Dove Creek deals Buffs second loss of season

ALBUQUERQUE — Never mind that Melrose is off to a 2-2 start this season under first-year coach Drew Hatley.

It won’t be a surprise if the Buffaloes make a run at an eighth consecutive trip to the 8-man state finals, looking for a sixth title in that span.

So far this season, the Buffs have tested themselves with a pair of neutral-field games against top Colorado foes. They’ve lost both, including a 64-34 decision to Dove Creek on Friday, but they may not see any better opponents all year than the Bulldogs or top-ranked Mancos.

In Friday’s clash, played at Menaul H.S., the Buffs pulled to 30-28 late in the half on a 23-yard pass from sophomore Josiah Roybal to freshman Jaxon Odom and a 2-point conversion run by junior Dathan Yeary.

Dove Creek, though, tacked on a score on a long pass play before time expired, then put the game away with a 20-0 domination of the third stanza.

Senior quarterback Kade Hankins threw for two touchdowns and rushed for 276 yards and three scores for the Bulldogs (3-0). Junior running back Gage Buffington also tallied three TDs.

For the Buffs, Roybal threw four TD passes, two each to Odom and Yeary.

Melrose figures to get another stiff test this week when it hosts Lordsburg, in its first-year in 8-man after dropping from the Class 2A level.

In other New Mexico area games on Friday night:

Olton 34, Texico 20 — The host Mustangs scored twice in the final two minutes to break open a tie game and hand the Wolverines their first loss of the season in four games.

Olton (3-0) intercepted five passes in the game, the last resulting in a 75-yard touchdown return by senior Jake Soliz in the closing seconds to ice the win.

Junior QB Cade Figg scored twice for Texico on runs of 26 and 6 yards, while sophomore running back Alex Fuentes got the Wolverines’ first tally on a 1-yard run. Junior Kyle Gonser added a 2PAT run after Figg’s second TD, giving Texico a 20-13 lead at the time.

Friday night, the Wolverines are slated to host border rival Farwell.

Dora 52, Carrizozo 0 — At Dora, the Coyotes blew out to a 46-0 halftime lead and ended the game early in the final quarter on the state’s 50-point lead rule.

Seniors Connor Rooney and Kegan Rodriguez and junior Cole Kircher all scored twice for Dora. Rooney caught a pair of touchdown tosses from senior Lane Faver, who also tossed a TD pass to Kircher.

Kircher’s other score came on a 2-yard run, two plays after returning a fumble by the Grizzlies (0-3) to the Carrizozo 5. Combs and sophomore Mason Christensen each added a rushing TD for the Coyotes.

Dora travels to Animas on Saturday.

Also, Grady (1-3) absorbed a 56-0 loss to Gateway Christian on Friday night in Roswell, while Floyd (0-2) was beaten at Animas 64-12 on Saturday. Grady has an open date this week, while Floyd visits Carrizozo on Friday night.