WEEK 4 RECAP
Las Cruces started slow, but the Bulldawgs have now jacked up the volume on their season
Cruces battered Hobbs 41-0 in Week 4
Published
As we prepare some crucial showdown games in Week 5, let鈥檚 tie a bow on Week 4 in our latest Touchdown/Chunk Play/First Down/Behind the Chains retrospective:
Touchdown
PURE BULLDAWG: We turn south to Las Cruces, and one of the most impressive wins so far among the Class 6A ranks this season, that being Las Cruces High鈥檚 41-0 beatdown of Hobbs.
The offensive sluggishness that defined the early portion of the season seems to be a thousand miles in the rear-view mirror after Las Cruces rolled into Hobbs and put the hammer down on the Eagles.
The transition period for Las Cruces clearly is over, and you can now see the Bulldawgs have gained their bearings in real time.
The Bulldawgs are averaging close to 250 rush yards per game, and dual-threat quarterback Aldo Gallegos 鈥� who has only attempted 38 passes in four games 鈥� is providing the type of threat with his legs that we see with some of his peers, players like Junior Medrano of Hobbs, for example.
Meanwhile, the Cruces defense just stymied an offense that had been averaging over 40 points a game, and has registered two consecutive shutouts.
The puzzle pieces have appeared to come fully together for Las Cruces.
PICKING UP THE CENT: We鈥檒l stay in Dona Ana County here.
Centennial began the season with a pair of losses 鈥� though the opening 34-7 setback at Cleveland can鈥檛 be held too much against the Hawks 鈥� but have responded the last two weeks with decisive victories over Artesia and Carlsbad. They beat the Cavemen 35-7 on Friday and, notably, shut down Carlsbad鈥檚 outstanding dual-threat QB, Marley Munoz.
The loss of running back Dailen Ramirez in the second half of the Artesia game could prove to be a lengthy absence for Centennial, making the Carlsbad victory all the more impressive.
The Hawks, like Las Cruces, have shifted gears. The Hawks鈥� roadie a week from Saturday here in Albuquerque against 近距离内射合集 Vista looms as a big one, since only one of those two Hawks is likely to be a top-four seed come November.
Chunk Play
BURN THAT ORANGE: Week 4s are not usually associated with the term 鈥樷�渕ust win,鈥� but that was fairly close to Eldorado鈥檚 predicament as it visited the Field of Dreams on Saturday.
The Eagles were not just winless at 0-2-1; their struggling defense had given up 144 points in three games 鈥� and there were still a slew of formidable teams ahead of them in their district.
The district opener paired the burnt orange with 3-0 Organ Mountain, and Eldorado summoned its best performance of the season to date, putting up 38 points in the first half in what eventually was a 52-28 victory over the Knights.
I am of the opinion that the top seven teams in the eight-team 2-6A will qualify for the playoffs, and a loss to Organ Mountain, frankly, would have put Eldorado in a bad spot, even in the middle of September.
The MaxPreps computer loved the Eldorado result; the Eagles jumped 34 spots in the state鈥檚 overall rankings.
First Down
DEXTER, NOT THE CABLE DRAMA: Dexter鈥檚 22-21 road win in Santa Rosa was not a district victory, but it does carry much weight as the second-ranked Demons鈥� margin over the third-ranked Lions might pay seeding dividends down the road in what is, as usual, a super competitive Class 2A division. Dexter moves up two classes this week to face Valencia, a 3-0 outfit in Class 4A.
A WELCOME CAMEO: The Texico Wolverines hardly ever make an appearance in the metro area 鈥� not counting state basketball tournaments 鈥� but their football team is venturing our way this week, with a road game at Legacy Academy (a game being played at Bernalillo HS). This is a double kudo: to Legacy for being bold enough to schedule the three-time defending state champions, and to Texico for agreeing to play a game that frankly they don鈥檛 need to schedule.
OUTSIDE THE BOX: I鈥檝e seen countless homecoming ceremonies in my career; Sandia鈥檚 staging last week was as efficient and modestly creative as any I can remember. Good on them.
Behind the Chains
ZERO SUM EQUATION: If we assign significance to Eldorado鈥檚 Week 4 triumph, then we must assign a concurrent word of caution to the Organ Mountain Knights.
When the music ends in the regular season, one team in 2-6A is, to me, going to be left without a chair. This loss to Eldorado increases the chances that that one team could be Organ Mountain.
To that end, it鈥檚 not too much of a stretch to suggest that the loser of the OM-Clovis game on Oct. 30 at Leon Williams Stadium could be a team with its palms and face pressed up against the window, looking in from the outside.
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at .
