Sights and Sounds: 6A State Championship Game (Recap/Video)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ALBUQUERQUE –</strong> This one belonged to the Cleveland defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stifling one of the top offenses in the State of New Mexico, the Storm rode their swarming defense - and an opportunistic offense - to a 26-8 victory over previously unbeaten La Cueva Saturday afternoon in the Class 6A state championship game at packed Wilson Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game marked the third straight year Cleveland and La Cueva have squared off on Thanksgiving weekend for the 6A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland won its fourth state championship in the last five full seasons. The Storm won consecutive titles in 2019, 2021 and 2022 (the 2020 season was lost to the pandemic and replaced with an abbreviated spring 2021 campaign in which no titles were awarded).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first 20 minutes or so of Saturday's showdown between the Storm and Bears was dominated by the defenses. The first break for either team came with about five minutes remaining in the second quarter when, after the Cleveland defense forced a punt from the La Cueva 15, the Bears were flagged for kick catch interference, a 15-yard penalty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland started from the La Cueva 28 and drove for the first score of the game on quarterback <strong>Jordan Hatch</strong>'s nice 3-yard throw into the middle of the end zone to wide receiver <strong>Angel Gallegos</strong>. Hatch rolled right and found Gallegos alone behind the La Cueva secondary for the 7-0 lead with less than four minutes left in the second quarter. A key play in the drive was a pass to TE [player_tooltip player_id='836902' first='Jon' last='Baca'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm got another break when La Cueva fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the loose football was recovered by Cleveland at the LC 28 yard line. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611120' first='Juan' last='Munoz']</strong>, who had a huge game in last week's semifinal win at Centennial, raced 21 yards to move the ball inside the 10-yard line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On fourth down, Munoz powered over from the 1-yard line for Cleveland's second TD within a span of about 70 seconds for a 13-0 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the Storm weren't done scoring in the first half, and La Cueva wasn't done with costly mistakes. A roughing the passer penalty wiped out an interception before a personal foul penalty gave Cleveland 15 additional yards to the LC 14 following a completion to Gallegos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the Storm advanced no farther and settled for a 31-yard field goal with less than a minute left in the second quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland led, 16-0, at halftime. The first half fittingly ended with a Cleveland interception on a long pass attempt by La Cueva QB <strong>Cam Dyer</strong>, who didn't complete a&nbsp; pass (0-for-12) in the opening 24 minutes. The Bears had less than 70 yards of total offense in the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More excellent defense by Cleveland marked the outset of the second half when the Storm intercepted a deflected Dyer pass on the Bears' second snap following the kickoff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four plays later, Hatch found WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado']</strong>, who transferred from La Cueva two years ago, running free down the right sideline for a 55-yard TD play and a 23-0 Storm lead with 9:41 left in the third quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Cueva was stopped on downs in Cleveland territory and Cleveland recovered a fumble on the Bears' next two possessions as La Cueva's frustrations continued to mount.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland drove into the red zone before the drive stalled and they settled for a 25-yard field goal that gave the Storm a 26-0 lead - and a four score advantage – early in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Cueva responded with its first and only score of the game on Dyer's short TD pass to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853566' first='Isaiah' last='Goree']</strong>. The Bears converted the two-point conversion to make it 26-8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next time La Cueva got the ball they drove to the edge of the red zone. But Dyer was sacked on fourth-and-15 for an 18-yard loss as the Cleveland sidelines and their thousands of supporters in the visiting stands erupted into cheers, knowing the blue trophy would soon be theirs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams finished 12-1. The Storm ended the year with a 12-game winning streak following a season-opening loss to Centennial. Hatch, Maldonado, OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851862' first='Moses' last='Sparks']</strong>, OLB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1230420' first='Elijah' last='Richards']</strong> and several other key players return in 2025.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Cueva, stonewalled all afternoon long, loses their core group of standout players (Dyer, RB <strong>Cheeto Lumbrera</strong>, LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa']</strong>, OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118241' first='Mark' last='Handy']</strong>, etc.) but the Bears always reload and they'll&nbsp; be back ready to compete for another state championship in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 1: Team Runouts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/R3Ics8ZmZBg?si=_bSM0QVhFGt7N7q9","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/R3Ics8ZmZBg?si=_bSM0QVhFGt7N7q9 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 2: First Quarter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/FerW-X00vVE?si=zVvkm_Xs3juFLINJ","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/FerW-X00vVE?si=zVvkm_Xs3juFLINJ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 3: Late First Quarter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/o5HYTRsQD1g?si=nsjF38_Vh_dN3liv","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/o5HYTRsQD1g?si=nsjF38_Vh_dN3liv </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 4: Second Quarter (Cleveland TD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/mAEaAy6-_Lc?si=RxFVEOkHt739C8vs","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/mAEaAy6-_Lc?si=RxFVEOkHt739C8vs </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 5: Late Second Quarter (Cleveland TD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/OV3bGEiZRTM?si=jRiHA4AcvLti0yld","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/OV3bGEiZRTM?si=jRiHA4AcvLti0yld </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 6: Late Second Quarter (Cleveland FG)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/CNFI-2JQvYg?si=DY7OFBfvMtsf3Zij","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/CNFI-2JQvYg?si=DY7OFBfvMtsf3Zij </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 7: Third Quarter (Cleveland INT and TD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/c8Hdh1CkNXI?si=KxoK1RcWwgkv-sPJ","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/c8Hdh1CkNXI?si=KxoK1RcWwgkv-sPJ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 8: Late Third Quarter </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/KeiglRVUKTM?si=wgV8Gcc5ZuoBHZlZ","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/KeiglRVUKTM?si=wgV8Gcc5ZuoBHZlZ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 9: Early Fourth Quarter (Cleveland FG)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/EKSPwuEcMvM?si=RCBLCPy_jZeLAfhz","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/EKSPwuEcMvM?si=RCBLCPy_jZeLAfhz </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 10: Fourth Quarter (La Cueva TD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/4Q-4hUKmzAU?si=4gOvpBc-bT0JtVO4","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/4Q-4hUKmzAU?si=4gOvpBc-bT0JtVO4 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIDEO 11: Fourth Quarter (La Cueva's Final Possession)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/batVyZjy3IQ?si=4nw8zTlq-GIEeo6v","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/batVyZjy3IQ?si=4nw8zTlq-GIEeo6v </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final: Cleveland 26, La Cueva 8.<br><br>Storm win the Class 6A championship. Another title for Cleveland. Great performance today. <a href="https://t.co/iIMqYxojw9">pic.twitter.com/iIMqYxojw9</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1862988148533350627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your 2024 Class 6A state champions - Cleveland Storm. <a href="https://t.co/ABmh84PUtq">pic.twitter.com/ABmh84PUtq</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1862989969603674538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Incredible leader. <br>Incredible player.<br>And now a State Champion<br>29 TDs 2 INTS. <br><br>Jordan Hatch is a baller folks. <a href="https://t.co/vHEu6AAuxY">pic.twitter.com/vHEu6AAuxY</a></p>&mdash; Heath Ridenour (@Coach_Ridenour) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Ridenour/status/1863099368099741955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">State champs⚡️⚡️<a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_RGarza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_RGarza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachD84?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachD84</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMJohns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachMJohns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleMorgan_XOS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KyleMorgan_XOS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmprepcosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmprepcosports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CSAPrepStar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSAPrepStar</a> <a href="https://t.co/HCRWqu2wLq">pic.twitter.com/HCRWqu2wLq</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1230420' first='Elijah' last='Richards'] (@E_Richards22) <a href="https://twitter.com/E_Richards22/status/1863054076331569332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STORM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STORM</a> WIN! 🥇⚡️🏈 So proud of this team, staff, families and especially <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachD84?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachD84</a>. <br><br>9 years coaching in NM, 5 state titles, on both sides of the ball. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/proven?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#proven</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DLineSmoke?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DLineSmoke</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SniffSniffISmellClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SniffSniffISmellClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/uVc4IW97dP">pic.twitter.com/uVc4IW97dP</a></p>&mdash; Tessa Mentus (@TessaMentus) <a href="https://twitter.com/TessaMentus/status/1863026702420410588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ended senior year off right!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/protectthetradition?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#protectthetradition</a> <a href="https://t.co/HoWzT7Jav9">pic.twitter.com/HoWzT7Jav9</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='837117' first='Brendan' last='Cochrane'] (@BrenCochrane07) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrenCochrane07/status/1863072079915913238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Ended a tough season off as state champion 🥇🏆 <br>S/O big bro <a href="https://twitter.com/MarquezSharky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarquezSharky</a> 🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/B9xbfwQc1A">pic.twitter.com/B9xbfwQc1A</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='853576' first='Tayvon' last='McCoy'] (@TVMcCoy23) <a href="https://twitter.com/TVMcCoy23/status/1863071612045586439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->