Cavemen vs Knights in District Clash By Don Eskins With only two games left on this year’s football schedule, both district tussles, it’s most definitely ‘Crunch Time’ for the Cavemen. The Cavemen, who have struggled during their last four outings, sit at 2-5 on the year and 0-2 in this year’s tough District 3/4A.After jumping out to a 2-1 start, with wins over Artesia (31-6) and El Paso Coronado (19-0), Carlsbad High has lost four straight. While their mid-season tail spin may be puzzling, it also raises the question, are this year’s state playoffs still in the cards for the Blue Bunch? The answer to that question is yet to be told. But, in their effort to get a berth in this year’s state playoffs, another loss could be devastating for the 11th ranked Cavemen. However, victories over the next two week’s opponents, could only bolster their opportunity to make it to this year’s Big Dance. That means the Cavemen need to win tonight’s game (Oct. 22), here in Carlsbad, against the 14th ranked Organ Mt. Knights, and next week’s encounter with the 8 ranked Hobbs Eagles, in Hobbs. The Knights will take the field, at Ralph Bower Caveman Stadium, coming off a 34-29 win over the Gadsden Panthers last week. The victory pushed their seasonal mark up to 4-4. As with the Cavemen, they are also 0-2 in district play following losses to Hobbs and Centennial. Carlsbad and Organ Mt. have had two common opponents this year. Both teams were defeated by the state’s top ranked Rio Rancho Rams (the Knights 61-7 and the Cavemen 50-0) and both have lost to District 3/4A leader Centennial (the Knights 52-14 and the Cavemen 35-0).Go Cavemen-beat the Knights! Cross Country Teams aim for District Title By Don Eskins For the past several weeks, Carlsbad High School’s cross-country teams have been preparing for this year’s conference championship. They won’t have to prepare much longer. Next Friday, Oct. 29th, the Cavemen and Cavegirls will travel to Roswell to compete in this year’s District 4A Championship meet. Carlsbad High finished out its regular season schedule on Thursday, Oct. 21, in Lovington. The Lovington meet served as a final tune up for the Cavemen and Cavegirls, before they toe the line at next week’s district final, and according to head cross country coach Leisha Young, there was a lot of work be done there. “We were still in our business as usual mode in Lovington. And even though it was our last regular meet of the season, it was really an important one, for a couple of reasons.” said coach Young. “First, our kids got one more opportunity to race against the other teams in our district, and second, it helped us to find out if there might be a few more adjustments we needed to make before district.” Only one week away from this year’s district championship meet the CHS coach said she feels that her teams are beginning to peak at just the right time. “At this time the boys team is running stronger than they have all season,” said Young. “The mid-season addition of eighth grader Liam Nelson has really helped to solidify our strong six member boys team.” “As for the girls several of them have really stepped up to fill in a few varsity spots so we can run a full team at district,” she said. “Rae Ann Carrasco and Anahi Barera have been putting in the extra work they needed to join Mikayla Jefferson, Elena Reed and Kennedy Johns on the varsity squad. ”Results of the Lovington meet will be posted in next week’s edition of the Local.