Derrick Phillips credits improved locker room chemistry and friendly competition among players for the Clovis Wildcats’ surge into the playoffs. The Wildcats (7-3) secured their seventh straight Class 5A playoff berth Friday by battering Carlsbad 34-0 at Leon Williams Stadium. Clovis will take a four-game winning streak into the playoffs, thanks to three Jordan Mendoza touchdown passes to Manuel Robles and a Wildcats defense that forced three turnovers and recorded five sacks. “We’re more of a family now,” said Phillips, a senior running back and defense back who rushed for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Carlsbad. “There’s competition to see who gets the most tackles, the most hits and who scores. It makes us work harder. “Everybody gets on each other, but it’s in a good way.” Clovis assistant coach Darren Kelley said the players have learned to make the game fun. “We’re lining up and just playing,” Kelley said. Homesteading: Seeds were determined Saturday night for the 5A playoffs, and the Cats earned a No. 3 seed. They will host the winner of a first-round matchup between No. 11 Alamogordo and No. 6 La Cueva in two weeks. One of Clovis’ losses this season came at the hands of La Cueva in Albuquerque. Barring upsets, the Cats will play all their playoff games at home. After hosting Alamo or La Cueva in the quarterfinals, top-seeded Mayfield, No. 2 Las Cruces or No. 4 Cibola would have to play at Clovis under the state’s alternating homefield format for the playoffs. Rushin’ roulette: With 110 rushing yards against Carlsbad, Robles went over the 1,000-yard mark for a second straight season. He leads the Wildcats with 1,075 yards. Phillips and Scott McMath both moved past the 400-yard rushing mark. Phillips and McMath have combined for 835 yards and 10 TD while alternating at running back beside Robles. Fast starts: The Wildcats have outscored their last two opponents 41-0 in the first quarter. Slow starts plagued Clovis earlier in the season. Kelley credits improve practice habits. “There’s not such a big gap between practice speed and game speed,” Kelley said. Sack happy: The Wildcats recorded a season-high five sacks against Carlsbad, bring their season total to 17. Logan Denton, Nathan Carver, Diondre Hunter, Michael Howard, Quentin Bryant, Daniel Segovia and Lance Lukkar all got in on the fun. Stingy defense: The Wildcats have allowed 14 or fewer points in five of their last six games. Double take: Clovis coach Eric Roanhaus was spied knuckle-bumping with Robles outside the locker room. Notes: Mendoza’s 58-yard pass to Robles out the backfield was the Wildcats’ longest scoring pass this season. ... Robles’ 128 receiving yards was a team high. He also had a season-best 238 yards of total offense. ... Stefan Mills’ third-quarter interception brought the team’s season total to 17. CLASS 5A PLAYOFFS Times and dates TBA Quarterfinal games Nov. 23-24 (9) Rio Rancho at (8) Hobbs Winner: at (1) Mayfield (12) Valley at (5) Eldorado Winner: at (4) Cibola (10) Onate) at (7) Manzano Winner: at (2) Las Cruces High (11) Alamogordo at (6) La Cueva Winner: at (3) Clovis