Quarterfinals Whiparound: Top Performances, Best Games, Fun Stuff

The Quarterfinals of the 2025 Playoffs are complete. Here is our second post-season edition of the Weekly Whiparound, our comprehensive deep dive into everything that happened on the field. Enjoy!   Teams of the Week: La Cueva (6A), Gadsden (5A), Taos (4A), NMMI (3A), Hozho Academy (2A).   La Cueva (10-2) rallied from a two-touchdown deficit early in the third quarter, booting a walk-off field goal to stun Centennial, 24-21, at Field of Dreams. The Bears' comeback began when QB [player_tooltip player_id='1183085' first='Monty' last='Melendez'] (278 passing yards) threw a 15-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1686972' first='Chris' last='Lopez'] with 9:13 left in the 3rd quarter. With just over a minute left in the quarter, the La Cueva defense forced a fumble and the ball popped into the arms of [player_tooltip player_id='1266328' first='Brody' last='Clark'], who returned it 42 yards for a game-tying TD. Centennial missed a 25-yard field early in the third quarter. Centennial got possession with about 3-1/2 minutes left and drove to the La Cueva 14. But the Hawks missed a 31-yard FG with 1:04 left. La Cueva drove down the field, helped immensely by a 40-yard run by RB [player_tooltip player_id='1629861' first='Vaughn' last='Saunders']. A 13-yard pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1686972' first='Chris' last='Lopez'] and an ill-timed face mask penalty on the Hawks moved the ball to the Centennial 14 with seconds remaining. Bears PK [player_tooltip player_id='1137412' first='Chance' last='Whitmire'] trotted out and calmly booted a 32-yard field goal as time expired to win it. La Cueva hosts Las Cruces in the semifinals on Friday night.   Gadsden (8-4) made the long trip to Los Alamos and handed the previously unbeaten Hilltoppers its first loss of the season, 31-13, beating them in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1357130' first='Juan' last='Rios'] rushed for 177 yards and 1 TD on 22 carries and QB [player_tooltip player_id='1751388' first='Ethan' last='Morales'] threw for 204 yards on just 8 completions (25.5 yards per completion). Los Alamos led, 7-0, after the first quarter before Gadsden scored the next 24 points for a 24-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Hilltoppers scored to close the gap to 24-13 but Gadsden sealed the win with [player_tooltip player_id='1790772' first='Armando' last='Ramirez']'s rushing TD midway through the final frame to close out the scoring. Los Alamos turned the ball over on downs on their final two possessions. Gadsden will host a playoff semifinal game for the first time since 1966 when the Panthers face Roswell Saturday at Sal Gonzalez Stadium in Anthony.                   Taos (7-4) earned a trip to the Class 4A semifinals with a thrilling 25-24 win over Albuquerque Academy. Tigers QB [player_tooltip player_id='853710' first='Evan' last='Salazar'] fired a 44-yard TD pass to Alejandro Ortega with 12 seconds left to lift Taos to the win. Taos rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit to pull out the win. They also trailed 24-12 late in the third quarter before Salazar led a pair of fourth-quarter TD drives. The final game-winning 70-yard drive included a fourth-down conversion at midfield. Salazar ran 20 yards for a TD to cut Albuquerque Academy's lead to 24-18 early in the fourth quarter. Salazar was 32-of-56 passing for 400 yards + 55 yards rushing to lead the Tigers. Three receivers had 5+ receptions. Taos will host No. 1 seed Bloomfield in the 4A semifinals since the Tigers traveled to the Four Corners in 2022.     Players of The Week: [player_tooltip player_id='851873' first='Jordan' last='Kekoa Hatch'], Cleveland (6A), [player_tooltip player_id='1672571' first='Derrick' last='Warren'], Artesia (5A), [player_tooltip player_id='853710' first='Evan' last='Salazar'], Taos (4A), Konstantino Scopelitis, NMMI (3A), [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'], Texico (2A).   Konstantino Scopelitis did it all for NMI Friday night as he led the Colts to a 42-28 road victory over Pojoaque Valley. Scopelitis scored 5 TDs – four rushing – as NMMI built a 21-7 lead at halftime and maintained that advantage for most of the second half, usually responding to a Pojoaque Valley score with one of their own. Scopelitis had 98 yards and 4 TD rushing on 18 carries + 4 receptions for 113 yards and 1 TD.     Best Games: Hozho Academy 49, Raton 47; La Cueva 24, Centennial 21; Chaparral 42, Moriarty 41; Taos 25, Albuquerque Academy 24.   Hozho Academy survived Raton's furious fourth-quarter rally, stopping a two-point conversion attempt with about a minute left and recovering the ensuing onsides kick for a wild 49-47 victory in Gallup. Hozho Academy QB [player_tooltip player_id='1137855' first='Brandon' last='Bonaguidi'] threw for 200 yards and 4 TD on 13-of-21 passing and rushed for a team-high 88 yards on 21 carries to lead the Wolves' offense. Raton RB [player_tooltip player_id='1604784' first='Cael' last='Walton'] rushed for 267 yards on a workhorse 31 carries. Hozho led, 49-28, with about 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter before Raton scored three TD but missed the 2-point conversion on its final two scores.   In a Class 4A battle, Chaparral outlasted Moriarty, 42-41, in OT. Moriarty got the ball first in the extra session and scored a rushing TD. The Pintos went for two and failed. Chaparral got the ball and QB [player_tooltip player_id='851884' first='Israel' last='Nieto'] ran for a TD. The Lobos kicked the extra point for the win, sending them to the 4A semifinals against St. Pius X.   Sophomore of the Week: [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'], Texico.               Freshman of the Week: Braylon Walton, Raton. Threw for 188 yards in Raton's shootout loss to Hozho Academy.          Class 6A Roundup: QB [player_tooltip player_id='851873' first='Jordan' last='Kekoa Hatch'] completed 15-of-22 passes for 207 yards and 3 TD as Cleveland routed Volcano Vista, 42-0, to keep the Storm's quest for a seventh consecutive 6A championship game appearance alive. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1599859' first='Troy' last='Logan'] rushed for 2 TD and [player_tooltip player_id='1600936' first='Samuel' last='Bustillos'] had 113 yards on 12 carries to power Cleveland's run game. Cleveland's defense also dominated, limiting Volcano Vista to 76 total yards of offense. Cleveland hosts Hobbs in the semifinals. . .Unbeaten Las Cruces (11-0) pulled away from Los Lunas in the fourth quarter to beat the Tigers, 49-29, Friday night at Field of Dreams. Las Cruces led, 28-21, at the end of the third quarter. Los Lunas thought it had tied the game but an 83-yard Pick-6 was negated by a roughing the passer penalty. The drive continued for the Bulldawgs and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'] scored on an 11-yard run to increase Las Cruces' lead to 35-21 early in the fourth quarter. Moments later, a special teams blunder by Los Lunas gave the Bulldawgs the ball at the 1-yard line. Amaro scored again to make the score 42-21. Las Cruces LB [player_tooltip player_id='1606076' first='Hunter' last='Parmeter'] scored on a 37-yard Pick-6 in the first half. Amaro sealed the win with his third rushing TD from 28 yards out for the game's final points with 3:45 left. . .Hobbs (9-2) overcame a big night from Carlsbad QB Marley Munoz to beat the Cavemen, 30-19, at Watson Stadium, securing the Eagles' first trip to the 6A semifinals since the classification was added in 2016. Munoz threw for 162 yards and ran for 166 yards to spark Carlsbad's offense. Munoz's 27-yard TD pass closed the gap to 23-19 midway through the fourth quarter. But Hobbs drove down the field and scored a TD to again make it a 2-score game in the closing minutes.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FOOTBALL: Cleveland beat Volcano Vista 42-0 on Friday. Here are some of the highlights (courtesy NFHS network/Sports Primo) <a href="https://t.co/iJ1eoxJW2p">pic.twitter.com/iJ1eoxJW2p</a>— NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1989552952563175835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a></blockquote>   Class 5A Roundup: Artesia QB [player_tooltip player_id='1672571' first='Derrick' last='Warren'] completed 20-of-21 passes for 273 yards and 3 TD as Artesia walloped Highlands, 49-13, at the Bulldog Bowl, earning Artesia a trip to Lovington for the semifinals. Six Artesia receivers had 2+ receptions. Warren's TD passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1750200' first='Jack' last='Byers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1600893' first='Trent' last='Egeland'] gave Artesia a 13-0 lead after the first quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra']'s two rushing TDs made it 28-0 at halftime and the Bulldogs cruised home from there. Highlands didn't score until they trailed 35-0, midway through the fourth quarter. . .No. 2 seed Roswell mercy-ruled Belen, 51-0, at the Wool Bowl. The Coyotes travel to Gadsden for a semifinals matchup. . .Lovington ended Goddard's revival season with a 28-14 victory, securing a spot in the 5A semifinals against Artesia for the Wildcats. [player_tooltip player_id='1137475' first='Jayden' last='Gutierrez'] opened the scoring for the Wildcats with a 29-yard run on Lovington's first offensive play early in the first quarter. Gutierrez's 21-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1750336' first='Zachary' last='Diaz'] gave Lovington a 13-0 halftime lead. Lovington pushed the lead to 21-0 late in the third quarter on [player_tooltip player_id='1787396' first='Jaden' last='Garcia']'s 5-yard TD run.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">📽️⭐️ <a href="https://t.co/Z0U3aaJvNl">pic.twitter.com/Z0U3aaJvNl</a>— BulldogFootball 🏈🏆x32 (@artesiafootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1990191739567509787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>   Class 4A Roundup: No. 1 seed Bloomfield trounced Bernalillo, 49-0, as QB Manual Chavarria threw 3 TD passes, [player_tooltip player_id='1751727' first='Gavin' last='Pecotte'] returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a TD and the Bobcats defense forced six turnovers and held Bernalillo to just over 100 yards in total offense. Bloomfield led, 21-0, after the first quarter and cruised from there. Kaleb Huchens scored 4 TD, including a 90-yard scoop-and-score on a fumble that gave Bloomfield a 28-0 lead in the second quarter. Bloomfield travels to Taos for Saturday's semifinal matchup. . .St. Pius X scored 42 points in the first half, including a pair of scores in the final minute of the second quarter, to trounce Grants, 48-7, and secure a spot in the Class 4A semifinals for the second consecutive season. