By Lee Roy Lucero
Enchantment Sports Staff Writer
The 2019 New Mexico high school football season started out with a monstrous BANG! Great games all around, and thanks to ProView Networks and Twitter I was able to be st, watch or get updates from most of the games in the state.
Don’t sleep on Enchantment Sports as we will be working hard to provide you all with news and views for both the football and basketball season. Spread the news and let people know we are here.
Last week Enchantment Sports spoke with ProView Network’s Sebastian Noel THE authority of local high school sports, host of Local Focus, and part time contributor to this website, about this week’s games. We will continue to do so as he is the man in the know!
Also this week, are excited to announce that Dreamstyle Remodeling is the sponsor of Enchantment Sports’ Player of the Week trophy.
Each week of the season Sebastian, Mark Smith and I go back and forth on who should receive this honor. However, since all we do is argue, we want to give you, the local fans, a vote of the top players of the week. We will start a poll via social media where you can choose the young man you feel is deserving of Player of the Week honors!
Russell Gurule joins the fray in this year’s high school coverage as we will be talking to local coaches and players about the week’s games, plays and players that make for an amazing high school sports season.
There is also space for someone like you!
Email Enchantment Sports for a chance to take a crack at being part of our team. Learn from one of New Mexico’s premier sports writers, editor in chief, Mark Smith and agitator-in-chief Lee Roy Lucero, and become an authority like Sebastian Noel.
Diego Debut
What a build up Thursday night as Volcano Vista was hosting defending champion La Cueva. VV quarterback Diego Pavia put on a show vs. the defending champions, but left the game in the fourth quarter. With the second string quarterback also injured, coach Chad Wallin turned to third string quarterback, Nathan Sanchez who calmly came in and protected the lead and game for the Hawks.
“It’s the super bowl,” said THE Authority of Highland vs. Rio Grande — and it might have felt like that for two teams that perennially struggle. Highland defeated Rio Grande 42-18. Congratulations to coach Philip Lovato as that staff is working hard to fill its roster and keep the young men motivated.
He’s a Frosh?
Coach Chad Adcox makes his Sandia debut with a serious ace up his sleeve in running back LeShawn Joseph. THE Authority calls him the second best running back in the state and Joseph did not disappoint starting his season off with a five-touchdown effort that included 154 yards rushing and 64 yards as a receiver.
However, it is the debut of Cibola’s freshman quarterback Aden Chavez who left fans in awe. Chavez three for 400-plus yards with six, yes, SIX touchdown passes. Three of the scores went to Mikey Garcia that upstaged both Adcox’s debut and Joseph’s TD barrage!
It was one of the best games of the weekend, and the Cibola freshman led the Cougars to a 40-35 win.
Game of the week
The Centennial Hawks came to the Metro, and most felt that they would leave on the losing end to Rio Rancho. Rams senior quarterback Isaiah Chavez is poised for a good season and had some big numbers, but some rough ones as well.
The big ones came into play early, as the Rams dominated. Rio Rancho led 33-19 at the half. The Centennial offense, led by Aidan Trujillo, seemed rattled by the Ram’s defense, turning the ball deep in its own territory including a fumble in the end zone.
Rio Rancho drove for another touchdown on the opening drive of the second half and soon tacked on another TD to lead 47-19.
Chavez ended the game with four rushing touchdowns and three passing, but did connect on only 11-of-25 passes with one pick.
Oh yeah, and that 28-point lead? Well, the Hawks decided to keep playing anyway. Incredibly, they rallied to tie it 47-47 to force overtime. And after the Rams scored first in OT — but had the extra point blocked — Centennial’s Gabriel Acosta scored on a 7-yard run and the Hawks added the PAT to win 54-53.
Enchantment Sports spoke with Centennial coach Aaron Ocampo about the game and he said, “I tell the kids, don’t look at the scoreboard. We just keep playing.”
Click here for our interview with Centennial coach Aaron O’Campo
Trujillo came alive in the second half and finished with 370 yards passing — including touchdown tosses of 82, 88, and 65 yards.
Gunslingers, Grinders and Grabs
LeShawn Joseph (Sandia, RB): 154 rushing yards 64 receiving yards, 5 TDs.
Diego Pavia (Volcano Vista, QB): 102 yards rushing and 4 TDs, 118 yards passing
Isaiah Chavez (Rio Rancho, QB): rushed for 4 TDs, passed for 3 TDs.
Aden Chavez (Cibola, QB): 400-plus yards passing and 6 touchdowns.
Mikey Garcia (Cibola, WR): 11 receptions, 213 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Lee Roy Lucero is an Albuquerque native, former editor of The Red Menace website and a play-by-play announcer for ProView Networks. He is Enchantment Sports’ editor of high school sports. For tips or story ideas, contact Lee Roy Lucero at enchantmentsportsNM@gmail.com.
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