HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

Big on both lines, small at running backs, that’s what can be expected when 5th-seeded New Mexico Military Institute takes the field against 4th-seeded St. Michael’s Saturday afternoon at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex.

The Colts won’t have the traffic to contend with in their home town of Roswell. That will come on Friday night when Goddard Roswell and Roswell High clash in the 5A quarterfinals. This should fill the stands while NMMI will probably take overnight motel space in Santa Fe for its 1 o’clockkickoff versus the Horsemen.

With a chance to rest and heal some of its players, St. Michael’s comes off a bye weekend while the Colts leave behind last week’s 48-0 first round rout over visiting 12th-seeded Thoreau. That put NMMI at 8-2 and on a four-game win streak after the 35-7 loss at 2nd-seeded Socorro.

The other Colts’ setback was unexpected after the 18-12 defeat at home to Hagerman, yet they did get a key 42-27 triumph over present 8th-seeded Albuquerque Hope Christian as well as a tight 17-15 victory over present 10th-seeded Dexter, which plays Friday night at Socorro.

A military school that was founded in 1895 by James John Hagerman on 40 acres of land, it’s just a coincidence that Hagerman turned back NMMI this season. Otherwise, it’s a Colts’ lineup with 15 sophomores, 13 freshmen, 11 juniors and eight seniors, and one that has pieced together 310 points and allowed only 126.

They own four shutouts and have tallied over 40 points five times. They have speed, depth, and blend in their rushing game with their passing attack. The lead man is little, but talented junior quarterback Juan Badillo, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs in at 143.

He can pass, he can run. He has passed for 18 touchdowns and has run for 10. He has been picked off only twice and also plays defensive back. He has several running backs to hand off to in 6-1, 215 hard-charging senior Simen Johansen and 5-10, 176 junior William Cox, and his pet target through the air is 5-6, 145 senior wide receiver Darrell Ochieng and 5-10, 196 tight end Diego Hernandez.