The Taos Tigers will square off against the Albuquerque Academy Chargers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Taos is coming into the game hot, having won their last five games.
Two weeks ago, Taos didn't have too much trouble with Bernalillo as they won 21-7.
Evan Salazar
| 09/12/25 @ Aztec | 122.4 |
| 10/31/25 @ Bernalillo | 122.3 |
| 10/17/25 @ Kirtland Central | 116.9 |
| 10/10/25 vs Grants | 109.8 |
| 09/05/25 vs Highland | 103.9 |
| + 4 more games |
Evan Salazar was the offensive standout of the matchup as he threw for 131 yards and two TDs, and also rushed for 52 yards. His passing game has become a key predictor of Taos' success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 110 or higher, but only 3-4 otherwise.
Meanwhile, it's playoff time, and Albuquerque Academy had no trouble coming through when it counted. They never let Valencia get on the board and left with a 42-0 win on Friday. The contest was all but wrapped up at the end of the third, by which point the Chargers had established a 35-point advantage.
Taos better keep an eye on William Braun. He was instrumental in Albuquerque Academy's win, throwing for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Gage Conway was in the mix too, providing the Chargers with two scores.
Albuquerque Academy's run defense was locked in: Valencia could only muster 1.7 yards per carry. While one picked up at least seven total tackles, Jannes Guthold stood above the rest. He picked up two sacks and made seven total tackles. Albuquerque Academy hasn't allowed more than 2.9 yards per carry in five consecutive games.
Albuquerque Academy's defense didn't let Santino Mares, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. In that department, Guthold was the leader with two. Theo Gutierrez got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Taos' record is now 6-4. As for Albuquerque Academy, their record now sits at 7-4.
Taos didn't have too much breathing room in their matchup against Albuquerque Academy when the teams last played back in November of 2022, but they still walked away with a 24-19 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
