November Madness: Class 2A Championship Game Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who</strong>: No. 1 Texico (8-3) vs. No. 3 Eunice (9-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What</strong>: Class 2A State Championship Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Where</strong>: Field of Hopes and Dreams, Texico, NM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>When</strong>: Sat., Nov. 29, 1 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two District 2A-3 rivals are back in a familiar spot. Texico, looking for a three-peat, is appearing in its fifth 2A state championship game in the past six seasons dating back to 2019. Eunice reached the 2A title game two years ago (lost to Texico) and won four straight 2A titles between 2017-21 (excluding cancelled 2020 season due to pandemic).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texico carries a seven game-winning streak into Saturday's contest. The Wolverines dropped three of their first four games, two to powerful West Texas schools, before surging. Eunice lost a shootout to Texico on Oct. 17 by a 42-34 score and was trounced on the road by 3A St. Michael's in a cross-classification game in September.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game is highlighted by a pair of elite playmakers. For Texico, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg']</strong> has been dynamite since taking over the quarterback duties when [player_tooltip player_id='1343408' first='Bennett' last='Wahlen'] suffered a severe separated shoulder injury in Week 1. Wahlen missed the next seven games and didn't step back onto the gridiron until the regular season finale against Tularosa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Getting Bennett back has added another dimension to our offense,” Texico head coach Bob Gilbreath told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Cross took some lumps early, but he continued to get better and better every week. He carried us all year long. He did an outstanding job. Early on, it was obvious we had to give him the ball in space. The fact he can play quarterback forces team to prepare for something else. When the season started, we thought he would start at safety,” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Figg has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and rushed for 1,668 yards and 19 TD on 168 carries in 11 games, often carrying the weight of the Texico offense on his shoulders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wahlen, though, will start of QB for Texico on Saturday. He started at QB for the regular season finale and Texico's first two playoff games. However, Figg will usually be on the field as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“They're both on the field all the time,” Texico head coach Bob Gilbreath told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Neither one hardly comes off.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texico had one of the largest offensive lines in the state last season, and 2025 has proven to be more of the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eunice QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon']</strong> plays his final game for the Cardinals and hopes to end his distinguished career on a high note. Eunice's starting QB since he was a freshman, Melancon has thrown for 2,648 yards and 38 TD this season and 10,692 yards and 153 TD in his career. He needs 308 passing yards in Saturday's game to reach the rarified air of 11,000 career passing yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melancon has a fleet of receivers at his disposal, starting with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600116' first='Dyson' last='Lord']</strong>, <strong>Ezequiel Garcia</strong>, freshman <strong>Lucas Lopez</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1680161' first='Haziel' last='Goitia']</strong>. The Cardinals have five receivers with 20 or more receptions, so Melancon does a good job spreading the wealth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greyson Meek is Eunice's leading rusher with 811 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We need to make them one-dimensional on offense”, Gilbreath said. “They run the ball very well with Meek and Melancon, If we can get them behind the sticks and we know they have to throw the ball, that helps.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->