Serving the High Plains

Rattlers ready to overcome their early season adversity

link After making the defender miss on a tackle senior Saul Moriel cradles the football and runs in for the touchdown during Friday nights game against the Eunice Cardinals.

QCS Senior Writer

Facing adversity head on, the Tucumcari Rattlers (0-6) are preparing for their next challenge against the West Last Vegas Dons (1-5) Friday night at Rattlers' Stadium.

“No one here is giving up,” said Wayne Ferguson, Rattlers head coach.

The Rattlers lost 70-20 Friday night to the Eunice Cardinals (1-5) whose stout rushing combination of Ivan Zamora and Blane Ferbrache churned up over 400 yards of offense and also accounted for five touchdowns.

“The community might be growing impatient and wanting wins from their varsity teams now,” Ferguson said. “Though we are not making any excuses, our team is young. The running back and the quarterback for Eunice were both bigger than anyone we had on our defensive line.”

Ferguson said the team has taken some hard hits and the younger players continue to put the effort in to get better in practice. He said the team is building for the future.

The Rattlers had several highlights against Eunice. D'Ontee Sandoval returned kicks 95 yards and 87 yards for touchdowns.

“I was going off of instinct when I was running the balls back,” Sandoval said. “I just ran for the gaps and everywhere when I saw green grass.”

A third score came on a 9-yard rushing touchdown by Saul Moriel.

The Rattlers converted one of three 2-point conversion attempts.

Ferguson said he expects a physical team in the Dons. He said they run a spread offense so he will work on spacing out the Rattlers defense.

“We need to play tougher,” Sandoval said. “We all need to be more aggressive on the football field. We can’t just wait around waiting for someone to make a play; each of us needs to step up and make a play happen.”

Game time: 7 P.m., Friday at Rattler Stadium

8-Man

The Logan Longhorns (6-0, 1-0) are going into their second district contest with little knowledge of the Menaul Tigers (3-3, 1-0).

“I don't know much about the Panthers though I am confident the guys will be ready when they match up Friday night,” said Kene Terry, Longhorns head coach.

The Longhorns won their first district game 56-0 against the Mustangs (1-5) Friday night at Mountainair.

Terry said Logan favored the passing game, throwing the ball for 247 yards and rushing for 152 yards. He said the team could operate efficiently and productively through either the pass or the run.

“Our guys are operating great on offense and defense with a different leader emerging in each game,” Terry said.

Game time: 7 p.m., Friday at Logan.

6-Man

The San Jon/Grady Coyotes (5-1) (1-0) have a bye week that will give them time to work on getting their new quarterback up to speed for their second district game against Lake Arthur.

Starting quarterback Joseph Benavidez was injured on Sept. 20 against Reserve and suffered a broken collar bone and is out for the season, said Bobby Gomez, Coyotes head coach.

Gomez said since then D.C. Lee has been taking the snaps as quarterback and led the Coyotes to a 66-19 win Friday against the Roy/Wagon Mound Longhorns.

Gomez said besides Benavidez, the team is healthy and the bye week will give him a chance to work with Lee and get him more familiar with being under center and in the pocket.

 
 
Rendered 03/29/2024 01:57