Cats to face rival Hobbs on Friday

Another week, another challenge for Clovis High’s football team.

Coming off one of their better performances of the campaign, the Wildcats visit longtime rival Hobbs in a 7 p.m. District 3-6A contest on Friday.

Hobbs (3-4, 1-2 district) has alternated wins and losses throughout the season. Last Friday, the Eagles were dealt a 51-12 setback at second-ranked Centennial (7-0, 3-0).

Meantime, the Cats (0-7, 0-3) led 24-21 at halftime against Organ Mountain on Friday at Leon Williams Stadium and hung around until the fourth quarter in a 42-24 loss to the Knights.

“They’re pretty good,” first-year CHS coach Stan Hodges said of the Eagles. “They may have the biggest defensive line I’ve seen all year – I’m talking like 300 pounds-plus. They’re tough to block.”

While Hobbs’ first four games were all decided by less than 10 points, none of the last three has been closer than a 28-point margin.

Hodges said the Eagles like to throw the ball, but bring some elements of the single-wing offense to the field.

Senior quarterback Brock Beaty has completed 91-of-176 passes for 1,306 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Sophomore running back Shamus Wright (59 carries, 462 yards, three TDs) and sophomore RB Omarrion Kennedy (58 carries, 328 yards, four tallies) lead the ground game.

While the Cats piled up more than 400 total yards against Alamo, all three of their touchdowns came on big plays. Hodges said he’s looking for the team to sustain drives a bit more.

Friday’s effort against the Knights should give the team a shot of confidence.

“We’re always going to build off (the game from) the week before,” Hodges said. “I told the kids, ‘I know how it’s been going, but we just have to keep our heads up.’”

Rams have bye – Portales High has a bye this week. The Rams (4-4, 2-2 District 2-4A), who lost at home to St. Pius on Friday 48-18, return to action on Oct. 26 at Albuquerque Academy before hosting Chaparral in their regular-season finale on Nov. 1.