November Madness: Class 4A Championship Game Preview

CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW   Who: No. 1 Bloomfield (11-1) vs. No. 2 St. Pius X (10-1)   What: Class 4 State Championship Game   Where: Community Stadium, Albuquerque, NM   When: Sat., Nov. 29, 1 p.m.   Unlike Class 6A and 5A, the Class 4A state championship game is not a rematch from a regular season meeting. The last time Bloomfield and St. Pius X met on the gridiron was last November's state championship game in the Four Corners. This year, Bloomfield makes the trip to Albuquerque to face the Sartans.   Bloomfield is aiming for its third state championship in the last four years. They have been the dominant program in Class 4A during that stretch. St. Pius X is probably viewed by many as an up-and-coming program. Last year's runner-up team consisted mainly of sophomores.   Now those sophomores have become juniors, and the Sartans have been even more dominant. They won their quarterfinal and semifinal matchups by 41 points (48-7, 41-0). Bloomfield won its quarterfinal game by 49 points and last week's semifinal by 42 points.   “Our guys had to learn a new offensive and defensive system, and it took them a while to start jelling and understand the systems at the level we need to be at,” St. Pius X head coach Curtis Fales told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We're peaking at the right time. This game is a big opportunity for us.”     Based on the lopsided outcomes of those games, these are the two best teams in Class 4A by a wide margin. Finally, they'll meet in the final game.   WHEN BLOOMFIELD HAS THE BALL   Virtually unknown just six months ago, Bloomfield dual threat quarterback Manual Chavarria (a/k/a Peanut) has arguably had the best season of any QB in the state, passing for 3,253 yards and 48 TD (vs. just 9 INT)  while rushing for 553 yards and 12 TD in 12 games. He joins senior [player_tooltip player_id='853022' first='Peyton' last='Duncan'] as two Bobcat rushers with over 500 yards.   “I knew Peanut would blossom into what he is right now,” Kovacs said. “He's had his ups and downs like most kids. But he's surrounded with weapons and he's a great leader for the team. He put the team on his back. Peanut has been in our program for four years. He waited for his turn. He really wants to go out on top.”      Duncan has a team-high 755 yards and 12 TDs on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1599956' first='Miguel' last='Hutchens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1599958' first='Cole' last='Gosnell'] are significant contributors to the running game as well with a combined 768 rushing yards and 9 TD.   “We have a premier back, power back and a scat back,” Kovacs said. “We've had that for the last few years. It gives defenses different looks and that's what you want to do to keep the defense on its heels. We have to be able to run the ball to be effective. That's been our mantra all year – run the ball.”         [player_tooltip player_id='1137877' first='Kaleb' last='Hutchens'] has developed into one of the top receivers in Class 4A with 51 receptions for 1,125 yards and 16 TD. He has the most receiving yards in Class 4A and is one of only two receivers in 4A with 1,000+ yards. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1599979' first='Deasyl' last='Priddy'] is an outstanding No. 2 receiver with 36 receptions for 846 yards and 12 TD. Three other receivers have 20 or more catches, including [player_tooltip player_id='1751727' first='Gavin' last='Pecotte'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1826139' first='Cable' last='Carruth']. Few WR corps in the state have greater depth.   “We're not short on skill guys,” Kovacs said. “We try to spread the ball around. We have guys who can catch the ball in space and do explosive things.”   Six-foot-3, 360-pound senior OT [player_tooltip player_id='1751732' first='Cristian' last='Medrano'], a next level talent, headlines the Bloomfield offensive line. Marius Benally is the right tackle.   Athletic sophomore MLB [player_tooltip player_id='1826155' first='Kane' last='Huffmyer'] (a team captain) leads the St. Pius X defense with 95 tackles with 6.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks and 12 QB hurries. He was named District 4A-2 Defensive Player of the Year. LB [player_tooltip player_id='1267030' first='Kolbe' last='Padilla'], who has played the entire season with a broken hand, attacks opposing backfields relentlessly, which is why he has 12.0 TFL among his 69 tackles. He leads the Sartans with 16.0 QB hurries. [player_tooltip player_id='1604762' first='Joaquin' last='Aragon'] is the third LB. He has made 50 tackles. DL [player_tooltip player_id='1248719' first='Chase' last='Nelson'] has 10.0 TFL. The Bloomfield offensive line must find a way to keep the trio of Huffmyer, Padilla and Nelson from wreaking too much havoc behind the line of scrimmage.   “Kane flies around and makes plays,” Flakes said. “He's in on almost every tackle and creating turnovers. He's a phenomenal athlete. We moved him from safety to linebacker and its' worked out for us. We know we'll have him for two more years. Our linebackers are definitely the strength of our defense.”     