Cavemen Silence No. 4 Las Cruces Bulldawgs 30-17

By Don Eskins

It was a game they needed to win, and win they did! The Carlsbad Cavemen, on a mission to grab a first-round playoff game in this year’s state tournament, not only won, but dominated the fourth-ranked Las Cruces Bulldawgs 30-17 in Las Cruces on Friday night, October 23.

In a total team effort, the Cavemen held the vaunted Las Cruces offense to just 217 total yards, while collecting 324 of their own en route to the victory—a victory that elevated them from a No. 8 rating last week to No. 5 this week, October 25-30.

Carlsbad scored four touchdowns and a 27-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Lennon Ananins in picking up their sixth win of the year, vs. just three losses.

Brock Wright, on runs of 85, 19, and eight yards, carried the ball into the end zone for three of CHS’s scores. Ian Wilson, pulling down a pass from quarterback Marley Munoz for a 30-yard strike, scored the other.

Carlsbad’s defense, while holding Las Cruces to just 84 rushing, kept the Bulldawgs in check throughout most of the night.

That was especially true during the fourth period, a period in which they shut out the Dawgs’ effort to get on the scoreboard. Tied with Las Cruces 17-17 at the end of the third, CHS scored twice in the frame to grab the 30-17 win.

Cavemen defensive safety Damian Valencia, defensive linemen Isaiah Gaitan, and M. Ivan Morales especially enjoyed big nights against the fourth-ranked Bulldawgs.

Valencia registered 10 total tackles and two interceptions; Gaitan, six total tackles, a sack, and two tackles for losses; and Morales, five total tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss, in leading the Cavemen’s defensive effort.

Also having big games were linebackers Colten McKibben, with 13 total tackles, and Juan Rubio with nine.

The Cavemen, in their final game of the season, will host arch-rival Hobbs on Friday night, October 30. The community is encouraged to come out and support the Cavemen in their effort to bring a first-round state playoff game to the Cavern City. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

CAVEMEN SCOREBOARD

Cavemen @ Las Cruces

Game Summary:

CHS-- -7---7---3---13---30

LCHS--7--- 3---7----0---17

Game Stats CHS-- -LCHS

Rushing 190 ------84

Passing 134-----133

Total Yds. 324-----217

1st Dwns 16-------11

TOs 0---------2

Fum. Lost 0---------0

Int. Thrown 0---------2

Penalties 5-35-----9-78

Scoring:

Qt. 1- B. Wright 85 yd. run (L. Ananins kick)

Qt. 2- I. Wilson 30 yd. pass from M. Munoz (L. Ananins kick)

Qt. 3- L. Ananins 27 yd. Field Goal

Qt. 4- B. Wright 19 yd. run (L. Ananins kick); B. Wright 8 yd. run (Failed 2 pt. conv.)

Offense:

Passing: M. Munoz 9-19-134-TD

Rushing: B. Wright 19-142-3TDs; M. Munoz 15-48

Receiving: I. Wilson 5-91-TD; J. Duarte 2-24; J. Harper 1-14; B. Wright 1-5

Defense:

C. McKibben 4T-9A; D. Valencia 3T-7A-2int; L. Ananins 3T-2A; N. Gonzalez 3T-3A; T. Gillespie 2T-1A; J. Rubio 2T-7A; I. Gaitan 2T-4-A-Sack-2TFL; I. Wilson A; M. Ivan Morales T-4A-Sack-TFL; T. Barta T-2A; J. Perez T; U. Caro T; J. Lynch A; S. Cruz 2A.

Stats by Cavemen Football Coach Charles Millar.