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Jags are 5-4 overall and 3-0 in District 2-5A, the Horsemen are 8-1 overall and 5-0 in District 2-4A
By Arnie Leshin | November 3, 2017
Passing along some trivia, as how many times have Capital High and St. Michael’s won respective district football championships in the same season?
Not a single time is your answer. Tonight could be the first time as the Jaguars are home to Los Alamos in 2-5A and can clinch the district with a victory. And St. Michael’s can do the same in 2-4A by winning at West Las Vegas.
Kickoffs are both scheduled for 7 o’clock. And both Santa Fe schools are favored to come out on top. Capital is 4-4 overall and St. Michael’s is 8-1 and has won six in a row after it’s lone loss at Moriarty, which lost at Jaguar Field in a non district contest.
The key wins for the Horsemen have been at home over Portales and at Robertson. They edged the Rams by a point, they came from behind at the Cardinals, holding the home team to only a field goal in the second half while scoring three unanswered touchdowns to win going away.
The Jags lost at Goddard, lost at St. Michael’s at home to Miyamura and Lovington. They scored a key win in a district game at Albuquerque Del Norte, and by rolling over Espanola Valley at home and over Albuquerque Academy on the road.
Los Alamos has been up-and-down and is 6-3 overall. One puzzling setback was 40-20 to the visiting Chargers. If they were expected to play better at home, it wasn’t to be that night. The Hilltoppers are 2-1 in district.
Last year, Capitals won its third-straight over Los Alamos by winning 48-13 on the road. Before this run, the Hilltoppers had won 9 in a row in this series. In 16 meetings since 2004, they hold a 11-5 advantage.
They even rank higher than the Jaguars in the 5A standings, now holding down the seventh spot while Capital stands at No.11. But a Jags’ win tonight will not only bring them the district title, but move them ahead of Los Alamos.
St. Michael’s has played the Dons six times since 2004 and has won each time, dominated each time. Last year, the Horsemen rolled to a 47-8 win during the regular-season at home, and followed it up at home in the state tournament by winning 42-6.
In 2006, the teams played at WLV and the end result was a whooping 91-0 rout. In 2005 at home, St. Michael’s romped 66-6. The Horsemen are No. 1 in the 4A state standings, just ahead of Portales and Robertson, both at 8-1.
Last season at this time, St. Michael’s resembled a mash unit with at least four starters on the injury list, two done for the season, and it was just playing out the schedule. Now, it’s a squad in much better shape and more prepared to make a run for the state championship.
The Dons are 6-3 overall and 4-1 in district after falling 51-21 at the Cardinals last Saturday afternoon. In the state standings, they are in the seventh spot, and expected to land in the state tournament along with district rival Taos, who they defeated 35-28 on their home field
But for cross town rivals St. Michael’s and Capital, it’s a night when both can win their districts the same season. That will change the trivia answer.
