Focused Academy defeats Rattlers

One favorable thing the Rattlers could take away Saturday was one solid scoring drive.

Little else went right for the Tucumcari football team during a 42-7 loss to Albuquerque Academy in what could be the Rattlers' last home game during this abbreviated season.

The Chargers' passing game, led by quarterback AJ Rivera, amassed more than 300 yards and four touchdowns against the Rattlers' overmatched secondary.

Tucumcari coach Wayne Ferguson had a bad feeling about his squad before kickoff.

"I could tell in warm-ups, coming out here, that nobody was focused," he said. "All we had was mental mistakes - mental mistakes by the line, backs who didn't know where to line up, receivers who dropped balls right to their hands. We didn't even act like the same football game as last week."

Fullback Colt Garcia was most of Tucumcari's offense, gaining 84 yards in 18 carries and scoring the team's lone touchdown. Tucumcari fell to 0-2 overall.

Meanwhile, Academy (1-1) became more focused after a 14-7 loss last week to Hope Christian.

"Last week, we ran into a really good team, and it was a good wakeup call," second-year Chargers coach Shawn Gehres said. "It forced us to look into the mirror a little bit. It highlighted the areas we'd need to get better at, and that was one of our big pushes in practice this week to clean up those things."

Academy's stout corps of receivers presented mismatch problems for Tucumcari's defense. But Gehres said Rivera also deserved much of the credit for his team's efficient air attack. Rivera went 12-of-16 passing for 310 yards and four scores.

"I thought our quarterback did a good job prepping this week to really understand where those defensive backs were going to be," Gehres said. "That way, he didn't have to hesitate; he knew exactly where he was going to throw the ball."

Tyler Wilson led all Chargers receivers with 133 yards on four receptions, with two touchdowns. Nathan Roberts added 95 yards receiving and a score on two receptions.

Academy won easily despite losing six players, including three starters, to a COVID-19 quarantine after a classmate tested positive for the disease.

"They learned about this Thursday; they were really bummed they couldn't make the trip," Gehres said.

Academy scored on its first play from scrimmage on Wilson's 49-yard pass reception and led 21-0 early in the second quarter while Tucumcari's offense struggled.

The Rattlers received a spark on a trick play. On third-and-8, wide receiver Josh Infante ran with the ball to his right on what initially appeared to be a reverse. Academy's defense ignored Rattlers quarterback Alijah Jimenez, who sneaked down the sideline and caught a 16-yard pass from Infante at midfield.

The Chargers were flagged for a horse-collar penalty while tackling Jimenez on the play, adding another 15 yards for the Rattlers deep into Academy territory.

A series of runs by Garcia, Charles Prieto and Isiah Rivas pushed Tucumcari near the goal line. On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Garcia bulled his way into the end zone for what would be Tucumcari's only touchdown. Infante kicked the extra point to make 21-7 with 7:09 left in the half.

The Rattlers didn't threaten again. Academy answered with a touchdown two plays later and added TDs in the third and fourth quarters to effectively put the game out of reach.

Tucumcari honored its seniors participating in fall sports - played during the early spring because of the pandemic - during the game with recorded messages from many of them. Feted were football seniors Garcia, Jimenez, Dyson Clark, Daniel Chavarria and Devin Apodaca and volleyball seniors Felicity Lopez, Arissa Griego, Jayden Martinez and Gracie Otero.