It was a return to the Christian Brothers Athletic Complex

There are many former St. Michael’s football assistants on the opposite sidelines and this past Saturday afternoon it brought long-time Joey Fernandez assistant Joaquin (Wax) Garcia to the familiar Christian Brothers Athletic Complex.

After 20 years of leaving the head coach ranks, Garcia is back in that role and in his initial campaign of guiding the fortunes of city-rival Capital, he was happy with the dominating 55-20 romp in last week’s opener at Grants, and especially satisfied with his starting quarterback Julian Munoz’ passing for three touchdowns and a total of 224 yards.

That was then. When he made his return to the home of the Horsemen, it was a whole different start and finish, it ran up the 22nd straight victory over the Jaguars and Santa Fe High, and on Friday night at Ivan Head Stadium, another former St. Michael’s assistant Andrew Martinez on the Demons’ sideline trying to cut short the streak that began in 2009.

Well, this time he had to content with the Horsemen’s fierce rushing attack that consisted of a number of stellar ball carriers, the quarterbacking of  talented 4-year starter Lucas Coriz, an aggressive, experienced defense, and just a probably state 3A contender that Fernandez has fielded in his 20th year.

In the 30-3 season opening win up at Taos, St. Michael’s had no problem taking care of business some like the three no contest romps it rang up in the three shortened coronavirus pandemic season.

Now it was a 60-8 blowout of crosstown rival Capital as Garcia spend his time on the unfamiliar visitors sideline. He had to contend with a balanced rushing in which game statistics were spread around at least four ball carriers, the quarterbacking of talented 4-year starter Lucas Coriz, an aggressive defense and plenty of depth.

That’s what Fernandez, a Horsemen graduate now in his 20th year, has assembled in quest of his fourth state championship. All the key ingredients are there.

First the running game. It was very impressive and the total statistics accounted for 400 yards. The ball carriers combined for 23 tugs and an average of 174 yards per rush. Thirteen of these totes resulted in double-figure gains, and gained at least 20 yards.

Senior Daymon Lujan paved the way with only four carries that resulted in two touchdowns and junior Marcus Leyba turned in 109 yards on just six carriers and tallied a touchdown.

In all, the Horsemen, who usually relied on a run and gun offense, scored five times along the ground while Coriz connected on 7-of-11 passes of which two reached the end zone and netted 176 yards.

Defensively, Capital was shut down. It rushed for only 81 yards on 29 tugs and Munoz himself could get away with just 4-of-16 passes for 25 yards and two interceptions, with both bringing touchdown when St. Michael’s picked off the first one only a minute into the tilt and the second one Creed Chavez returned 26 yards for another six points.

Thus, it took little time for the home side to put points on its scoreboard. The first time it had the ball, Lujan put on a show. He bolted left on a sweep, cut back to the right, broke through an arm tackle, and raced away for an 85-yard touchdown. That and the quick interception made for a 14-0 lead.

With 7:11 remaining in the first half, senior Horseman receiver Devin Flores fell on a loose ball in the end zone for a commanding 34-8 lead. Then there was the final TD when lineman Jordan Bernal lined up at fullback and ran the ball three times for a 1-yard touchdown that resulted in the 50-point mercy rule.

Fernandez said much of the credit went to the offensive line, but he also complemented his receivers who did their part in extending plays downfield with their blocking.

“It no doubt was a team effort,” he added, “but it all started with the line and they came out to play.”

Garcia, in turn, wasn’t happy with his return, but he wasn’t counting his young and inexperienced squad out while it’s still a young season.

“It was one of those things,” he said, “that no matter what you try to do, experience is always going to win the fight. But my kids were never going to give up and I’m proud of them, hoping to improve every week. Today we ran into a very good team and we don’t expect that every week.”

Now while St. Michael’s heads for Santa Fe High in a classic match-up that was always home and away until both teams decided the afternoon games at St. Michael’s didn’t up the attendance, and so it became a home and visiting contest only at Ivan Head Stadium.

Now the Demons are no doubt fired up after the convincing 34-6 opening win over visiting Robertson. As for Capital, it will have its home opener against Moriarty also on Friday night.