Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Tigers get ready for big game

LLHS football team plays at Las Cruces on Friday night

T.S. Last News-Bulletin Sports Editor; tlast@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas Next year, the Los Lunas High School football team will be in a new district and won't have to contend with perennial state powerhouses Las Cruces High and Las Cruces Mayfield. But before they go, the up-and-coming Tigers get one more crack at breaking the barrier between them and their District 3-5A foes.

Los Lunas, unbeaten at 6-0, opens the district season Friday night against the 5-2 Las Cruces High Bulldawgs. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces.

While Los Lunas was idle last week, the Bulldawgs opened their district schedule with an impressive 40-14 win over Alamogordo. This Friday's game will have huge implications on the playoff picture.

"The team that wins this game is going to have the inside track to the playoffs," said Los Lunas head coach Bobby Campos, who led the Tigers to their first winning season in 10 years in 2003 — his first year at LLHS.

Since 3-5A was created in 2000, Las Cruces and Mayfield have owned the two state playoff berths awarded to the district each year. After sweeping the pre-district slate, the Tigers feel that this year could be different.

"Coming into the year, we felt we could play with anybody and that includes the southern teams," said the coach. "We feel we match up pretty well with Cruces — better this year than we have in the past."

Last year, the Bulldawgs doused the Tigers' playoff hopes with a 48-6 win at Los Lunas. But, Campos said, the 'Dawgs might be more vulnerable this year after losing several talented players to graduation.

Still, the Tigers respect the talent Las Cruces has left over.

"Dexter Hamilton is a good running back," Campos said of Hamilton, who rushed for 120 yards and scored a touchdown last week against Alamogordo.

A point of emphasis for the Tiger defense will be to contain Hamilton. "He's fast, and they run a speed option and try to get him around the corner. But we feel that if we can corral him, we'll be able to take some of that away."

The Tigers will also have to worry about Bulldawg quarterback Brandon Lucero, the state's leading passer. Lucero has 1,263 passing yards after throwing for 229 yards and three touchdowns in last week's game.

After viewing video of past games, Campos said Lucero has a penchant for making big plays, especially on third down.

"If we get them in a third-and-long situation, we have to make sure they don't convert," he said. "If we can reduce those chances, then we'll have a chance to win."

While Los Lunas will depend on its defense to slow down the 'Dawgs, the offense will have to do its part if the Tigers are to win the game.

Los Lunas opened up its passing game its last time out against Sandia on Oct. 8. Quarterback Antony Arana threw for 150 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-17 win.

"Sandia had eight in the box on defense, and when people do that we have to be able to adjust," Campos said.

Campos said he expects Cruces to play four down linemen and three linebackers around the line of scrimmage and use man-to-man coverage against the Tiger receivers. That could lead to favorable match-ups for Los Lunas' big-play receivers Carlos Carrasco and Chris Gallegos. Carrasco caught three TD passes against Sandia. Gallegos has proven to be a threat to score anytime he is in possession of the football.

The success of the Tiger offense relies most heavily on tailback Steven Aragon, who is second among Class 5A rushers with 990 yards this season. The junior is averaging 7.56 yards per carry.

Though Cruces has to be respected, Campos is optimistic this could be the year the Tigers break the barrier between themselves and the Bulldawgs.

"The kids have improved from week to week, and if we continue to do that, our chances are real good," he said.

Tiger notes: