Mike Powers| News-Bulletin photos
Los Lunas Tigers celebrate a fumble recovery on their way to downing Belen in the 75th Valencia Bowl.
Los Lunas
With electricity in the air, from anticipation and lightning nearby, Los Lunas dominated Belen Friday 56-6 in the 75th annual Valencia Bowl, capturing the Valencia County News-Bulletin Chile Roaster trophy for the eighth straight time.
It’s not the longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry, which started in 1953, but never has one team dominated the other so thoroughly. During those eight games, LLHS (1-0) outscored BHS 335-42.
It was something of a methodical performance for the 6A Tigers, controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball against the 5A Eagles. The numbers tell much of the story, with LLHS racking up 387 yards of total offense, nearly tripling the BHS output.
Late in the first quarter, Belen (0-1) recovered a Los Lunas fumble to stop a Tiger drive. Two plays later, the Eagles snapped the ball through the end zone, giving LLHS a safety and the lead for good, 2-0.
After the ensuing free kick, Emi De La Torre scored from short yardage to increase the Tigers’ advantage to 9-0 with seven seconds left in the opening quarter.
LLHS receiver Ethan Olguin is sky high after catching the first of two touchdown passes during the Tigers eighth straight victory in the Valencia Bowl.
Belen had some early success offensively with the option, but a lost fumble on the first play of the second quarter led to a Jordan Howard touchdown. It was 16-0 after the extra point by freshman Nathan Martinez.
That was followed by a 32-yard touchdown strike from senior quarterback Damacio Kaneshiro, who didn’t play last season, to Ethan Olguin.
“I came out nervous. I was shaking,” Kaneshiro said. “After the first drive, I felt like I got back into it. Me and my boys started getting together.”
Los Lunas led 23-0 at the half.
“In the first quarter, we came out strong, we were fresh,” said BHS coach Kevin Peña. “As the game wore on, our guys got tired.”
Shortly after the Los Lunas marching band took the field at halftime, the stadium was cleared because of lightning in the area. The game resumed about one hour later, with most of the large crowd returning to their seats.
Midway through the third quarter, Kaneshiro connected on a 58-yard pass to Olguin, who stretched into the end zone to make the score 30-0.
Sophomore Kaiden Reese, rotating in at quarterback, added a couple of rushing touchdowns later to build the lead to 42-0.
“I think we can continue to create that situation where they both can help,” LLHS coach Greg Henington said, referring to using two quarterbacks with different styles. “That can be very beneficial for us.”
Belen’s Damian Avila tries to find running room during the Valencia Bowl, won by Los Lunas 56-6.
With about eight minutes left in the game, Belen broke through. On a fourth down and long, a halfback pass from Derian Rodriguez to a wide open Logan Gonzalez put the Eagles on the board.
The Tigers rounded out the scoring with Fabian Trujillo returning a squib kick for a touchdown and De La Torre hitting pay dirt in the final seconds to end the game on the mercy rule, 56-6.
“The defense played lights out,” according to Henington. “Aggressive, fast, flying to the ball, turnovers. Everything you would want from them they showed tonight.”
Los Lunas had 199 yards rushing and 188 yards passing, most of that by Kaneshiro. Belen had 144 yards in total offense, split evenly through the air and on the ground.
Homecoming is next for LLHS, Friday against Alamogordo, a 36-29 winner over Silver.
Despite the disappointing result, Belen’s Peña said he was proud of the Eagles.
“They played their butts off. They got after it,” he said. “The score may not have shown it, but overall, I feel like we competed.”
The Eagles home opener is Friday against Manzano, which lost to Las Cruces Mayfield 55-0.
“As time goes on, we’ll get better. We’ve got to get some guys healthy, that’s for sure,” Peña said. “But I think we’ll be OK in the end.”
Valencia High School
Three rushing touchdowns by senior Daniel Villegas carried Valencia to a 48-20 victory Friday at Kirtland Central in the debut of Jaguar head coach LeDarrius Cage.
“I’ve been confident in the guys,” said Cage, pleased with the way the team dealt with adversity, including a long bus ride and a lightning delay before kickoff of more than an hour. “We were still able to execute at a high level. I thought the offensive line blocked really well. We had about 400 yards of total offense.”
Senior quarterback Aiden Harrington contributed 85 yards through the air on six of eight passing, as the 4A Jaguars built a 28-0 lead at the half.
Defensively, sophomore Isaac Ramirez intercepted a pass on a tipped ball.
“We have to do a better job covering in the secondary if we’re going to make a push in district,” Cage said.
Next up is a Friday home game against Del Norte, who lost 56-6 at Deming.
The Jaguars were winless at home last season on the newly installed artificial turf, and Cage wants to end that drought and give fans something to cheer about.
“The train is rolling. I’m 100 percent behind my guys and I’m confident in whatever we’re going to put together for the rest of the season.”
Mike Powers spent more than 40 years as a television news and sports anchor, mostly in the Albuquerque market. He has won numerous awards including New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year. He covers a wide range of sports, including the Valencia County prep scene.
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May 2, 2024
