Cavemen Square Off Against Organ Mountain

By Don Eskins

Building positive resumes couldn’t be more important for prep football teams throughout New Mexico, especially for all those aspiring to join the NMAA’s list of elite state playoff candidates.

Coaches and teams all know that when the NMAA meets at the end of October to place teams on this year’s state tournament bracket, wins and losses couldn’t be more important to the selection committee.

So, with three games remaining on most prep gridiron schedules, closing out the 2026 season on a high could put them in the mix when it comes time for the NMAA to fill out this year’s 12-team state tournament bracket.

That’s especially true for teams hoping to host a first-round state playoff game, teams like the Cavern City’s Carlsbad Cavemen.

With the possibility of achieving that goal still on the table, the next three games, starting with the Organ Mt. Knights in Carlsbad on Friday night, October 16, couldn’t be more important for the CHS Blueclads.

Kickoff for the District 2/6A clash is set for 7 p.m. at the Ralph Bowyer Cavemen Football Stadium.

Cavemen Cinched Up for Knights

For prep football teams, getting to state entails a lot of variables. There’s keeping healthy, executing on the field, winning the ones you’re supposed to, and playing tough in the ones you aren’t.

So far, in posting a 4-3 record, Carlsbad has checked at least three of the four boxes in just about all seven of their games. They’ve thankfully stayed healthy, won the ones they’re supposed to, and on Friday night, October 9, in Albuquerque, played tough in one they weren’t before dropping a 22-21 decision to the eighth-ranked Eldorado Eagles.

Squaring off against the Organ Mt. Knights is another one they’re supposed to win, at least says the MaxPreps oddsmakers.

When the two teams take the field on Friday night, the ninth-ranked 4-3 Cavemen appear to be an easy pick to defeat the 13th-ranked 3-4 Organ Mt. Knights.

In facing off against their only common opponent in 2026, the Cavemen lost to Eldorado 22-21; the Knights fell to the Eagles 52-28.

But despite Friday night’s pick, Cavemen head coach Cale Sanders says the Knights will be getting lots of respect from the Cavemen.

“Organ Mt., with a few wins down the stretch, would have a great chance at sliding into this year’s playoff bracket. That makes them a very scary team,” said Sanders. “They’ll be getting a lot of respect from us.

“We can’t afford to let them hang around,” he said. “We need to jump on them early and then do what we didn’t do at Eldorado. We need to close them out.”

Organ Mt. Hanging On

The Knights, ranked 13th, are 3-4 on the year and 0-4 in District 2/6A.

After opening 2026 play with three straight victories over Deming, Mayfield, and Alamogordo, Organ Mt. has dropped four in a row to conference foes Eldorado, 52-28; Las Cruces, 42-7; Hobbs, 52-12; and Centennial, 34-0.

But the Knights still have a lot to play for. Although they face an uphill climb with Carlsbad, Clovis, and Volcano Vista remaining on their schedule, winning at least two of their three remaining games could still earn them a spot in this year’s playoffs at 5-5.

With Volcano Vista currently ranked second in Class 6A, registering wins over Carlsbad and Clovis appears to be the most likely avenue for the Knights to pick up the two they need.

On the other side of the picture, a loss to the Cavemen would almost certainly put an end to their dream of being a player in the 2026 New Mexico Big Dance.

Cavemen fans can bet on one thing: Organ Mt., hoping to turn their season around against CHS, will have no plans for hanging their season up early.

Cavemen Probable Lineup

OFFENSE: Linemen: Left tackle, sophomore Carlo Chavez; left guard, senior Lincoln Adsero; center, senior Nathaniel Olivas; right guard, junior Makai Yorgensyn; and right tackle, junior Hector Nava. Backfield: Quarterback, No. 2, Marley Munoz, and running back, No. 27, Brock Wright; wide receiver corps, No. 11 Jaden Harper; junior Ian Wilson; sophomore Josiah Fuentes; and right end, senior Braden Florez.

DEFENSE: Linemen: Nose tackle, junior Sean Cruz; defensive end, senior Isaiah Gaitan; and defensive end, senior Jaedyn Lynch; Linebackers: senior Colton McKibben; junior Trey Barta; and junior Juan Rubio; Secondary: senior Lennon Ananins, safety/cornerback; senior safety Damian Valencia; and senior cornerback Noah Gonzales.

(Two spots on the Cavemen’s defensive unit, one on the line and another in the secondary, have yet to be filled. Coach Sanders plans to fill the positions by committee.)