Area football teams set for home field action

link Rattlers swarm and tackle Lobos wide receiver Diego Aguilar for a loss of yardage during Friday

night’s game against Escalante. Head Coach Wayne Ferguson said the Rattlers will need to continue

the physical play in their upcoming game against Texcio on Friday at Rattler Stadium.

By Thomas Garcia

QCS Senior Writer

A battle in the trenches is what the Tucumcari Rattlers football team is expecting Friday when it hosts the 1-0 Texico Wolverines.

The 0-1 Rattlers had some technical issues with their newly installed stadium lights during Friday night’s 18-0 loss to the Escalante Lobos that resulted in the game being called at half-time.

A burned-out transformer caused the issues with the lights but it’s being worked on and there will be lights Friday night against Texico, said Wayne Ferguson, Rattlers head coach.

Ferguson said the Rattlers are preparing for a ground battle against the Wolverines, who beat the Santa Rosa Lions 26-8 Friday in Texico.

“We know Texico can spread the field, but they chose not to do so against Santa Rosa,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said Texico looks to be a tough team and the Rattlers can expect the Wolverines to play a physical game on Friday. He said the Rattlers had some early issues with missed assignments against Escalante but by the second quarter the team had regained their focus.

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

8-man

The Logan Longhorns are starting their second week of the season, but have yet to see any actual field time, a situation that can hurt a team early on, said Longhorns head coach Kene Terry.

Terry said the team is eager to play Friday against Gateway Christian, but knows the Warriors are coming into the contest with one game under their belt.

Lightning forced cancellation of the Longhorns’ first game Friday night at Tatum. The junior varsity game was in the third quarter when weather prompted officials to stop play and ultimately called an end to the game.

Terry said the team has been on the field every day for practice but even daily practices cannot take the place of experience gained from actual game play. He said on paper -- and running through the routines -- the team is spot on, although they won’t have a chance to see what areas they need to work or what really works until they get out on the field and compete with another team.

“These boys are ready to play, so much so I sometimes have to remind my defense not to hit the quarterback,” Terry said.

Terry said the Longhorns will have to get out on the field and learn as they go. He added that the team is accustomed to hard work and will not shy away from a challenge.

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

6-man

The 1-0 San Jon/Grady Coyotes will face a familiar opponent Friday when they host the Hondo Valley Eagles, the team they lost 59-6 last year in the 6-man state semifinals.

Head coach Bobby Gomez said the team continues to improve on defense and will be looking to slow Hondo’s offense.

The Coyotes won their first game of the season 54-0 over the Vaughn Eagles on Friday in San Jon.

Game time: 4 p.m., Friday at San Jon.