Breaking News
Home / Sports News / Capitan, Eunice seek football championship

Capitan, Eunice seek football championship

Underdog Capitan seeks second-straight state 3A football championship, undefeated Eunice has home field advantage and in quest of its first title since 1999 after losing three times in the final… Stellar quarterbacks, Mason Capeton for the Capitan Tigers, Prince Bowen for the Eunice Cardinals

By Arnie Leshin | November 27, 2017

Arnie Leshin

Talk about going way back in time, it was 1953 when Capitan High School won its first state football championship. It was called Class C than. The Tigers were 11-0 and defeated Navajo Mission, 19-12. Who?

For Eunice High, it was “What’s cooking” in the year 1957. That was when it won its first state football title. It was called Class B than. “Bullet Cooke” was the Cardinals’ head coach and his team defeated Aztec coached by Fred Cook, 37-20.

Now flash ahead to now. Capitan has added two more state championships and have been in six finals. Eunice has been more successful, winning 11 more times and appearing in 17 finals. Both schools are now in 3A and will be playing for the state title Saturday afternoon at the home of the undefeated Cardinals.

They both play out of District 3. This season, Eunice (12-0) finished first and Capitan (11-1) was runner-up. In 2007, when they were in different districts, the Cardinals won 27-11.

They didn’t meet-up again 2015 when Eunice came away with a 42-18 triumph, but in 2016, the Tigers came out on top, 21-12, and a month later edged the Cards, 27-26 for the state championship playing on an almost snow-filled field following a storm.

That continued the Eunice frustration. In 2015, it also lost in the state final, this time a 50-14 rout versus Estancia. And in 2011, 21-14 to Santa Rosa. So no doubt it is hungry, hasn’t won state since 1999 when it 2A.

But the Cardinals did roll over the Tigers, 42-0, back on Dec. 6 of this season. So while Eunice is seeking to again hoist the blue trophy, Capitan is looking to avenge that lone loss and claim a second-straight title. Kickoff time is 1 o’clock and it might become standing-room-only for latecomers.

Seeded No. 1, the Cardinals dominated 9th seeded Newcomb, 54-0, and 4th seeded Estancia, 37-6, whom they won over by eight points in the season opener. The 2nd seeded Tigers disposed of 7th seeded Dexter, 57-12, and won a tough test over 3rd seeded Santa Rosa, 36-32.

Overall, Eunice put together 485 points and allowed only 62. Capitan scored even more, with 560 points while yielding 144.

The Cardinals go more through the air behind 5-foot-11, 170-pound sophomore quarterback Mason Capeton. He has averaged 180.4 yards per game, and has several targets that include wide receiver-running back Tari York, a 6-foot, 165 senior who has 65.8 yards a contest. They are coached by Ken Stevens.

The Tigers mix it up, but stay mostly on the ground. The versatile 5-9, 170 senior quarterback, Price Bowden, is equally adept at running and passing. He has an average of 113.2 per game and 200.8 total yards. Bowden also plays middle linebacker, where he is one of the team leaders in tackles.

Then there’s 5-10, 174 senior Stephen Ellison who averages 17 points a contest. On defense, there’s also 5-8, 178 sophomore Felix Gonzales and 6-1, 160 senior Kadin Hughes. They are coached by James Weems.

While Eunice has 43 players on the roster, Capitan has only 27. No doubt these are teams with many two-way players.

It’s too early in the week to forecast the weather, but as of now it’s expected to be a sunny 55 degrees with no snow of rain passing through.

Check Also

All in the world of sports

By Arnie Leshin  The world champion United States women’s soccer team wins on the field …