The 35-game streak finally ends when Santa Fe High junior Tilman Conway kicks a 30-yard field goal

Also paving the way was freshman quarterback Luc Jaramillo and senior running back Sammy Martinez

By Arnie Leshin 

After 3 and a half years of frustration, Santa Fe High’s football team welcomed any way to end its 35-yard losing streak, especially a 30-yard field goal with no time remaining.

Played at Espanola Valley’s “new look” field, It came off the foot of 5-foot-5, 145-pound junior Tilman Conway. What followed was the first victory celebration since the 54-0 rout at Los Alamos in 2016. But this one was 23-22 and was the third setback for the winless Sundevils.

“I’m proud of these kids,” said Demons second-year head coach Andrew Martinez. “They never quit, hung in there, and it was great to see them pile on after the kick.”

Conway, who also was good on two extra points, shrugged off being nervous. He said he was confident of making the kick, and that was all he thought about.

It was a perfect hold by freshman quarterback Luc Jaramillo, whose older brother, Chross, played for St. Michael’s and Capital. At times, especially in the final minutes, young Jaramillo played like he’d been in that role before.

Then there was senior running back, Sammy Martinez, who won a state wrestling championship as a sophomore, was fourth as a freshman and fifth as a junior. But after his junior year, he informed head coach Stephen Burns he wasn’t going to wrestle again, and wanted to spend his final season playing for the football team.

So after two losses extended the losing streak, Martinez did his part to contribute to this exciting triumph. He carried the ball 10 times for 79 yards and scored two touchdowns. On one play, he showed his speed by dashing 49 yards up themiddle with four Sundevils in pursuit before being pushed out of bounds.

He’s one of four Martinez’ on the team (Espanola has five) and he was happy to return to a sport he played as a youngster, so was Burns.

“I’m happy for him,” said the Demons former wrestling coach, “and I’m not surprised. He’s a very good athlete with strength and speed.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Santa Fe High found the end zone on a pass from Jaramillo, and Conway converted. Back came Espanola behind senior quarterback Makaio Frazier. He drove his team 55 yards in nine plays and scored on a 14-yard scamper. He followed that by running the ball for the 2-point PAT.

But with the first half winding down, Jaramillo ran an 18-yard keeper on third and eight. That put the ball on the Sundevils 29. Sammy Martinez then ran for 8 and 4 yards, Jaramillo ran for a first down to the 11, then carried for to the five before throwing another TD pass. That series involved 45 yards in eight plays, and Conway converted again.

In the third quarter, the Demons went ahead 20-8 after Sammy Martinez got off the long run. Three plays later, the Demons got into the end zone, but failed on the try for the 2-point PAT. 

Frazier to the rescue again. Starting from his own 20, he passed, he ran, avoided a sack, finished the drive with a 2-yard run to touchdown haven. But the PAT kick didn’t make it, and Espanola was now behind 20-14.

Frazier wasn’t finished. In just two plays for 82 yards, he fired downfield to freshman Ollie Bell for a 67-yard TD with 3:40 left. Then Frazier carried the ball into the end zone for the 2-point PAT and the home team had a 22-20 lead.

Then came a puzzling call by Espanola. After getting the ball back, it was fourth down and nine when the Sundevils decided to, instead of punting, gave up the ball on down at the Demons 46. Now Santa Fe High was working with two time outs and 1:14 remaining.

Jaramillo again led the way, He connected on a 20-yard toss to Sammy Martinez, then ran the option and sped down the sidelines to the 5. With 32 seconds to go, the Demons took their last time out after being whistled for a 5-yard offside penalty.

The clock had now ticked down to zero, but the officials said that Santa Fe High gets another down with no time left. So the Demons only chance o win would be on a field goal.

Out came Conway. He never paused, Jaramillo got the snap, and up, up it went, and gone, gone, was the lengthy losing skein.

This Friday night, Santa Fe High is home to Taos, but for now it will celebrate this exciting success, and no doubt it was a super ride home.