Quick Hits Week 7 - Lea Co. Football

Brad Cox/News-Sun

Hobbs' Kolin Zembas, left, breaks up a pass to

Lovington's Jason Hare on Saturday.

  It was an odd week with two Lea County team playing on Thursday (Eunice, Jal), the Hobbs versus Lovington game spanning two days due to a postponement due to lightning and Tatum's game Friday being canceled all together due to the same storm.
  – The Hobbs and Lovington game was far from a thing of beauty, but as usual it went down to the wire with Class 5A Hobbs holding on for a 16-14 win – breaking three-time defending Class 3A state champion Lovington's three-game win streak against the Eagles. When the game was postponed Friday with 8:08 left in the second quarter, Lovington led 6-0. When play resumed Saturday, Hobbs scored 16 points in the 8:08 left in the second to take a 16-6 lead and held on for the 16-14 win.
  Hobbs' defense played well with a season-low in points allowed (14) and yards allowed (299). Offensively, the Eagles still can't seem to find the rhythm it had early in the season. It will need to improve with Cleveland coming to town this week.
  As for Lovington, it struggled offensively and never seemed to commit to an identity, whether it was running out of an I-formation or the spread. Lovington's defense played well in the second half, but that 8:08 span in the second quarter did the Wildcats in. It doesn't get easier for Lovington as Goddard comes to town Friday.
  – Eunice lost a shootout to the Carlsbad JV on Friday 49-35. The positive, the Eunice offense showed some life with Dylan Frank accounting for all five scores (two rushing, two receiving, one kickoff return) but the Cards couldn't slow down a talented Carlsbad JV as it racked up 572 yards. Eunice (3-4) has a week off before hosting Dexter in its district opener.
  – Jal fell to 2-5 with a 34-22 loss to the Hobbs JV on Thursday at Watson Stadium. Jal got a big performance from Marc Acosta (263 yards rushing, three TDs, interception, forced fumble) but couldn't slow down the Hobbs JV's spread attack as Eagle quarterback David Romero threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns (and added one rushing). Jal travels to play Hagerman next week.
  – The game of the year in 8-man didn't happen as undefeated teams Tatum and Gateway Christian had their game canceled due to lightning. The game was scoreless in the second quarter when the game was called. While there is plenty of time between now and the 8-man state title game, this actually adds a little drama if these two teams remain undefeated and meet in the championship.