Coyotes keep Cats winless

CLOVIS - It started with a safety off a blocked punt, and it didn't get much better from there.

Roswell High used the early two points as a springboard to a 49-0 victory over Clovis High on Friday night at Leon Williams Stadium.

Junior quarterback Manny Fuentez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Coyotes (5-1) handed the struggling Wildcats their sixth loss of the season. CHS averted the 50-point rule when Sanchez missed PAT kick on Roswell High's last two scores.

Clovis, playing without injured junior quarterback Jett Stone after he cut his hand on Thursday, simply couldn't get anything going on offense and never threatened the Coyotes' goalline. Junior running back Kash Roberts filled in under center.

"We tried to do some different stuff early, and it wasn't working," first-year CHS coach Andrew McCraw said. "We were excited about our game play (before Stone's injury), but I just need to prepare better."

McCraw said he didn't thing their was a hangover from the previous week's one-point loss to Eldorado.

"I don't think so," he said. "I thought we had a really great week of practice, and (the team was) ready to go."

Fuentez tossed all three of his scoring passes in the first half, which ended with the Coyotes in front 30-0. He added a 3-yard TD run late in the third quarter, and finished 5-for-7 on PAT tries.

Roswell High kicked off to start the game, held the Cats to a three-and-out and then, after a low snap, blocked the ensuing punt out of the end zone with just over two minutes gone.

Following Clovis' free kick, the Coyotes went 42 yards in six plays, capped by a 13-yard TD pass from Fuentez to junior wide receiver Josh Estrada. After another punt, they made it 16-0 on a 4-yard run by junior fullback Bryce Sanchez.

Roswell High added a pair of second-quarter TDs on Fuentez tosses of 11 yards to senior Sebastian Mendoza and 6 yards to junior Manuel Sigala.

Sanchez finished with 91 yards rushing on 17 carries. Meantime, senior running back Christian Sanchez ran for a second-half tallies of 14 and 23 yards.

Friday night, the Cats visit Albuquerque High to begin District 5-6A action. McCraw said he's unsure of Stone's status for the contest.

"Hopefully, we can get him back," McCraw said.