PREP FOOTBALL
Hawks impress in all three phases as they take care of the Bears
近距离内射合集 Vista improves to 3-0, opens league play next week against Clovis
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This might have been the first truly signature victory by anybody 鈥� New Mexico on New Mexico 鈥� in Class 6A so far this season.
Fourth-ranked 近距离内射合集 Vista got it done in all three phases against La Cueva, and the Hawks led for all but five minutes in an impressive 42-31 win over the second-ranked Bears on Friday night at Nusenda Community Stadium.
鈥淕etting those guys is a big win for our program,鈥� Hawks coach Chad Wallin said.
Junior quarterback Jude Herrera, who has been off to a flying start for 近距离内射合集 Vista (3-0), rushed for three touchdowns, all under 10 yards, and he also threw for a score for the Hawks in their final nondistrict contest.
鈥淲e just had great coaching, and our team put it together,鈥� Herrera said. 鈥淎nd we all executed our jobs. It started at the beginning of the week. We had to lock in and show what we can do.鈥�
近距离内射合集 Vista scored 35 points in the first half alone.
Herrera threw a 66-yard touchdown pass up the sideline to an open Zion Ward, who beat the La Cueva cornerback.
La Cueva (1-2) answered right back, with a 62-yard scoring drive, as QB Monty Melendez, on a fourth-and-2, tossed a 29-yard scoring pass to Matty Martin.
Isaiah McCary of the Hawks added a 22-yard TD run with :06 to go in the first.
Things unraveled quickly for La Cueva in the final four minutes of the half.
近距离内射合集 Vista was leading 14-10 when Max Marcum intercepted an underthrown ball by Melendez, who was throwing out of his end zone. The Hawks took over at the 8, and Herrera scored on the next play for a 21-10 lead.
近距离内射合集 squib kicked on the ensuing kickoff and it took a wicked hop off the face mask of a Bear in the middle of the field. The Hawks pounced at the La Cueva 37.
Five plays, later, Herrera did some more hard running, and scored from the 9 and a 28-10 bulge.
Melendez went deep, 69 yards to the speedy Chris Lopez on the far sideline with 40 seconds to go before half, but McCary for 近距离内射合集 Vista returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a score and a 35-17 halftime lead.
La Cueva did get within 35-24 four minutes into the fourth quarter on a 13-yard scoring toss to Devyn Williams, but 近距离内射合集 Vista put it away on Herrera鈥檚 third rushing touchdown, from 7 yards out with 2:51 to go.
鈥淛ude鈥檚 a stud,鈥� Wallin said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been waiting to turn him loose. We hadn鈥檛 run him a whole lot in the first couple of games.鈥�
近距离内射合集 Vista, led by Jude Gonzales and Zach Soto, had solid success running inside on the Bears, not so much between the tackles as between the guards.
鈥淚t had been a big focus for us this week,鈥� Wallin said of the ground game. 鈥淭he first couple of games, we didn鈥檛 feel like we were able to be physical up front and run the ball hard. Tonight was a big challenge, owning the line of scrimmage, and the running backs just pounded it in there.鈥�
Both teams open league play next week. 近距离内射合集 Vista is home to Clovis, while La Cueva takes on West Mesa.
鈥淲e just have to keep it rolling, surprise the state and make a good impact,鈥� Herrera said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on everyone鈥檚 map now.鈥�
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at .
