Dexter overwhelms Tucumcari

This is the kind of game it was for Dexter. Even during a busted play, the Demons scored a touchdown after officials failed to notice an on-field infraction that was part of it.

Dexter also used its blazing speed to overwhelm Tucumcari 50-0 on Friday during the Rattlers' Senior Night at Rattler Stadium. The game ended via the mercy rule early in the third quarter.

Doing most of the damage was quarterback Juan Fuentes, who darted for three rushing touchdowns, passed for another and returned a fumble for his fifth TD. He also converted several points after touchdowns with kicks or running plays. He accounted for about two-thirds of his team's 311 total yards.

"When we play a team with skill-people speed, we're going to struggle," Tucumcari coach Wayne Ferguson said. "Dexter has state-champion track athletes on their side of the field."

Dexter improved to 4-4 and 1-1 in district play. Tucumcari fell to 1-8, 0-2.

The Rattlers totaled only 81 yards in offense. The Rattlers' top contributor was sophomore running back Antonio Gonzales, with 31 yards in six carries. Eighth-grader Daymion Urioste added 16 yards in two carries.

Tucumcari's best chance to score was a long drive that began late in the first quarter and Dexter holding a 14-0 lead. Gonzales, Urioste and freshman running back Jordan Rincones gained several first downs. Urioste ran for 17 yards deep into Dexter territory, and a 6-yard gain by Rincones put Tucumcari at the 14-yard line.

The drive stalled there, and Matt Calbert went out to attempt a 35-yard field goal. But Dexter blocked the squibbed kick after a bounced snap from center.

Fuentes scored on runs of 70, 35 and 14 yards, showing not only speed but an ability to bounce away from would-be tacklers. He completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Villalobos. Late in the second quarter, he scooped up a fumble from Tucumcari fullback Khobie Salvador and ran it back 33 yards for another score.

Despite his team's dominance, Dexter coach Arturo Duran wasn't satisfied.

"We still made some errors we need to clean up as a team to make ourselves better," he said. "We had three fumbles in the first half and made little mistakes."

With three seconds left in the second period, Dexter seemed content to let Fuentes attempt a 37-yard field goal. But the snap was botched, and holder Eric Brock scrambled for a bit and let fly a pass to Gavin Gonzales for a touchdown with no time left on the clock. That gave Dexter a 43-0 lead.

Ferguson and other Tucumcari coaches protested to no avail that an offensive lineman was illegally downfield during the broken play.

"The officials, they did what my players did: They watched and didn't know what to do," Ferguson said of the score. "Then they tried to blame each other: 'It's not my call. We only have four men out here.' They make excuses like my players do when they make mistakes."

Dexter received the kickoff after intermission and wasted little time. Fuentes scored on a 14-yard run, then kicked the extra point, less than three minutes into the period to give the Demons a 50-0 lead and end the game.

These Tucumcari senior student-athletes and their families were honored before the game:

• Football: Dominick Jasper, Johnathan Blea, Charles Prieto, Ricardo Martinez, Andrew Henderson-Clark, Khobie Salvador, Reyes Garcia, Nathan Aragon, Matt Calbert and Nathan Griego.

• Cheerleading: Diana Gardea, Emma Rogers and Alan Jimenez.

• Cross country: Manny Hernandez.