Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Robertson’s defense put the clamps on Tucumcari during a 54-0 Rattlers loss Friday night at Las Vegas.
Tucumcari (1-5) managed just three first downs, 63 yards of offense and was intercepted three times. TJ Lampkin was the Rattlers’ top offensive producer with 31 yards in 10 carries.
The Cardinals (5-1), ranked fifth in Class 3A by MaxPreps.com, racked up 378 yards and 11 first downs en route to a 35-0 lead at halftime. Quarterback Matthew Gonzales threw for four touchdowns — three to receiver Antonio Padilla — and ran for a fifth TD.
“They came out a lot more aggressive than we were,” Tucumcari coach Wayne Ferguson said. “We didn’t answer the call back. We didn’t have much success on offense.”
Ferguson said the closest his team came to the end zone was Robertson’s 30-yard line.
Rattlers quarterback Jesus Ramos, throwing more because of his team’s stymied ground game, went 2-for-9 passing for 24 yards and three interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
“We did throw the ball more than we’re used to, but we did that to try to loosen the defense up,” he said.
Worse yet for the Rattlers, running backs and linebackers Robbie Hartmann and TJ Lampkin, tight end Julian Vargas and lineman William Norton all suffered ankle injuries during the game.
“We were walking wounded after the game,” Ferguson said. “It’s kind of scary. We’ll see in practice this week who we have available. It could be really hairy.”
Tucumcari next goes on the road for a 7 p.m. Friday game against Texico. The Wolverines (2-4) fell 34-19 Friday to Eunice, rated No. 1 in Class 2A by MaxPreps.
A closely fought game such as that shouldn’t prompt the Rattlers to underestimate Texico, Ferguson said. Eunice pulled away in the second half.
“That’s a pretty good test against a top opponent,” he said.