Eagles, Lady Eagles soccer hold destiny in hands; need wins tonight

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Dustin Wright takes a shot against Clovis on Oct. 8

  Destiny for a district title and an automatic state tournament berth still sits in the hands of the Hobbs boys and girls soccer teams as they both take on Carlsbad at 6 p.m. tonight (the Eagles play at home at Watson Stadium while the Lady Eagles travel to Carlsbad)
  While the Eagles and Lady Eagles are both 1-1 in district and trail their 3-0 competition (for the boys it's Clovis, for the girls it's Carlsbad), both teams would win their respective district titles if they win their final two games thanks to the tiebreaker rules.
  For the Hobbs boys, beating Carlsbad tonight and Clovis on Saturday would tie Clovis at 3-1 atop the district standings. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head and Hobbs and Clovis split so it would have to go to the next tiebreaker.
  The next tiebreaker would be head-to-head goal differential. Clovis beat Hobbs 3-2 on Oct. 8 and currently holds a +1 in differential. If Hobbs beats Clovis by at least two goals Saturday (taking into account it beat Carlsbad tonight) then the Eagles would be district champs.

Houston, Highland show Hobbs football heading in right direction

  Through call ins and word of mouth, I kept hearing a buzz about the two Hobbs eighth-grade football teams – Houston and Highland – doing well.
  Houston I know was off to a 5-1 start with its only loss being a close defeat to Artesia and Highland wasn't far behind.

Photos by Brad Cox/Hobbs News-Sun

  Trust me, I'm not one of those who thinks if a program does well at the junior high, freshman and junior varsity level it translates into instant success at the varsity level. That isn't necessarily the case because of numerous variables, ranging from kids not playing anymore to the varsity level being the biggest leap of all for prep student-athletes. Lets remember, these are just eighth graders. At the same time, experiencing success breeds a winning attitude – important for football programs.
  Since I'd heard so much about the teams, I decided to go check out the two playing each other Thursday evening in front of a full moon at Watson Stadium.
  I didn't have a notepad, recorder or anything (though News-Sun sportswriter Brad Cox was nice enough to shoot photos). I just wanted to enjoy the game and take it in (something I usually only get to do at my daughter's athletic events). Sometimes when trying to take notes, play-by-play, stats and photos you often miss little things in games.

Eunice's Almager leading News-Sun Offensive P.O.Y. race

  Well known in baseball circles, Eunice quarterback Tyler Almager has exploded onto the football scene in 2011 with an impressive first six games of the season and has emerged as a front runner for the 2011 News-Sun Lea County Offensive Player of the Year award in football.

  Almager, the 2011 News-Sun Lea County Baseball Player of the Year, is 85-for-147 for 1,914 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading the top-ranked Class 2A Cardinals to a 6-0 start. Almager is also the team's leading rusher with 901 yards and 14 touchdowns on 89 carries (10.1 yards per carry).

  Add a kickoff return for a touchdown and Almager has accounted for 38 touchdowns this season – an average of 6.3 per game.

  Almager is averaging an eye-popping 469.2 yards of offense per game (319.0 passing, 150.2 rushing) thanks to a solid offensive line and an athletic group of skill position players around him.

  For those who haven't seen Almager play, watch the video above. Almager reminds me some of the winner of the offensive player of the year award the last three seasons – Lovington's Jacob Jameson. While Almager's competition isn't quite what Jameson faced (Goddard, Artesia, Hobbs, Andrews, etc.), there are a lot of similarities between the two – mainly their ability to use both their legs and their arm. 

  Jameson finished last season with 3,624 yards and 60 touchdowns passing while rushing for 1,267 yards and 17 more scores. Almager is on pace for similar of numbers.

Quick thoughts from Lovington's triple OT win over Hobbs

Darrell Patterson/Hobbs News-Sun

A pair of Lovington players celebrate during the 

Wildcats' win over Hobbs on Friday in Hobbs.

