Cavemen Run by Clovis Wildcats 48-8

By Don Eskins

Carlsbad High’s Homecoming game, billed as a football clash between the Cavemen and Clovis Wildcats, quickly turned into a track meet on Saturday night, September 26, as the Cavemen raced by the Cats 48-8.

With the victory, the Cavemen, who dropped their opening two conference games to Centennial and Volcano Vista, notched their first District 2/6A win of the season. On the year, they’re 4-2. With the loss, Clovis dropped to 0-3 in conference play and 1-5 on the year.

The Wildcats’ expectations couldn’t have been higher when they took to the Ralph Bowyer Cavemen Football Stadium turf, and with good reason. On September 18, they played the fifth-ranked Centennial Hawks tough before falling 42-30 to the same Hawks that had downed Carlsbad 35-7.

But while the Wildcats may have been able to trade punches with the Hawks, they had no answers for slowing down a revved-up Cavemen offense and dug -in defense.

Tale of the Tape

In routing Clovis, the Cavemen reeled off 469 total yards, 206 rushing and 263 passing, while limiting the Wildcats to just 162, 66 on the ground and 96 through the air.

Brock Wright, who gathered 103 yards and two TDs on 18 carries, along with Marley Munoz’s 88 yards and a TD on 11 carries, spearheaded the CHS ground attack.

It was an especially big night for the Cavemen’s aerial game.

Quarterback Marley Munoz, in total command, hit 15 of his 21 attempts in guiding Carlsbad to 263 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Even more impressive was that he completed touchdown tosses to all three wideouts.

Leading the way for CHS’s receiving corps was Ian Wilson, who hauled in four catches for 72 yards and two TDs. Jaden Harper, with four grabs for 61 yards and a TD, also had a big night, as did Jaxson Duarte, who hauled in three catches for 91 yards and a TD.

Duarte’s touchdown strike was especially electrifying as Munoz hit the Carlsbad speedster for an 84-yard score.

Defensively, Carlsbad continued to show improvement in their victory over Clovis. In picking up the win, they held the Wildats to less than 200 total yards.

It marked the second time this season they’ve held an opponent below 200 total yards, the fourth time they’ve limited an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing, and the first time they’ve kept an opponent under 100 yards passing.

Defensive standouts for Carlsbad were Tyler Jaymes Gillespie, two tackles, one assist, an interception, and a fumble recovery; Damian Valencia, two tackles, 11 assists, and a TFL; Colton McKibben, five tackles and five assists; Lennon Ananins, three tackles, three assists, and a TFL; Trey Barta, two tackles, four assists, and a TFL; Isaiah Gaitan, one tackle, seven assists, and a TFL; and M. Ivan Morales, one tackle, one assist, and a TFL.

Eldorado Eagles on Deck

Up next for the Cavemen will be the Eldorado Eagles. The Eagles, ranked eighth, are currently 3-2-1 on the year and 3-0 in District 2/6A play.

On September 26, Eldorado knocked off the fourth-ranked Las Cruces Bulldawgs 21-20. The Cavemen, ranked 10th, will take on the Eagles in Albuquerque on Friday, October 9. Game time has been set for 7 p.m.

Cavemen vs. Clovis

Game Summary:

Clovis 8 0 0 0 8

C-bad 21 13 0 14 48

Game Stats:

C-bad Stats Clovis

206 Rushing 66

263 Passing 96

469 Total Yds. 162

21 1st Dwns 10

2 TOs 3

2 Fum. Lost 2

0 Int. Thrown 1

6/24 Penalties 8/68

Qt. 1: Ian Wilson 32 yd. pass from Marley Munoz, Lennon Ananins kick; M. Munoz 9 yd. run, L. Ananins kick; Brock Wright 6 yd. run, L. Ananins kick

Qt. 2: I. Wilson 26 yd. pass from M. Munoz, Failed 2 pt. conversion; Jaxson Duarte 84 yd. pass from M. Munoz, L. Ananins kick

Qt. 4: B. Jaden Harper 37 yd. pass from M. Munoz, L. Ananins kick; B. Wright 17 yd. run, L. Ananins kick

SCORING:

Qt. 1: Ian Wilson 32 yd. pass from Marley Munoz, Lennon Ananins kick; M. Munoz 9 yd. run, L. Ananins kick; Brock Wright 6 yd. run, L. Ananins kick

Qt. 2: I. Wilson 26 yd. pass from M. Munoz, Failed 2 pt. conversion; Jaxson Duarte 84 yd. pass from M. Munoz, L. Ananins kick

Qt. 4: B. Jaden Harper 37 yd. pass from M. Munoz, L. Ananins kick; B. Wright 17 yd. run, L. Ananins kick

OFFENSE:

Passing: M. Munoz 15-21-263-4TD; Bennett Adsero 0-1

Rushing: B. Wright 18-103-2TD; M. Munoz 11-88-TD; Colton McKibben 1-8; Dominick Pineda 1-4; J. Harper 1-3; B. Adsero 1-0

Receiving: J. Duarte 3-91-TD; I. Wilson 4-72-2TD; J. Harper 4-61-TD; B. Florez 2-33; B. Wright 2-6.

DEFENSE:

C. McKibben 5T-5A; L. Ananins 3T-3A-TFL; D. Valencia 2T-11A-TFL; T. Barta 2T-4A-TFL; T. Gillespie 2T-A-int-Fum Rec; I. Morales T-A-TFL; I. Gaitan T-7A; S. Cruz T-3A; J. Fuentes T-2A; N. Gonzales T-A; J. Lynch 5A; J. Rubio 5A; B. King 4A; L. White A; S. Larez A

Stats by Cavemen coach Charles Millar