Centennial Hawks Drop Cavemen 35-7

By Don Eskins

Following wins over Artesia, Goddard, and Lovington, the Carlsbad Cavemen sustained their first loss of the season, a 35-7 setback to the 2-2 Centennial Hawks, in Las Cruces on Friday night, September 11.

The Cavemen’s offense managed to accumulate just 143 total yards against the No. 3-ranked Hawks, 129 passing and just 14 rushing, while the defense gave up 315, 170 through the air and 145 via the ground.

Quarterback Marley Munoz led Carlsbad’s offensive effort. The senior signal caller made good on 11 of 26 attempts for 129 yards through the air.

“Offensively, we had some protection issues. Centennial was playing a lot of games up front, which caused us a lot of problems,” said Cavemen head coach Cale Sanders. “It wasn’t that we didn’t know what to do; we just didn’t execute well enough to stop the problems they were causing.

“For the first time this season, our kids, several of them first-year starters, got to taste what it’s like to play a good 6A football team. However, the mistakes we made against Centennial are fixable,” he said.

“We still have the biggest part of the season ahead, and all of the goals we’ve set for ourselves are still very much in front of us. We just have to keep moving forward, as players and coaches, if we are to achieve those goals,” Sanders said.

Carlsbad’s lone score came on a second-quarter interception by Colton McKibben. After hauling the ball in, the Cavemen senior MLB ran the ball back from 47 yards out for a touchdown.

Other leading defensive efforts, along with McKibben, who also had two tackles and eight assists, were registered by Isaiah Gaitan with three tackles, three assists, a sack, and a tackle for loss; Bailey King with two tackles, four assists, and a fumble recovery; and Markus Ivan Morales with two tackles, two assists, and a tackle for loss.

Carlsbad High will take the field once again, in hopes of getting their game back on track, against the Volcano Vista Hawks on Friday night, September 18, in Carlsbad.

CAVEMEN SCOREBOARD

Cavemen @ Centennial

Game Summary:

CHS 0 7 0 0 7

Cent 7 14 14 7 35

Game Stats:

CHS Stats CENT

14 Rushing 145

129 Passing 170

143 Total Yds. 315

9 1st Downs 19

0 TOs 2

0 Fum. Lost 1

0 Int. Thrown 1

6/35 Penalties 5/33

Scoring:

2nd Qt., Colton McKibben 47 Yd Interception return for a TD (Lennon Ananins Kick)

OFFENSE:

Passing: M. Munoz, 11-26-129; B. Adsero, 0-1-0, Rushing: J. Duarte, 1-7; B. Wright, 9-4; M. Munoz, 14-3

Receiving: I. Wilson, 2-58; J. Duarte, 4-30; B. Wright, 2-21; J. Harper, 3-20

DEFENSE: D. Valencia, 3T-4A; I. Gaitan, 3T-3A-1Sck-1TFL; C. McKibben, 2T-8A-1 int-TD;

N. Gonzales, 2T-4A; B. King, 2T-4A-1 Fum. Rec; M. I. Morales, 2T-2A-1TFL; Tim Barta,

2T-3A; L. Ananins, 1T-4A; J. Perez, 1T-1A; T. Gillespie, 1T-1A; L. White, 1T; S. Cruz, 8A; J. Rubio, 7A.