Rattlers prepare for Clayton face-off

The Tucumcari Rattlers will have a bye week to help them prepare for their second District 3-3A opponent the Clayton Yellowjackets.

Following Friday's 20-13 loss to the Raton Tigers at the Snake Pit, the Rattlers (1-6, 0-1) need to focus on executing their assignments, said Wayne Ferguson.

Ferguson said Friday's loss was a hard one for the coaches and the players.

"We had several opportunities present themselves and could not take advantage of them or made mistakes to negate them," Ferguson said.

One opportunity was a first-and-goal situation that turned into a fourth-and-long situation following penalties and a quarterback snap. On the ensuing punt a failed conversion attempt gave the ball back to the Tigers.

The Rattlers had no time outs remaining due to having to take their last to adjust an offensive formation minutes earlier.

"We need to work on our fundamentals, wrapping up on tackles and following through on their assignments," Ferguson said. "The guys know what their responsibilities are, they need to follow through."

Eight-man

The Logan Longhorns come out of a bye week with a road game against their first District 4 opponent, the first-place Buffaloes at Melrose.

The Longhorns' last game was on Sept. 29, a 48-8 win against the Springer Red Devils at Logan.

"The bye week will help us to get to 100 percent before facing Melrose," said Scott Dean, Longhorns head coach.

Dean said within the past two weeks, the Longhorns (2-4) were actually playing with the majority of their roster. He said injuries had put several key starters on the sidelines early in the season.

The Buffaloes (6-0, 2-0) have allowed 22 points all season and have won their last four games - including district battles against Dora and Mountainair - by the mercy rule.

Game time: 7 p.m., at Melrose

Six-man

The San Jon Coyotes lost 34-27 to the Lake Arthur Panthers Friday in a rematch of the 2016- 2017 state championship game at San Jon.

The Coyotes, 3-2, 1-1, will have a bye week as they prepare for their next District 1 opponent the Floyd Broncos, 1-4, 0-1.