LOCAL Sports Roundup 10-20-21 Stakes big for Cavemen kickoff in Hobbs By Don Eskins The stakes couldn't be higher for the Carlsbad Cavemen when they take the field against the eighth ranked Hobbs Eagles tonight in Hobbs, America. With bracket berths going out for next week's Class 6A state football tournament tomorrow, Saturday (Oct. 30), this week's 11th ranked Cavemen desperately need to add another win to their 2021 resume. Can the Cavemen step up again? In a must win situation, last Friday night, the Cavemen responded by routing the Organ Mt. Knights 34-20 in a game played at Ralph Bowyer Caveman Stadium here in Carlsbad. Down 13-7 at the half, the Cavemen exploded for twenty-one second half points to grab the 34-20 win. CHS picked up 323 total yards of offense, 237 rushing and 86 passing, on the night. Jesse Rodriguez and Eli A say led the Cavemen offensive effort. Rodriguez ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns, the first from 58 yards out, on 21 carries. A say rushed for 63 yards and scored three touchdowns. He carried the ball for 64 yards, on his final score, after hauling in a shuffle pass from quarterback Dane Naylor. The Cavemen defense also stepped up big time, especially during the second half. The Big Blue stymied Organ Mt.'s offensive efforts throughout the third quarter and allowed the Knights just one late fourth quarter score. Defensive standouts for the Cavemen were Rene Ramos-8.5 tackles and an interception, Jonathan Fuentes-4 tackles and an interception and Saul Ruiz 12.5 tackles and a forced fumble. (Stats by Maxpreps)The victory upped Carlsbad's overall record to 3-5 on the year and 1-2 in District 3/4A play. As a result of their 34-20 victory over the Knights, the Cavemen find themselves ranked 11thamong Class 6A schools in this week's Maxpreps poll as New Mexico high school football teams head into their final week of play. Twelve teams will be given berths to compete for this year's Class 6A state title and while the Maxpreps poll may not be the determining factor, as to which teams will be invited, it will be one of the measuring sticks used by the New Mexico Activities Association as they put together
this year's tournament bracket. However, selections to the NMAA's Big Dance, often do resemble those teams in the Maxprep poll. Sometimes though there are surprises, especially in the eleventh and twelfth spots, where a team can be in the playoffs today and out of them tomorrow. It's happened before and it's happened to Carlsbad. That means the 11th ranked Cavemen, who take the field tonight in their last regular season game, find themselves in another must win situation. Cavemen @ Eagles tale of the tape While the Cavemen will enter tonight's game coming off a win, the Eagles will do just the opposite after dropping a 35-18 decision to District 3/4A champion Centennial last Friday night in Las Cruces. Carlsbad and Hobbs have both played six common opponents this year. Both teams have gone 2-4 in those matchups. The games have been: 1. (W-Carlsbad 31, Artesia 6) (L-Hobbs 14, Artesia 27); 2. (L-Carlsbad 7, Goddard 24) (L-Hobbs 27, Goddard 30); 3. (L-Carlsbad 14, Roswell 21) (W-Hobbs 14, Roswell 0); 4. (L-Carlsbad 13, Las Cruces 42) (L-Hobbs 28, Las Cruces 34); 5. (L-Carlsbad 0, Centennial 35) (L-Hobbs 18, Centennial 35); 6. (W-Carlsbad 34, Organ Mt. 20) (W-Hobbs 56, Mt. Organ 28).Go Cavemen! District 3/4A Standings TeamD 3/4ARecordCentennial4-0 8-1Las Cruces2-14-4Hobbs1-24-5Carlsbad1-2 3-5Organ Mt.0-3 4-5Maxpreps Class 6A Top 15 1. Rio Rancho 7-0 2. Cleveland 9-03. La Cueva8-14. Centennial8-15. Las Cruces 4-46. Cibola5-47. Volcano Vista5-4
8. Hobbs4-59. Eldorado6-310. Sandia4-411. Carlsbad 3-512. Santa Fe6-413. Clovis3-514. Organ Mt.3-515. Atrisco Heritage2-6