SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Moriarty has already played in the City Different this season, taking a 19-13 defeat home against Santa Fe High at Ivan Head Stadium.
The Pintos had lost their opener, 25-6 at West Las Vegas. Next came a 35-11 setback at home versus Albuquerque Hope Christian. But after finally winning against visiting Valencia, 40-12, they bring a 1-3 record to face Capital at Jaguar Field.They have scored 70 points and allowed 91.
As for the Jaguars, they have lost twice since opening at home with a 59-0 rout over 3A Crownpoint. Then came a 22-13 loss at Deming, and a 40-22 defeat versus visiting Lovington.
Last Saturday afternoon, Capital played less then a half in its game against cross-town rival St. Michael’s at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex. There were numerous reports of a heavy storm and lightening heading that way.
After 2 ½ hours of delays that involved the officials and the head coaches, the spectators and players were told to seek shelter, and at 4 o’clock, the game that began at 1:30 was called off, and was not to be replayed. The Jags trailed 13-7 late in the second quarter.
So now they are back on home grounds at 1-2, and hopeful of good weather.
They have scored 94 points and have given up 64. They can expect to see Moriarty’s running game because that it its offensive strength. So the idea is to be ahead of the Pintos and force them to take to the air, which they don’t do often.
Capital, too, likes to run the ball, with its biggest threat being junior Luke Padilla. Give him a block that provides an opening and he’s off to the racing, or rather the end zone. He has breakaway speed that increases and leaves him ahead of the defense. He’s 5-foot-8 and working out during the off season now has him at 185 pounds and tough to catch and bring down.
Santa Fe High, at 3-1 after losing 6-0 to visiting Robertson in the season opener, has the best record in Santa Fe, and off to its best start since 2014. Last year, it got rid of its 35-game losing skein, and this year it is now ranked 10th in 5A, and coming off a 30-10 2 win up at defending 4A state champion Taos.
Now the Demons of third-year head coach Andrew Martinez head south down I-25 to Bernalillo, which began with a 20-6 loss at Gallup, and then had an eased-up schedule that brought a 43-0 rout over Zuni at home, a 40-10 dominated of visiting Albuquerque Academy, and last week the Spartans hit the road and rolled over Shiprock, 43-6.
This is the second-straight road game for the Demons after opening with their first three tilts at home. They have scored 84 points and have yielded 42. Bernalillo’s point total is 136, and it given up 36.
Elsewhere, Laguna-Acoma (1-2) is at Santa Fe Indian School (2-1), winless Thoreau (0-3) at Pojoaque Valley (1-3), Gallup (2-0) at Los Alamos (2-2), Socorro (2-1) at undefeated Robertson (4-0), Navajo Prep (2-2) at winless Espanola Valley (0-4), and 2A Escalante (3-2) at 3A Raton (2-2).
In the only game that features two state-ranked teams, No. 3 Rio Rancho Cleveland visits No. 13 Artesia, with both at 3-1, but with the Bulldogs very potent before its home crowd.
St. Michael’s has lost its three outings and has a bye weekend before playing next Friday night at Santa Fe High.
