Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
A slow start and penalties led the Tucumcari High School team falling behind early and losing a 35-23 non-district road game Saturday afternoon to Hozho Academy.
The Wolves scored two quick touchdowns in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Meanwhile, a slew a penalties — including three straight holding calls — hampered the Rattlers.
Tucumcari got on the scoreboard later in the period with a safety when Hozho’s quarterback threw the ball away from his end zone. The referees ruled it was intentional grounding, giving two points to the Rattlers.
Tucumcari made it 14-9 when Luis Archuleta caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Nick Goen.
That was as close as the Rattlers came.
Hozho Academy, using a reverse handoff to fool the defense, returned the subsequent kickoff for a touchdown and a 22-9 Wolves lead.
Tucumcari soon lost Goen when he was ejected from the game after a scuffle near his team’s sideline. That resulted in an automatic suspension for Goen for the Rattlers’ next game.
In the third period, Daymion Urioste scored on an 11-yard run to make it 22-15.
The Wolves responded with two more touchdowns, giving them a 35-15 advantage.
Midway through the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Michael Crouch connected with Eric Acosta for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Acosta also caught the two-point conversion to make it the final margin of the game.
Hozho Academy improved to 2-0. Tucumcari fell to 0-2.
The Wolves, based in Gallup, moved the game to Thoreau because of ongoing construction to Hozho Academy’s field.
Tucumcari’s next game again will be on the road, this time against non-district foe McCurdy at 1 p.m. Saturday.
McCurdy lost its season opener on Aug. 24 to Cobre by a 30-26 score. McCurdy had a 20-16 lead at halftime but was outscored 14-6 the rest of the way. The Bobcats had a bye week last weekend.