South rolls to win in Class 3A all-star game

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Estevan Varela of Hatch Valley caught one touchdown pass and threw for another, leading the South All-Stars to a 30-0 rout of the North in the Class 3A North-South All-Star game at Perkins Stadium on the campus of New Mexico Highlands University.

The South didn’t take control until late in the first half. Leading 3-0 on a Rafael Herrera field goal, Varela found Lovington’s Dominic Moreno for a 18-yard score with 12.5 seconds left in the half.

Cobre’s Nick Madrid broke the game open with a 68-yard punt return late in the third stanza, and the South capped off the win with a 16-yard pass from Ruidoso’s Darrell Carr to Varela and a 13-yard run by Evan Tooley of Hot Springs.

Portales had two representatives in the senior-only game, Zach Terry and William Porter.

Lovington’s Edgar Medina led the South with 92 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Quarterback David Salcido of Bloomfield threw for 90 yards and rushed for 48, but was hassled into three interceptions by the South defense.