Valencia Jaguars stumble; power outage sidelines Belen Eagles

Then there was one.

Both the Belen and Los Lunas football teams were off last week. The break for LLHS was planned. The off day for BHS was not, victim of a power outage on the Eagles’ campus.

That left Valencia as the only county team taking the gridiron.

Portales rams Jaguars

Won-loss records can be misleading, something Valencia found out first hand Friday.

Portales, winless in five games after playing a difficult schedule, made the long trek to Tomé from eastern New Mexico and dominated the Jaguars.

The Rams (1-5, 1-1) took advantage of two first quarter Valencia fumbles to score twice within 14 seconds, building a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

“A lack of execution in all three phases of the game,” is how the evening was summed up by LeDarrius Cage, VHS head coach.

Especially disheartening was the second Rams touchdown, which came after the ball was mistakenly snapped into the player in motion and returned for a score.

The next drive was the best of the game for Valencia, with running back Michael Storms III carrying much of the load, finding the end zone from two yards out. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score at 14-6.

After the VHS touchdown, the Rams responded with 17 unanswered points to lead 31-6 at the half.

To start the third quarter, a fake punt set up the next PHS touchdown. That was followed by the most explosive moment for Valencia, with quarterback Santino Mares winding his way for a touchdown run of more than 70 yards.

Those were the last points for the Jaguars, who dropped to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in District 2-A after the 51-14 loss.

“I feel like the focus all week was pretty good,” said VHS safety Jordan Henry, who has had several big interceptions this season for Valencia. “We didn’t translate what we did all week to the game and it fell apart.”

Some of the struggles for the Jaguars were likely caused by either players out with injury or just returning to the lineup.

“We don’t want to make any excuses,” Cage said. “We just have to be better.”

Another long road trip awaits VHS, with a visit Friday to district foe Chaparral (5-1, 2-0).

“It’s a really big game,” said Cage. “It’s an opportunity to get back on the right side of district play.”

Eagles get unexpected break

Belen was scheduled to host Miyamura Friday in a District 1-5A contest, but the BHS campus suffered a power outage, leading to the game’s postponement.

The contest is rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 10, which coincidently was the bye week for both the Eagles and Patriots.

On Friday, BHS (2-3, 1-1) is at unbeaten Los Alamos (6-0, 3-0) in another district battle.

Tigers, Bulldogs to tangle

Los Lunas (3-2, 2-0) and this week’s opponent Albuquerque High (3-2, 1-1) both are coming off a bye. The Tigers and Bulldogs face off 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, in District 2-6A action at Milne Stadium.