Cavemen vs. Clovis Wildcats for Homecoming

By Don Eskins

It’s Homecoming night, Friday, September 25, at Carlsbad High School.

Taking center stage is a Cavemen vs. Clovis Wildcats conference clash that should provide a packed Ralph Bowyer Cavemen Football Stadium with all the gridiron action they could hope to see. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Currently, Carlsbad is 3-2 on the year and ranked ninth in Class 6A football. Clovis, ranked 15th, sits at 1-4 overall. In district play, as is Carlsbad, they’re 0-2.

But the Wildcats, vastly improved since their sluggish start in 2026, will run onto the Ralph Bowyer Cavemen Football Stadium turf coming off their most impressive showing of the year, a 42-30 loss to the third-ranked Centennial Hawks. That would be the same Hawks that downed Carlsbad earlier this season, 35-7.

Having said all that, there’s still one question yet to be answered. On such a hectic Friday night, will the Cavemen take care of business, or will all the hoopla and distractions associated with Homecoming games tilt the odds of winning toward the Wildcats, picked to drop their fifth game of the season to Carlsbad?

The Clovis Wildcats would like nothing better than to spoil Carlsbad High’s special night. Coming off of their best performance of the year, barring a 28-20 win over the 2-3 Alamogordo Tigers on August 28, what better situation could there possibly be for the Cats to pick up their first conference victory of the year?

Cavemen Braced for Wildcats

Although absorbing two tough losses to Class 6A top five teams Centennial and Volcano Vista, the Cavemen continue to move forward in their effort to get to state.

Although dropping a tough one, 38-17, to the fifth-ranked Volcano Vista Hawks last week, September 18, the Cavemen were within seven points of the Birds, 24-17, during third period play before giving up two more scores down the stretch.

However, barring four untimely turnovers, Carlsbad played even with the Hawks. En route to the win, Volcano Vista picked up 344 yards of total offense; the Cavemen collected 326.

Despite all the hoopla at Carlsbad High this week, a Friday night win against Clovis is crucial for the Cavemen.

As with Clovis, a victory over the Wildcats would put them into the conference win column for the first time this season. However, just as important, a victory would beef up their overall record to help enhance their chances for a possible NMAA invitation to this year’s state playoffs down the road.

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; and sophomore Josiah Fuentes; and tight 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.)