No. 10 Cavemen Test No. 8 Eldorado Eagles

By Don Eskins

Nobody said earning a berth in this year’s state playoffs was going to be easy for the Carlsbad Cavemen. And guess what? How right they were!

Once again, in their quest to punch their tickets to this year’s Big Dance, the 10th-ranked Cavemen will take the field as an underdog when they line up against the surprising eighth-ranked Eldorado Eagles on Friday night, October 9, in Albuquerque.

But, according to Cavemen head coach Cale Sanders, regardless of Eldorado’s status, it’s a game they need to win.

“We feel that Eldorado and Organ Mt. are must-wins for us—as was Clovis—if we’re to attain our ultimate goal of hosting a first-round playoff game,” said Sanders. “If we can roll into Las Cruces to take on the Bulldawgs at 6-2 on October 23, we’ll be in great shape for possibly accomplishing that goal.

“We’ll worry about Las Cruces—and Hobbs on October 30—when we get there,” he said. “We’ve already downed Clovis, so right now we’re focused on beating Eldorado.”

Sizing Up the Eagles

However you look at Eldorado, from all indications, this year’s version of the Eagles is for real.

After getting off to a slow start, 0-2-1, the Eagles have won three in a row—three big ones, might we add, all within the confines of District 2/6A play.

Since righting their ship, Eldorado has caged the 12th-ranked Organ Mt. Knights 52-28, the ninth-ranked Hobbs Eagles 47-28, and the fourth-ranked Las Cruces Bulldawgs 21-20.

The victories have catapulted them to the top of the District 2/6A standings alongside second-ranked Volcano Vista, 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference.

“Eldorado, a typical Albuquerque team, has big and strong athletes. Earlier this year, they weren’t sure just where all their players fit personnel-wise,” said Sanders. “But as of late, they’re beginning to figure all of that out. That’s why they’re playing so well right now.

“Offensively, they split out and like to throw the ball around. They have two very talented receivers and a good running back to help them do it,” said the Carlsbad coach. “Defensively, they’ve probably got the biggest front we’ve faced all year, with two very good linebackers behind them. They’re also very solid in the secondary, so they’ll be more than just a formidable opponent.”

A Look at the Cavemen

The Cavemen are 4-2 overall and 1-2 in District 2/6A play.

Having just disposed of their district foe, Clovis, 48-8, to register their first league win of the season, Carlsbad High will be riding a wave of momentum themselves when they face off against the Eagles on Friday night.

And what will the Cavemen have to do to knock off the Eagles?

“We just need to play some very solid football on both sides of the ball and limit our mistakes,” said coach Sanders. “We just want to play Cavemen football, nothing more, nothing less. We want to be physical, throw the ball around a bit, and play 50-50 football, as many runs as passes.”

Coming off their biggest aerial performance of the year, the Cavemen will enter Friday night’s game with renewed confidence in their passing game.

“We were all happy to see our quarterback Marley Munoz have such a great game vs. Clovis,” commented Sanders. “Completing 15 of 21 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns has given him a big shot of confidence, and as we head to Eldorado, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“It was equally pleasing to see all three of our wideouts, Jaden Harper, Jaxson Duarte and Ian Wilson, enjoy big games. All three grabbed touchdown passes,” continued Sanders. “That’s especially true for Ian. Ian had a breakout game with four catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

“Defensively, with senior middle linebacker Colton McKibben calling signals, we play the run pretty well,” said the Caveman coach. “If we can get another good game from them, along with our secondary, we should be in good shape in our effort to get by Eldorado.”

Kickoff for the clash at Albuquerque’s Wilson Stadium is set for 7 p.m.