MOUNTAINAIR — Melrose coach Dickie Roybal had a short bench — actually, no bench — in Saturday’s 8-man football game against top-ranked Mountainair. Still, he was pleased with his team’s play in a 40-16 loss to the Mustangs (4-0). “The score doesn’t show how the game was,” Roybal said. “It was a physical game both ways. “They’re definitely the No. 1 team in the state, but our defense did a great job. I told the kids if we can just hang in there, we may see them again (in postseason).” The Buffaloes (1-3), who have lost their last three, had only eight players in uniform due to injuries, Roybal said. He expects the rough early schedule to lighten up now as the team moves toward district play. Kevin Parks scored on a 30-yard run and a 20-yard screen pass from quarterback Clint Barnard for the Buffs. He also ran in one 2-point conversion and caught a pass from Barnard for the other.