contact tracing as an excuse.

"When Zeke got that muffed punt, we've got to be good enough to get into the end zone," Fullerton said. "Our mission around here is 'next man up,' and we had some guys play well who were playing some positions they're not used to. Hopefully, it'll help them understand how fast a (Class) 6A football game is."

The Cats will look to bounce back on Friday night when they host El Paso Ysleta, the first time they've faced each other since 1976.