Cavemen Take On Hobbs in State Quarterfinals

By Don Eskins

Carlsbad High, alive and well in this year’s Class 6A state football tournament following their 35-13 upset victory over the Rio Rancho Rams on Saturday, November 8, in Rio Rancho, will take on the Hobbs Eagles in quarterfinal action of the Big Dance on Friday night, November 14, in Hobbs.

Kickoff for the clash is set for 7 p.m.

Hobbs, idle with a bye during first-round play and seeded third for this year’s state tournament, will enter the clash at 8-2. The Cavemen, seeded 11th, are 6-5.

The two teams met in Hobbs on Friday, October 31, in their final regular-season game. The Eagles upended the Cavemen 31-13 to get the win.

But since then, a lot has happened around the Cavemen camp. Just ask the Rio Rancho Rams. The Rams, seeded seventh in this year’s state tournament, will watch the rest of the playoffs from home after their 35-13 first-round loss to Carlsbad.

Milestones continue to follow the Cavemen in their effort to grab a state title in 2025. Their win over Rio Rancho marked the first state playoff victory for Carlsbad in 15 years.

Cavemen vs. Hobbs Eagles

Although the Hobbs Eagles downed the Cavemen 31-13 earlier this year, it should be more than safe to say that the Eagles won’t be facing off—in Friday night’s quarterfinal round of action—against the same team they defeated on October 31.

Since upsetting Rio Rancho, the Cavemen will be playing with renewed confidence.

“We didn’t play well at all in our 31-13 loss to Hobbs. We turned the ball over six times in the game, a good example of just how poorly we played,” said Caveman head coach Cale Sanders. “You can’t do that and expect to beat a team as talented as Hobbs.

“But our kids really stepped up their play to defeat Rio Rancho, and as a result, they’re a much more confident team now,” he said. “So confident are they that they now have a swagger about them. They’re ready to take on Hobbs again, and if they execute the things we need to do, they’re going to be in good shape this time against the Eagles.”

Cavemen 35, Rio Rancho 13

Nobody made more noise during Class 6A first-round state tournament action than Carlsbad.

The Cavemen, seeded 11th for this year’s Big Dance, registered the tourney’s only upset during opening-round play. Not only did they register an upset, but they did so in dominating fashion, crushing the seventh-seeded Rio Rancho Rams, 35-13.

“I honestly don’t think many people felt like we could play with Rio Rancho,” said Caveman head coach Cale Sanders. “Most felt like we’d take the field against the Rams on Saturday, November 8, and then on Monday, November 10, following a decisive loss to Rio Rancho, would be checking in our equipment.

“But the kids and coaches in our field house felt like we could play with Rio Rancho,” said Sanders. “And after our first series against the Rams, I knew our kids could not only play with Rancho Rancho, but they could also beat them.”

En route to the victory, the Cavemen outgained the Rams by 121 yards, 362 to 241. Of Carlsbad’s 362 yards, 162 came via the air and 200 on the ground.

“Although we only threw 15 times, we were effective. Marley Munoz hit eight of his 15 attempts for 200 yards and two touchdowns, both to senior wideout Robert Castaneda, who gathered in four catches for 108 yards. Marley also rushed for another 79 yards and a score,” said the Caveman coach.

“Also, Brock Wright had a typical Brock day. He ran hard for 121 yards and a touchdown on just 19 carries,” he added.

“We also got our best effort of the season from our defensive line. They played tough all afternoon. In limiting the Rams to just 241 total yards, they held the normally potent Rams ground game to just 34 yards,” said Sanders. “Our offensive line also played much better.”

Stepping up defensively for the Cavemen in their 35-13 upset victory over Rio Rancho were: Sacks: Zayland Pesante and Isiaha Almodovar, one each; interceptions: Rio Sanchez, Ty Young, and Robert Castenada, one each; total tackles: Juan Rubio, 16, Reenson Akwiembi, 11, Colton McKibben, nine, and Ty Young, eight; tackle for losses: Isiaha Almodovar, two, and Lennon Ananins, Robert Castaneda, Colton McKibben, Rio Sanchez, and Zayland Pesante, one.

First Round Results: eighth-seeded Los Lunas 28, ninth-seeded Piedra Vista 24; fifth-seeded La Cueva 41, 12th-seeded Eldorado 7; seventh-seeded Volcano Vista 14, 10th-seeded Cibola 10; 11th-seeded Carlsbad 35, seventh-seeded Rio Rancho 13.

Quarter Final Matches: Friday, November 14: first seed Las Cruces vs. eighth seed Los Lunas; second seed Cleveland vs. seventh seed Volcano Vista; third seed Hobbs vs. 11th seed Carlsbad; Saturday, November 15: fifth seed La Cueva vs. fourth seed Centennial.