WHEN ST. PIUS X HAS THE BALL   Standing 6-foot-5, St. Pius X quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'] is as physically imposing as any player in Class 4A. He has successfully adapted to a new offensive scheme brought in by first-year offensive coordinator Damien Ocampo, formerly the head coach at Socorro.   “We revamped the entire offense with a new system and new terminology,” Flakes said. “The way we go about things is a lot different. I feel like our guys are more prepared. Having Coach Ocampo has been a blessing. Isaiah has matured a lot at quarterback. He's processing things faster, making better decisions and protecting the ball. He's taken a greater leadership role. It's been impressive to watch. He's definitely a physical specimen. He has a rocket arm.”       Carpenter has an arsenal of weapons around him. Junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1154954' first='Hershul' last='Olloway'] has been offered by New Mexico, New Mexico State and UTEP. Olloway is one of the fastest players in the state and he has utilized that speed to rush for 1,786 yards and 27 TD. He averages over 12.0 yards per carry.   “Hershul has gotten faster,” Flakes said. “Now he runs about a 10.6 in the 100. He puts on 20 to 25 pounds and runs faster. He's tough to bring down, especially with his vision and ball carrying skills.”      Six-foot-4 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1154956' first='Cayl' last='Cox-Liggins'] possesses elite athleticism allowing him to run past or leap over opposing defensive backs. He has 55 receptions for 986 yards and 11 TD. [player_tooltip player_id='1613459' first='Ezra' last='Ocampo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1155012' first='Curtis' last='Flakes III'] are solid receivers as well.   “We have a lot of guys that would be No. 1 receivers if they were somewhere else,” Flakes said. “We try to spread the ball around, let guys get touches and let them impact the game in their own way.”   Three-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='1248719' first='Chase' last='Nelson'], a next level talent, is the anchor of the St. Pius X offensive line. He moved from center to left tackle this season and has thrived. Three-year starters [player_tooltip player_id='1790998' first='Lucas' last='Saavedra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1751744' first='Tony' last='Ruiz'] join him.      The Bloomfield defense has posted four shutouts and allowed more than 20 points only twice this season. ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1599958' first='Cole' last='Gosnell'], younger brother of former Bloomfield standout Logan Gosnell, has impressed with a team-high 97 tackles, 20.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks and 23 QB hurries. He's joined at LB by [player_tooltip player_id='1137877' first='Kaleb' last='Hutchens'], [player_tooltip player_id='1604759' first='Johnny' last='Yates'] and Ayden George. The secondary features safety [player_tooltip player_id='1790852' first='Devon' last='Garcia'], the team's third leading tackler. Overall, the Bloomfield defense has 21 interceptions, 59.0 TFL and 131 QB hurries. Yeah, they get after it.   “Our defense has had a great season so far,” Kovacs said. “They've generated turnovers. Cole has done a great job. St. Pius runs some different wrinkles than they did last year. So, it's a new team with a new look. It's fresh. We have to find a way to contain Olloway. He is so fast when he gets to the edge. Our defensive front has to put pressure on them, all the way around. We're excited about the opportunity to play them.”   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Date: 11/29 Time: 1:00pm Location: Nusenda Community Stadium Attire: Black & Gold <a href="https://t.co/oARpWQcEg5">pic.twitter.com/oARpWQcEg5</a>— coachflakes (@thecoachflakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes/status/1992935206282727795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/Isaiah_3_C?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Isaiah_3_C</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoxLiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoxLiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtisFlakes1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CurtisFlakes1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseNelson58?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChaseNelson58</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Hersh_Olloway2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hersh_Olloway2</a> and Anthony Ruiz on receiving First Team All Metro Offensive Honors at their respective positions! <a href="https://t.co/4jdH2kXsxu">pic.twitter.com/4jdH2kXsxu</a>— coachflakes (@thecoachflakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes/status/1992674614598898087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congrats to District II 4A Offensive Player of the Year ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/Hersh_Olloway2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hersh_Olloway2</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/HG57PsO6Fs">pic.twitter.com/HG57PsO6Fs</a>— coachflakes (@thecoachflakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes/status/1985846431752864058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2025</a></blockquote>

CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW