Mike Powers| News-Bulletin photo
Valencia running back Danny Villegas guides a blocker in route to one of his five touchdowns against Rio Grande.
With Belen enjoying a bye week, Valencia and Los Lunas went on to post mercy-rule victories during Week 8 of the high school football season.
Valencia
It was a homecoming to remember for Valencia and senior running back Danny Villegas as the Jags overwhelmed Rio Grande 52-0 Friday in the Jaguars’ first mercy-rule victory in memory.
“We wanted to make plays tonight,” VHS head coach LeDarrius Cage said. “We wanted to execute. I think we did a pretty good job of that.”
At 5-foot, 4-inches tall, and about 130 pounds, Villegas carried much of the weight for the Jags. Villegas accounted for nearly 200 yards rushing with five touchdowns. Two of his scores covered more than 60 yards against the Ravens (1-6.)
“I couldn’t have done it without every single one of them,” Villegas said about his teammates, “especially my big boys,” the offensive line.
“He’s a senior. The anchor of our team all season,” Cage said of Villegas.
For the first time this season, Valencia scored on its opening drive.
“Finally. Wow. Oh my gosh,” is how Cage sized it up after accomplishing the preseason goal at last.
The wind started roaring in the second quarter, shaking the uprights on the goalposts and increasing the challenge for the passing and kicking games. Both teams were forced to focus on running the football, with VHS (4-3) building a 33-0 halftime advantage on the ground.
It didn’t take long in the third quarter for Valencia to close out the game on the 50-point mercy rule.
In addition to Villegas, the Jaguars got touchdowns from Michael Storms and Aiden Harrington.
VHS forced three turnovers to help post the shutout. Isaiah Rodriguez and Aiden Brogdon had interceptions, while Cole Hall had a fumble recovery.
During halftime ceremonies, Tilden Brown and Alayna Pacheco were recognized as homecoming king and queen.
Valencia begins action in district play with a home contest Friday against St. Pius (3-4).
Los Lunas
Los Lunas (6-2, 2-0) made short work Friday of Albuquerque High (1-6, 0-2) in a district game at Milne Stadium, scoring 35 points in the first quarter against the Bulldogs on their way to a 54-0 mercy-rule victory.
Dominic Trujillo took the opening kickoff 82 yards to the house and LLHS scored four touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the game.
“We had some short fields,” head coach Greg Henington said. “They exploded right off the bat and ran the ball well.”
Virtually all the damage was done with the running game because “the wind was super rough,” Henington noted. “The wind was blowing so bad it was messing up our shotgun snaps,” to the quarterback, forcing the Tigers to go under-center more often.
Los Lunas forced three, first-half turnovers, each resulting in a touchdown. Henington had praise for Emi De la Torre, “the big standout,” who had two rushing scores in the first half.
Kaiden Reese, Ethan Olguin and Trujillo added one rushing touchdown each in the first 30 minutes.
The game ended in the fourth quarter with LLHS capturing a third straight mercy-rule victory.
“We did some things offensively that would force some growth in us,” Henington said about the opportunity to improve against a struggling opponent.
LLHS will hold senior night on Friday, with district opponent Santa Fe High (1-6, 0-1) paying a visit.
Belen
After a bye week, Belen (0-7) opens district play Friday at home against Highland (4-3.) The Hornets are coming off a 28-6 victory over Pojoaque.
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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April 25, 2024
