Wolverines blitz Navajo Prep, advance to Class 2A semifinals

TEXICO – To say Texico barely broke a sweat on Saturday would probably have to be classified as a huge understatement.

The Wolverines, defending Class 2A state champions and the top seed this year, ran nine plays in the first quarter – all in Navajo Prep territory – and scored five times en route to a 52-0 win over the Eagles in a quarterfinal round matchup ending at halftime on the 50-point rule.

Next up for Texico (10-0) is a trip to fifth-seeded Eunice (9-3), a rematch of last year's title tilt in which the Wolverines won 44-7. The teams will play at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Eunice.

Earlier this season, the Cardinals opened a 21-0 second-quarter lead at Texico before the Wolverines roared back to win 36-28.

"Last time we played them they got up 21-0," said senior running back/middle linebacker Alex Fuentes, who accounted for three touchdowns in this one, including a 65-yard punt return. "We don't expect that to happen again, but it should be a closer game.

"We always talk about how you can't overlook anybody. Even for Navajo Prep, we prepared the same way we do for anybody else."

Eunice upended fourth-seeded Tularosa 27-6 on Saturday to advance.

"They're a good football team," Wolverines coach Bob Gilbreath said of the Cardinals. "I feel we're the better team, but that really doesn't matter. We have to go out and lean on the big boys."

Eighth-seeded Navajo Prep (8-3), which beat McCurdy 54-30 in the first round for its first playoff win since 2013, had a lot of things working against it, not the least of which was the 400-mile trip across state.

The Eagles opted to receive the opening kickoff, and the Wolverines quickly took advantage of a wind at their back to put Navajo Prep in a quick hole.

The Eagles got one of their two first downs right off the bat on two offsides penalties against Texico before punting, setting the Wolverines up in Navajo Prep territory. On the second play, Texico lost the ball on a fumble, but after that it was all smooth sailing.

"On film, they executed things really well, but they were predictable by formation," Gilbreath said. "We kind of knew what they were doing before they did."

Junior quarterback Bennett Wahlen went in on runs of 1 yard and six yards, then Fuentes added scoring runs of 1 yard and 13 yards. The final tally of the frame came on a 13-yard run by junior Kye Conley with just under a minute left in the stanza, setting off a running clock.

All those possessions started from the Navajo Prep 26-yard line on in, the result of turnovers and short punts into the brisk breeze.

Fuentes' punt return made it 44-0 early in the second segment, and Whalen's 19-yard TD run capped the scoring with 1:18 left in the half.

Conley finished with 63 yards on just four carries while Fuentes added 62 on five totes. Texico did not attempt a pass in the contest, collecting 206 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Meantime, the Wolverines held Navajo Prep to minus-21 yards, with senior quarterback Xavier Nez completing 8-of-14 passes for no net yards.

Most likely, Texico would also have to travel for the November 30 championship game.

"We have to stay focused and keep doing what we do," Fuentes said. "We want to be a team that's like a train – hard to stop."

Melrose 58, Gateway Christian 6 – At Roswell, the Buffaloes continued to run roughshod through the competition, ending the tilt on the 50-point run about three minutes into the second half.

Melrose (11-0) will face Mesilla Valley (10-1) in the title clash at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Melrose. The Las Cruces-based SonBlazers (edged Fort Sumner 28-22 in overtime on Saturday, but their only loss this season came against Melrose (56-12 on September 27).

"We just kind of clicked on offense," Buffs coach Drew Hatley said. "It was one of our better offensive games of the year."

Junior Jaxon Odom scored four touchdowns for the Buffs (12-0), including an 80-yard kickoff return after Gateway Christian's only score midway through the second segment. He added touchdown runs of 21, 37 and 30 yards, the latter ending the game.

"The weather played a little bit of a factor," Hatley said. "We won the toss and deferred, and we pinned them deep. They couldn't get out of their own shadow."

Senior Josiah Roybal scored on runs of 15 yards and 1 yard, and also tossed TD passes of 15 and 4 yards to senior Nolan DeVaney. Melrose added 2-point conversions on five of its touchdowns.

The lone tally for the Warriors (7-3) came on an 18-yard pass from junior Zack McCracken to senior Raef Fulkerson.