Cleveland, Eldorado rematch highlights New Mexico 2015 high school football championship games

Video: Shawn Nieto's highlights vs. Eldorado High School

Unbeaten Cleveland (Rio Rancho) will tangle with Eldorado (Albuquerque) in a rematch that will determine the Class 6A state football champion on Saturday in Rio Rancho.

Earlier this season, Cleveland (12-0) eked out a 41-34 victory over Eldorado (10-2). A preseason favorite to win it all, Cleveland has beaten its other 11 opponents by an average of over 30 points.

In their previous meeting, Eldorado actually jumped to a 14-0 lead, but the score was tied at 34 until Cleveland's Shawn Nieto scampered 5 yards for the decisive touchdown with just 1:20 remaining.
 
Senior quarterback Gabe Ortega (6-foot-1, 188 pounds), a University of New Mexico recruit, starred on that occasion by connecting on 25 of 38 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns and running for another 101 yards. His counterpart, Eldorado senior Jayce Jackson (5-9, 155), fired four scoring passes, three to David Inman (6-1, 175), a senior wide receiver.

Both teams, however, lost a key player in the third quarter of last week's semifinal victories. Nieto, who runs 40 yards in 4.7 seconds, twisted his leg following a hard tackle after gaining 106 yards on 15 carries during a 63-27 rout of Mayfield (Las Cruces), but coach Heath Ridenour told MaxPreps he expects him to play on Saturday.

Jackson rolled his ankle during Eldorado's miracle 44-42 victory over Las Cruces – its first win in 10 years over the Bulldawgs. Coach Charlie Dotson said that Jackson was unable to practice the first two days of the week and (if he does play) he might have to step into Saturday's game with no practice this week.

Dotson has an unexpected "ace in the hole," however, because junior Matt Denis (5-10, 142) stepped in with amazing success. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He engineered a 66-yard drive in 37 seconds, leading to junior Andrew Shelley's winning 38-yard field goal as time elapsed.

Coach Dotson admitted, "I didn't really see that coming. Matt was an average JV quarterback, but a great varsity quarterback. He didn't have enough time to get nervous. It doesn't happen very often. I'm as proud as I can be."

The Eagles will rely heavily on the running of senior Noah Sweitzer (6-0, 196), who runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds and has gained 960 yards on 120 carries and scored 18 touchdowns. He also is closing in on 100 tackles.

Dotson dearly wants a title for Eldorado (its last one was in 1980) because he played football and wrestled there before graduating in 1987. He freely admits to "bleeding Texas orange and white," the Eldorado school colors.

Meanwhile, Ridenour says, "It feels good. I hope it ends that way (undefeated). We've done a good job handling it (the year-long pressure of being ranked No. 1). This week is no different."

Besides Nieto and a great passing attack (which also includes University of New Mexico recruit Marcus Williams, a 6-4, 215-pound senior wide receiver), the Storm has a dominant offensive line anchored by Stanford recruit Henry Hattis (6-7, 270).

In tribute to his offensive line, Ridenour claimed, "Heck, I could run through those holes."

Ridenour was the offensive coordinator when Cleveland won the state title in 2011 under Kirk Potter. He believes that being the head coach "is really not that much different. Coach Potter gave me a lot of freedom. I felt that I had complete control of the offense. We are preparing like we always have."

Ridenour has great respect for Dotson and his crew, noting, "I expect it to be a close one."

Dotson stresses, "We have to play with urgency and anger and hope that carries over. They can smile until 1 o'clock on Saturday."

Saturday's other championship games include:

- Class 5A, Artesia (11-1) will play at top-ranked (12-0) Centennial (Las Cruces).
- Class 4A, Robertson (Las Vegas) will take its 11-1 record to Hatch Valley (Hatch), which is 12-0.
- Class 3A, Eunice (8-3) will travel to Estancia (12-0).