Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari proved to be no match to an unbeaten and No. 3-ranked Legacy Academy football squad during a 54-0 district loss Saturday afternoon in Bernalillo.
The Silverbacks totaled nearly 400 yards in offense while holding the Rattlers to just 110 yards of offense.
The game ended in the third quarter by the mercy rule.
“They dominated us,” THS coach Doug South said. “It was obvious they were the No. 3 team in the state.”
Tucumcari quarterback Nick Romero went 4-for-10 passing for 60 yards and one interception.
Eighth-grade running back Robert Rice ran for 25 yards in five carries — the second straight week he was the team’s top rusher.
“He’s showing a lot of potential,” South said.
South also was pleased that eighth-grade receiver Fabian Rodriguez caught his first varsity pass — a 22-yard reception.
South mentioned another improvement in his team in an aspect that has chronically vexed it.
“Our sportsmanship, as bad as we were getting beat, was the best it’s been all season,” he said. “I was really happy about that.”
Tucumcari (2-7), after two straight wins in the middle of the season, have lost three in a row and have allowed more than 50 points each time. The Rattlers are 1-3 in district play.
Legacy quarterback Lorenzo Sedillo-Urban went 20-for-29 passing for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran 61 yards and another TD. Running back Adam Quesada carried the ball 13 times for 122 yards and four touchdowns.
The Silverbacks, ranked in Class 2A by MaxPreps.com only behind Eunice and top-rated Texico, improved to 9-0 overall.
Legacy can wrap up a district title with a victory at Santa Rosa (6-3), which also is 4-0 in district play.
Tucumcari finishes its regular season with a district game at winless Capitan at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Estancia earned its first win of the season with a 40-7 decision over Capitan (0-8) on Thursday. The Tigers have scored only 21 points all season.
South pointed out the Rattlers still have a shot of qualifying for the playoffs.
Tucumcari is ranked 13th in Class 2A by MaxPreps.com — just behind Cuba, which THS defeated 29-14 on Sept. 20. The top 12 teams qualify for the postseason. A win Saturday could give THS a spot in the playoffs.