Four New Mexico high school football champions crowned

Four state football champions in New Mexico were crowned last Saturday, including Las Cruces in 5A, Farmington in 4A, Robertson (Las Vegas) in 3A and Clayton in 2A.

5A

Each team had compelling stories, starting with Las Cruces, which repeated as champions with a 27-26 victory over cross-town rival Mayfield (Las Cruces). Playing in front of a crowd estimated at more than 27,000 at New Mexico State University's Aggie Memorial Stadium, the fourth-seeded Bulldawgs (12-1) wrapped up a remarkable season by rallying from what seemed like an insurmountable 14-0 deficit against one of the state's best defenses.

Ultimately, the final result came down to a couple of missed PATs from second-seeded Mayfield (11-2). When Mayfield's David Stookey scored on an 8-yard run with 1:37 remaining to get the Trojans to within 27-26, all they needed was the point-after to tie things up.

However, the Bulldawgs' Jalen Bishop blocked Jesse Jimenez's kick, which landed short of the uprights. The Trojans also missed a PAT earlier in the first half. Las Cruces was able to run out the clock to end the game.

Bishop came up huge in the playoff run, returning an interception for a touchdown in games against Sandia (Albuquerque) and Valley (Albuquerque) leading up to Saturday's title contest.

When a team goes up early in a championship contest pitting rival squads in such an enormous setting, it almost assuredly goes on to win. Things certainly looked rosy for the Trojans after Isaiah Lerman intercepted a Kameron Miller pass and took it back 62 yards for a touchdown to put Mayfield up 14-0 with 7:26 left in the first quarter.

But Las Cruces hasn't won multiple state championships under coach Jim Miller — who is now 6-0 in state title contests in his 16 years at Las Cruces — without being resilient. The Bulldawgs started to get their potent ground game going, as J.J. Granados (256 yards on 36 carries) went to work behind his mammoth offensive line.

Granados had two TD runs, including what turned out to be the game-winner, a 2-yard jaunt with 2:43 left in the third quarter. Las Cruces and Mayfield played for the 50th time in a series that dates back to 1967.

4A

Meanwhile, in the 4A final, second-seeded Farmington (12-1) won a defensive struggle against top-seeded Goddard (Roswell), 7-0. It was Farmington's first championship since 1952.

Despite being out-gained 213-143, Farmington was able to beat Goddard, which has been the premier program at the 4A level for the last two decades, having won six titles since 1991 while appearing in 13 title contests.
 
Jacob Lucas connected with Kyle Reynolds for a 10-yard TD on the first play of the fourth quarter to account for the only score of the game.

3A

In the 3A final, ninth-seeded Robertson whipped third-seeded Silver (Silver City) 34-7, capping a remarkable run that saw it topple No. 1 seed St. Michael's, 22-13, in the quarterfinals and fifth-seeded Taos, 21-16, in the semifinals.

Behind 251 yards rushing from Dominic Lucero and a stout defense that shut down one of the most prolific offenses in the state, the Cardinals won their first state title since 2006.

2A

In the 2A final, fourth-seeded and host Clayton won its first-ever title playing in the championship game for the eighth time, knocking off second-seeded Hatch Valley (Hatch), 28-6. Clayton (12-1) piled up 267 yards on the ground, and attempted just one pass all game.

Brian Montoya led the way with 109 yards on 13 carries in a game played with wind chill temperatures below zero.