  For an in-county game that went three overtimes, Lovington's 31-28 win over Hobbs was far from pleasing to the eye.
  There was 428 yards of offense combined (Hobbs 238, Lovington 190) as both teams showed they have flaws moving the ball.
  Hobbs was painfully one dimensional. With a sophomore quarterback making his first varsity start in Kolin Zembas (who looked pretty good all things considered), it was apparent Hobbs was going to keep the ball on the ground – nothing new for a Bruce Dollar coached team. But with the Eagles' only backfield threat being Aderiole Moore, the Wildcat defense loaded the box (sometimes with nine players) and started just rushing toward the senior running back as soon as the ball was snapped. In the second half Moore usually had a hand or two on him in the backfield before he could get moving, leading to 20 carries for just 49 yards in the second half after carving up Lovington for 100 yards on 12 carries in the first half.
  While the Hobbs offense stalled after two first-quarter touchdowns, it didn't turn the ball over until its last play on offense in triple overtime – a big improvement after 21 turnovers in the first six games.
  But key miscues cost Hobbs this game – touching a punt that Lovington recovered in the first quarter that led to a Wildcat field goal, a Lovington punt that was allowed to bounce and roll nearly 25 yards to the Hobbs 1 (leading to a safety) and missed tackles on David Robles' punt return for a touchdown. These are three plays that equal 11 of Lovington's 14 points in regulation.

Eagles, Wildcats set for Battle of Highway 18

Kimberly Ryan/Hobbs News-Sun

Hobbs' Aderiole Moore rushes against 

Alamogordo at Watson Stadium.

  As I sit down to write this less than 24 hours away from Hobbs and Lovington squaring off at Watson Stadium, I'm really not sure what to make of this contest.
  Heck, I don't even know what to call this game. I feel like it should have a name. I just made up Battle of Highway 18 ... which, to be honest, doesn't sound that great (maybe it does). Someone really does need to come up with a name. Maybe call it "The Roughneck Rumble" with the trophy being an oil derrick. I don't know, it just needs something.
  Anyway, back to the game. This game is a bit puzzling because I really don't know what to expect of Hobbs tonight. The Eagles are coming off a terribly disappointing 50-21 loss to Alamogordo – a team it was ahead of 14-3 and could've beat because there is no way the Tigers were 29 points better than the Eagles. Frustration boiled over and Hobbs, which may or may not be at full strength tonight, needs a win against Lovington to bounce back.
  Look for Hobbs to pound the ball on the ground with Aderiole Moore, who looked very good against Alamogordo – rushing for 169 yards and a score on 21 carries. That carries total may go above 30 tonight.

Eunice's Caraza a college talent waiting to be seized

  If you've never seen Eunice's Junior Caraza play football, it's a sight to be seen. In fact watch the video below.

  Listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Caraza is a wrecking ball on the gridiron – destroying nearly anything in his path as you saw on the video. He's a force as a defensive back, laying huge hits on opposing players, and is an explosive weapon at wide receiver and running back for the Cardinals.
  A great pure athlete, Caraza has won numerous state track championships, helped Eunice baseball to a state title in 2010 and a runner-up finish last season and was also the basketball team's leading scorer from a year ago.
  But it's the football field where he really shines with last week being arguably the best all-around game by a player in Lea County this season.
  During Eunice's 60-30 win over Tucumcari, Caraza had five receptions for 195 yards and two scores, ran the ball three times for 105 yards and made 12 tackles (one for a loss) and picked off two passes (returning one 88 yards).

Hobbs boys basketball schedule released for 2011-12

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Dane Pannell against Eldorado

in Albuquerque last season.

  I got my hands on a copy of the Hobbs boys basketball schedule today and Eagle fans better take advantage of every home game as the Eagles – with first-year coach Mike Smith at the helm – will be on the road for 14 of their 26 games, unusual for a team that usually plays over half its games at Tasker Arena.

  The full schedule is at the bottom of this blog and is also available in Tuesday's sports section of the News-Sun (page 10) but I'll highlight some games of interest.
  — Nov. 15 @ Midland Lee: Eagles' season opener. I bet a few fans travel the relatively short drive to Midland to watch Smith's first game as head coach of Hobbs.
  — Nov. 29 vs. Midland High: Hobbs' home opener and first game for Smith at Tasker Arena as head coach. Probably will be a wild night.
  — Dec. 1-3 @ El Paso Canutillo Tournament: I'm not sure when Hobbs last played in a tournament not named the Hobbs Holiday Tournament or the state tournament, but this should be a good warm up for the Holiday Tournament.
  — Dec. 17 vs. Oñate: First New Mexico opponent (unless the Eagles play a New Mexico team at the Canutillo Tournament) and a chance to avenge two losses last season to the 2011 Class 5A state champs.
  — Dec. 28-30 Hobbs Holiday Tournament: Do I have to say anything more? Should be a blast as always. If you haven't been to this tournament, make a point to. While I'm not sure about all the teams attending, I was told Volcano Vista (who should be one of the better teams in Albuquerque) will be in attendance.