Cavemen Season Ends with Playoff Loss to Hobbs

By Don Eskins

Carlsbad High’s Cavemen football team closed out the 2025 season with a 30-19 loss to the Hobbs Eagles during quarterfinal action of this year’s state tournament in Hobbs on Friday night, November 14.

With the loss, Carlsbad finished the season with a 6-6 record. After posting a 3-3 record in District 3/6A play to finish fourth, the Cavemen were seeded 11th for the state tournament.

Carlsbad upset the Ro Rancho Rams 35-13 in the opening round of the state playoffs on Saturday, November 8, in Rio Rancho to earn the right to meet the Eagles in Friday night’s quarterfinal.

Cavemen 19, Hobbs 30

The 11th-seeded Cavemen, only two games shy of this year’s Class 6A state championship final, fell to the third-seeded Hobbs Eagles 30-19 in quarterfinal action of the state playoffs in Hobbs on Friday night, November 14.

The Cavemen jumped out to a 6-0 lead during opening-quarter play, but after a big Hobbs second period in which the Eagles scored 17 points, CHS found themselves trailing 17-6 at the half.

Carlsbad and Hobbs traded scores in each of the third and fourth periods, however the Cavemen couldn’t overcome their 11-point halftime deficit and fell to the Eagles 30-19.

Sometimes, however, the scoreboard doesn’t reflect all the aspects of a game.

“We were in a dog fight all night long. But our kids never backed off at all. We had more rushing yards, more passing yards, and subsequently more total yards than Hobbs,” said Caveman head coach Cale Sanders. “However, they held onto the biggest stat of the night, a 30-19 win. And during the state playoffs, that’s all that really matters.

“But our loss to Hobbs in no way diminished the great year of football our kids have experienced. With the schedule we faced this season, not many people felt like our kids could earn a berth in the state tournament,” said Sanders.

“However, not only did they earn a berth in the state tournament, but they also upset the 6th-seeded Rio Rancho Rams in the tourney’s opening round.”

Carlsbad’s win over Rio Rancho marked the first state playoff victory for the Cavemen in 15 years.

“I’d have to say that our kids and coaches have a lot to be proud of this year,” said the Caveman coach. “In what has been a season of ups and downs, our kids never quit believing in themselves. What they were able to accomplish this year was very special, as are they.”

Cavemen @ Hobbs Wrap-up CHS 6---0---7---6----19

HHS 0--17---6---7----30

Offensive Stats:

Passing: M. Munoz, 12/24/162yds, TD, 0 int

Rushing: M. Munoz, 20/166 yds., TD; B. Wright, 18/52yds, TD; R. Castaneda, 1/-2.

Receiving: R. Castaneda, 4/96 yds., TD; E. Lopez, 3/22yds; RJ Hernandez, 2/19yds; J. Harper, 2/18yds; B. Wright, 1/7yds.

Defensive Stat Leaders

Total Tackles: T. Young, 10; C. McKibben, 9; J. Rubio, 7; L. Ananins, 6; R. Castaneda, 6; R. Awiembi, 6; D. Valencia, 5.