Clovis' Roanhaus about to be New Mexico's all-time wins leader

  Sometimes we all can get caught up in our own little bubble and not realize what is going on outside of it. I know I'm guilty of that from time to time.
  But something everyone should be aware of is the history that could be made Friday in Clovis as long-time Wildcat coach Eric Roanhaus can pick up his 311th career win against Capital and pass former Mayfield and Roswell High coach Jim Bradley for the top spot in New Mexico prep football history.
  Roanhaus (310-115-5 all time with 10 state titles) is entering his 35th season as a coach (all with the Wildcats) and everyone I run into always has a Roanhaus story. I've always had a good working relationship with him, but then again a good chunk of his win total has come over Hobbs (he's 30-4 all time against the Eagles) so he really hasn't had a reason to be upset prior or after a game.
  Roanhaus told the Clovis News-Journal recently he's on a year-by-year basis when it comes to when he'll retire from coaching.
  The Wildcats are a big favorite over Capital on Friday and it should be a well-deserved celebration of a coach who has bled purple for Clovis for three and a half decades.
  But those who've been around Roanhaus know it's just something he wants to get out of the way to concentrate on bringing the Wildcats another blue state championship trophy.

Hobbs volleyball heading in right direction

Kimberly Ryan/News-Sun

Hobbs' Christina Torres (9) tips the ball as Elena

Calderon, left, and Becca Jones (4) look on during

the Lady Eagles' loss to Portales on Tuesday.

  It's hard to not sound like a giant homer when saying a team showed a lot of promise during a loss. It sounds like I'm trying to find a silver lining in defeat.
  Trust me when I write this, Hobbs volleyball has a reason for optimism.
  For those who don't know, the Lady Eagles went 1-19 last season.
  Hobbs nearly equaled their win total from a season ago Tuesday night at Tasker Arena in its season opener – losing to three-time defending Class 3A state runner-up Portales in five sets 3-2 (25-14, 16-25, 25-23, 14-25, 15-13).
  While the loss stings (as it should, Hobbs had its chances to win this), the effort put forth by a group of Lady Eagles that experienced a dismal 2011 season showed this group doesn't plan on being the doormat of Class 5A any longer. Seniors Christina Torres, Elena Calderon, Alex Jimenez and Becca Jones played like seniors should – whether it was leading by example or vocally.

Prep football season is here

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Lucas Medrano goes through a drill

while Hobbs coach Charles Gleghorn looks on

during practice Monday at Watson Stadium.

  I headed out to the Hobbs football team's practice Monday and I noticed a little extra pep in the step of the Eagles.
  And who could blame them.
  After months of preparation of lifting, running and drills – it is finally game week as the season begins Friday.
  Whether it's Hobbs traveling to Gadsden, Lovington going to Artesia, Eunice playing rival and Lea County foe Jal or Tatum traveling to Albuquerque to play Foothill – football is back and the excitement can be felt throughout the county.
  Hobbs will be looking to win its third straight season opener after winning the last two season openers against Gadsden.

Hobbs football's scrimmage shows Eagles' potential, things to work on

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Brandon Amaya knocks the helmet off a 

Belen player while carrying the ball during a 

scrimmage Wednesday in Ruidoso.

  Nerves were evident early while watching Hobbs' scrimmage against Belen on Wednesday in Ruidoso.

  After all, this was the first time since Charles Gleghorn took over as head coach in January the players strapped on the pads and faced an opponent with their new systems in place on both sides of the ball.

  While the scrimmage ended with both first teams scoring three touchdowns apiece, Hobbs got a chance to see what was working and what needs some work before heading into their first game of the season Aug. 31 against Gadsden in Anthony, N.M.

WHAT WAS WORKING

  Brandon Amaya: The junior transfer out of Texas (who came to the school last winter) showed his versatility throughout the scrimmage whether he was catching balls as a receiver or running back, taking handoffs or playing corner. Amaya finished the game with 147 total yards – 105 receiving and a touchdown on five catches and 42 yards rushing on six carries. Gleghorn has told me they are just finding ways to get Amaya's hands on the ball and let the quick, yet powerful, athlete do what he does best in open space.

Tatum's Sours verbally commits to University of New Mexico

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Tatum's Devanne Sours practices Monday in Tatum. Sours has verbally

committed to University of New Mexico.

  For those who may not have seen my story in the Hobbs News-Sun earlier this week, Tatum volleyball player, three-time state champion and three-time Class 1A Player of the Year Devanne Sours has verbally committed to University of New Mexico.
  It's great to see an athlete from a small school get picked up by a Division I college and given a chance. Sours is just over 6-foot and can play anywhere on the court. She'll likely play setter in college and 6-foot setters that can pound the ball don't come along too often.
  While there was a rumbling she may finish school early to enroll at UNM in the spring, Sours told me she wants to have a normal senior year and enjoy it – which includes playing basketball where she was the News-Sun's co-player of Lea County last season and has helped the Lady Coyotes to back-to-back state runner-up finishes.

Three Lea County storylines for upcoming fall sports season

  It’s hard to believe the lazy days of summer are over as the fall prep sports season smacked us in the face Monday with the start of football two-a-days.
  Volleyball, soccer and cross country get underway this Monday as Lea County high school teams prepare for the upcoming season – with the Jal volleyball team kicking off the season for the county Thursday at a tournament in Wink, Texas.
  Each team has its own storylines, its own obstacles to overcome and expectations to meet.
  As I sat back and thought about it all, three Lea County storylines instantly came to mind.

– Hobbs football under first-year Eagles coach Charles Gleghorn

  It’s no secret the Hobbs football program has struggled for the better part of the last three decades. Never mind the Eagles haven’t won a state title since 1972 or an outright district title since 1974 – one playoff win for Hobbs since 1982 says it all.
  But the hiring of Gleghorn in January brings optimism, energy and excitement to a program desperate for it.

Hobbs football begins practice, Gleghorn looking to change culture

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Donavon Fierro runs during the Eagles'

first practice of the 2012 season Monday.

  Beneath the familiar bright, hot sun of Southeast New Mexico, the Hobbs football program under first-year Eagles coach Charles Gleghorn opened practice for the 2012 season Monday morning at Watson Stadium.
  Though it's Gleghorn's first season at the helm of the Eagles, he's been at Hobbs since January and has been installing his no-huddle spread offense over the last eight months. In shorts, T-shirts and their new white helmets (replacing the old black helmets), the Eagles went through their offense – mainly working on rushing and play-action passing plays during the first practice of two-a-days Monday.