Animas 28, Melrose 24
• Records: Animas 2-0, Melrose 1-1
• Difference: The Panthers’ defense blanked Melrose for the entire second half until the final five seconds after the teams went into the break even at 16-16.
• Difference-makers: Melrose, QB Seaver Tate ran for one touchdown, threw for another. He also ran for a pair of two-point conversions and threw for a third.
• Of note: The Buffaloes, two-time defending state 8-man champions, had a 27-game winning streak snapped. … Melrose had two starters out with injuries going in and lost two more, Hayden Moore and Lane Riley, during the game, coach Dickie Roybal noted.
• Quotable: “We got outplayed; I’m not going to make any excuses. But this will do us more good than harm in the long run.” — Roybal.

Fort Sumner 20, Carrizozo 6
• Records: Carrizozo 0-2, Fort Sumner 2-0
• Difference: The Foxes dominated on the ground, averaging 5 1/2 yards per carry. Fort Sumner’s defense, meantime, held Carrizozo to nine first downs and blanked the Grizzlies until quarterback Marshall Ventura scampered 26 yards for a score with 18 seconds left in the game.
• Difference-maker: Fort Sumner, Skyler McMath rushed for a career-best 149 yards a touchdown on 24 carries. QB Kolter West was an efficient 6-of-7 through the air — four to McMath for 38 yards. Carrizozo, Ventura rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries.

Springlake-Earth 33, Texico 6
• Records: Texico 1-1, Springlake-Earth 2-0.
• Difference: In a battle of “Wolverines,” Springlake Earth pulled away with three second-half touchdowns after leading just 12-6 at the intermission.
• Difference-makers: Donovan Johnson rushed for 86 yards on seven carries for Texico, which got its only TD on a 2-yard pass from Jose Posada to Shay Harrison in the second quarter.
• Of note: Texico was ranked fourth in New Mexico Class 2A coming in. Springlake-Earth was No. 8 in the Texas Class 1A poll.

Farwell 19, Olton 7
• Records: Olton 0-2, Farwell 2-0.
• Difference: The Steers held Olton to six first downs and 144 yards, then rallied for two scores in the final period to erase a 7-6 deficit.
• Difference-makers: Farwell, senior QB Landry Actkinson threw for three touchdowns, including a 49-yarder to Caleb Christian for the go-ahead score with 7:12 left.

Bovina 59, Boys Ranch 37
• Records: Bovina 2-0, Boys Ranch 1-1.
• Difference: The Mustangs, down 10-7, unloaded on Boys Ranch for 52 second-half points, including four TDs by RB Desmond Fox.
• Difference-makers: Fox rushed for 285 yards on 29 carries as the Mustangs outgained the Roughriders overall 555-385. … Boys Ranch got kickoff returns of 86 and 88 yards for second-half touchdowns by Kato Robinson.
• Of note: Bovina had a 23-8 edge in first downs. … The teams combined for nearly 800 yards rushing.