Cats prep for opener with three-way scrimmage

RUIDOSO – Second-year Clovis High football coach Andrew McCraw was happy with several things in Wednesday’s three-way scrimmage with Las Cruces High and Artesia, but one thing stood out.

“We came out of it healthy,” McCraw reflected on Thursday.

The Wildcats, who were 3-7 last season but made a late run at a possible Class 6A playoff berth, are slated to open the 2023 campaign on Friday against rival Hobbs at Leon Williams Stadium.

“Our defense played really well against Las Cruces,” McCraw said. “We got a pick (interception) and we had a couple of sacks.

“We did some things really well against Artesia. Them and Roswell (High) are probably the frontrunners in (Class) 5A this year..”

McCraw said the Cats experimented a bit on offense, trying some different things.

“The O-line came off the ball well, and (senior quarterback) Jett (Stone) ran the option really well,” he said. “Our slots (slot receivers) made some big plays in the option game.”

The teams rotated for 10-15 plays with one team’s No. 1 offense going against another side’s No. 1 defense, and the second-teamers getting reps as well.

“Our 2s played really good,” McCraw said. “They went out and executed well. They also had a good goalline stand, and that was good to see.”

After a lengthy domination of Hobbs, the Eagles have been tough on the Cats each of the last two years, winning 21-0 in Clovis in 2021 and 46-7 at Hobbs last season.

McCraw said the Cats are trying to nurse a couple of their lineman back to health before the opener.

“They’re doing a really good job,” he said of his squad. “Hobbs is going to be tough. We’ve just got to keep working for what we’re working for.”