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1154954' first='Hershul' last='Olloway'] (147 rushing yards) scored on a 67-yard TD run to give the Sartans a 28-7 lead early in the second quarter. That remained the score until [player_tooltip player_id='1613459' first='Ezra' last='Ocampo'] ran for an 8-yard TD with about a minute left in the first half. Olloway then intercepted a Grants pass to set up St. Pius X inside the 10-yard line. Moments later, QB [player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'] scored on a 7-yard TD run to make it 42-7.   Class 3A Roundup: Hope Christian QB [player_tooltip player_id='1137124' first='RJ' last='Montoya'] rushed for 3 touchdowns and threw one more to lead the Huskies past Hot Springs, 48-21, Friday night. RB Kingsley Fritz ran for two Huskie TDs. Montoya finished with 70 yards rushing on 12 carries and completed 15-of-25 passes for 210 yards. The Hope Christian defense forced four turnovers and collected five sacks. Two of Hot Springs's three TDs were scored by the Tigers defense on scoop-and-score fumble returns. . .No. 1 seed St. Michael's beat Robertson for the second time in three weeks, although this one was a little more difficult. The Horsemen won, 28-7, for its 31st straight victory and setting up a semifinals rematch with NMMI Saturday afternoon in Santa Fe. . .Dexter mercy-ruled Ruidoso, 57-6, to set up a semifinal matchup with Hope Christian in Dexter on Saturday. Dexter led, 22-0, after the first quarter and continued to build on its lead in the second quarter. Dexter led, 42-6, at halftime.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sights And Sounds: Class 3A Quarterfinal Battle (Video/Recap)<a href="https://twitter.com/dmarkrodriguez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dmarkrodriguez</a> Click to view the article!<a href="https://t.co/UHPsbI9pAq">https://t.co/UHPsbI9pAq</a>— Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1990095396178428082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>   Class 2A Roundup: No. 1 seed Texico pounded Navajo Prep on the ground, amassing 345 rushing yards on 25 carries, an average of 13.8 yards per carry, in a 54-6 victory over the Eagles. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] had 248 yards and 3 TD on 13 carries. In all, Texico had 477 total offensive yards. The Wolverines defense limited Navajo Prep to minus-42 yards rushing and 202 total yards. They intercepted four Navajo Prep passes. . .Legacy Academy scored all its point in the second and fourth quarters, pulling away late in a 49-18 victory over Loving Saturday afternoon at Bernalillo High School. Silverbacks RB [player_tooltip player_id='1606048' first='Xander' last='Chavez'] rushed for 148 yards and 4 TD on 12 carries (12.3 yards per attempt), including a pair of scores in the fourth quarter when Legacy Academy saw Loving narrow the deficit to 27-18. However, a safety flipped momentum. Legacy Academy took the ensuing free kick and drove for a TD to make it 36-18. Two more rushing TDs allowed Legacy to keep building on its lead late. . .Eunice trounced Santa Rosa, 49-14, and will travel to the Albuquerque Metro Region on Saturday to face Legacy Academy in the semifinals.   Semifinals Schedule (Nov. 21-22)   Class 6A   Las Cruces at La Cueva, 7 p.m. (Fri.)   Hobbs at Cleveland, 1 p.m. (Sat.)   Class 5A   Roswell at Gadsden, 2 p.m. (Sat.)   Artesia at Lovington, 1 p.m. (Sat.)   Class 4A   Bloomfield at Taos, 2 p.m. (Sat.)   Chaparral at St. Pius X, 1 p.m. (Sat.)   Class 3A   Hope Christian at Dexter, 1 p.m. (Sat.)   NMMI at St. Michael's, 1 p.m. (Sat.)   Class 2A   Eunice at Legacy Academy, 1 p.m. (Sat.)(at Bernalillo HS)   Hozho Academy at Texico, 1 p.m. (Sat.)   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Panther Nation - it's time to rock the house! For the first time since 1966, Gadsden will host the State Semifinals! Let's fill <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheSAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheSAL</a> and cheer on your Panthers as they host Roswell! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailGadsden?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailGadsden</a> <a href="https://t.co/1u9MnpBNhL">pic.twitter.com/1u9MnpBNhL</a>— Gadsden Football (@GadsdenPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1990093039843582347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

The Quarterfinals of the 2025 Playoffs are complete. Here is our second post-season edition of the Weekly Whiparound, our comprehensive deep dive into everything that happened on the field. Enjoy!