Prep football: Rattlers outfoxed

FORT SUMNER — Defending Class 2A state champion Fort Sumner scored early and often and suffocated Tucumcari’s offense during a 55-0 decision Friday night that ended at halftime because of the mercy rule.

After overwhelming their opponent the previous week, the Rattlers (1-2) were the ones who became overwhelmed. The defense of the Foxes (2-0) allowed just 59 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers.

Fort Sumner, which has a cooperative agreement with House and has three players from that district on its roster, was led by quarterback Jude Segura, who went 5-for-9 passing for 162 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 42 yards and another TD.

Tucumcari head coach Wayne Ferguson acknowledged the game gave his team little to build upon.

“The hardest part is to forget that game and move on,” he said. “If you sit and dwell on it and beat ourselves up over it, it isn’t going to serve us any purpose going into next week’s game at Raton.”

Ferguson said the Foxes, who had two weeks to prepare for the Rattlers because of a bye, didn’t do anything surprising with their strategy.

“The way we played surprised me,” he said. “I knew going in we hadn’t been hit they way Fort Sumner was going to hit us. When they started hitting us, we didn’t respond.

“Fort Sumner is a team that spends 365 days a year in the weight room,” he continued. “It’s hard for us to convince our kids that’s what you have to do to be that physical team you need to be.”

Tucumcari’s first possession didn’t start too inauspiciously. The Rattlers gained a first down across midfield after Rod Dunlap caught a 30-yard pass from Alijah Jimenez. But the Foxes stuffed a run play and broke up two passes, forcing Tucumcari to punt.

On the first Fort Sumner play from scrimmage, Kane Burney caught a short pass, shrugged off a would-be tackler and sprinted down the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown just 9:42 into the game. The Foxes converted the 2-pointer for an 8-0 lead.

Two plays later, Fort Sumner defensive lineman Cory Terrell recovered a fumbled snap at Tucumcari’s 17-yard line. That set up a 20-yard touchdown pass to Noah Maxwell and a 16-0 lead.

Tucumcari’s next possession short-circuited when Izaiah Padilla intercepted a pass and returned it to the Rattler 15-yard line. That set up Segura’s 7-yard TD pass to Burney to help stake a 24-0 lead.

Despite their team speed, the Rattlers continued to struggle running the football beyond the line of scrimmage. That reflected the Foxes dominating in the trenches, Ferguson said.

“Our youth in the offensive and defensive line really showed when we played against a veteran team like that that controls the line of scrimmage,” he said. “It’s something we have to get better at.”

Fort Sumner needed one play on its next possession for another score. Segura connected with Parker Lewis for a 36-yard touchdown pass and a 30-0 lead with 2:29 left in the quarter.

With 34.9 seconds left in the period, Segura threw another TD pass to Maxwell — this time a 56-yarder — for a 37-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Maxwell intercepted a pass and returned it to the Tucumcari 43. Two plays later, fullback Daejon Coronado ran for a 31-yard touchdown and a 43-0 lead.

Tucumcari’s offense showed signs of life when Jimenez connected with Jesus Ramos for a 21-yard reception near midfield. But Padilla soon made another interception and returned it to the Tucumcari’s 15. Five plays later, Daniel Madero scored on a 1-yard plunge for a 49-0 lead.

Padilla snagged his third interception of the game late in the quarter and returned it to the Tucumcari 22. As rain began to cascade from the skies, Segura scored on a scramble with 15 seconds left in the half to give his team a 55-0 lead.

Tucumcari’s next game at Raton begins at 7 p.m. Friday.