Cibola Loses in the Semis
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Cibola vs Mayfield in the State Semifinals
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Title Eludes Cibola Again Cougars end
another season at semifinals, losing 26-14 to Mayfield
Mayfield's
Nathan Enriquez tries to take Brent down after a 51-yard
pass
from
Cibola Quarterback Jonathan
Mader.
Journal Staff Writer
Winning the state title.
The Cibola High School football players were never shy about the fact that
they wanted to do just that this year.
And the Cougars certainly weren't shy about showing their emotion when their
title hopes were shattered Friday night.
Many tears were shed following Cibola's 26-14 loss to two-time defending
state champion Las Cruces Mayfield in the Class 5A semifinals at Milne Stadium.
The loss marked the second consecutive year Cibola's season ended in the
semis, although many in the Cougar community believed this was the year Cibola
would break through and win the school's first-ever football state title.
Many of the team's seniors have been playing together since their YAFL days,
and this looked like the Cougars' best chance at the championship.
"As a team we've just grown closer and closer and closer over the years, and
this year was our year to do it," said Cibola senior Matt Chavez. "That's what
hurts the most."
The Cougars had talked about the 2007 title since they lost by a field goal
to Alamogordo in last year's semifinals.
As much as it hurt to fail in their quest, Cibola coach Judge Chavez said he
wouldn't have wanted his team to approach the season any other way.
"You've got to have that attitude. I'm not ashamed of anything we've done.
I'm not ashamed of our performance. I was really proud of our effort. If you
don't set a goal to be the state champion, it's never going to happen," he said.
"I know (the Mayfield Trojans) do that every year, and that's the attitude as
long as I'm the head coach we're going to have. We fell short, but we're going
to go back to work and have the same attitude next season."
For the team's seniors, however,
there won't be a next season at Cibola. There are 29 12th-graders listed on the
Cougars' roster and, over the years, they formed a bond that will last a
lifetime, said Cibola senior Brent Jorgensen.
"All these guys, I grew up with them. I played with them in more than one
sport. We established more than a football team— we're a family," he said. "It
goes a lot further than football. And what we've established, no one can break.
Mayfield can beat us but they can't break the bond we have."
Chavez, who came to Cibola last year after more than a decade as the head
coach at Highland, said the team's chemistry this season was especially strong.
"It's one of the greatest teams I've been associated with. I'm sad to see it
end. I'm so close with them," the coach said. "It's more than a game. We stress
being a family and we've become a family."
Although the Cougars fell short of their ultimate goal, Jorgensen
said he'll still have fond memories of the season.
"We wanted to be state champs, but you can't have everything. We got a
district championship, which was good for us and we beat our rivals (Rio
Rancho)," he said.
"There's a lot of memories to look back on, and a lot of friendships made.
We went through a lot together, and it's something I'll remember the rest of my
life."
Trojans advance to state football finals with 26-14 win over
Article
Launched: 12/01/2007 12:18:38 AM MST
ALBUQUERQUE -
The Mayfield Trojans seemingly always make the big plays when they have to.
Friday night
was no different and now the No. 1 team in Class 5A has a chance to win its
third straight Class 5A football title.
Bolstered by a
67-yard punt return for a score by Nathan Enriquez in the fourth quarter,
the Trojans defeated No. 4 Cibola, 26-14, at Milne Stadium.
The 11-1
Trojans have won 10 straight games, while Cibola finishes 10-2. The Cougars
were eliminated in the semifinals for the second straight year. Cibola was
beaten by Alamogordo last year.
Mayfield
advances to meet either No. 2 Las Cruces High or No. 3 Clovis next weekend.
Clovis and Las Cruces High play today at 1 p.m. at the Field of Dreams.
"We were ready
to play and we came out and punched them in the mouth," Enriquez said. "This
was a big win for us. We wanted to get back to that championship game next
week."
The Trojans
came up with a big stop on defense, which led to the Enriquez punt return
for a score.
Clinging to a
19-14 lead, the Trojans forced Cibola to go three and out. Enriquez snagged
the punt at the Mayfield 33, got a big block and then made a couple of nifty
moves to put the Trojans up 26-14 with 5;31 left in the game.
The Cougars promptly got the ball to
the Mayfield 10 on a 51-yard pass from Jonathan Mader to Brent Jorgensen,
then faced a 4th and goal at the MHS 2-yard line. But a Mader pass
fell incomplete in the end zone and the Trojans got the ball back with 3:51,
ending any chance of a Cibola comeback.
"We had been
returning punts and kickoffs well all night, we finally got one in the end
zone," Enriquez said.
Cibola got one
more crack to score, but Mader was intercepted by Mayfield cornerback Freddy
Young, who had two picks in the game. The first one was huge in the first
half because it came when Mader tried to hit Brandon Simpson in the corner
of the end zone.
"We came up
with some big stops and some big turnovers," Enriquez said. "You have to
have those types of plays in a big game like this."
The Trojans
will be playing in their ninth big-school state title game since 1995 next
weekend.
Mayfield never
trailed in the game and led 13-0 after one quarter. The Trojans took the
first possession of the game and went 65 yards on on five plays, capped by a
44-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jacob Ceniceros over the the
right side out of a wishbone formation. Young helped set up the score with a
16-yard pass reception.
The Trojans
added a score to go up 13-0 with 5:29 left when Sandoval found a streaking
Enriquez, who was wide open down the middle of the field. The Trojans
finished with 125 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
"All season
long we've started fast," MHS head coach Michael Bradley said. "We came out
with good focus and executed. In the fourth quarter we won the line of
scrimmage, made some stops and got a huge special teams play."
Cibola, which
features a huge offensive line led by 350-pound tackle Rio Mares and
270-pound center Brannon O'Nell, got on the board in the second quarter to
cut the lead to 13-7, The Cougars took advantage of a Mayfield turnover and
went 35 yards for a score. The drive was capped by a 6-yard run by Mader.
Mader finished with 131 yards rushing on the night.
But Mayfield
controlled most of the third quarter. The Trojans faltered on one scoring
chance, but redeemed itself with 3:47 left in the quarter when Sandoval
scored from 17 yards out on a quarterback draw. Sandoval had 114 yards
rushing on the night. The score was set up by a 20-yard punt return by
Ceniceros and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Cibola, which gave the
Trojans the ball at the Cougars 17.
"Both
quarterbacks played well," Bradley said. "We're happy with the win. Matt
made some big plays when we needed it."
The Cougars
got one more score on the board to cut the lead to 19-14. They went 68 yards
on 14 plays capped by a 1-yard scoring run by Chase Bennison. Mader had a
17-yard run down to the Mayfield 20 on third down to help set up the score.
Next week the
Trojans will go for their seventh state title in school history. Mayfield
won titles in 1971, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2005 and 2006. Mayfield has also
finished second six other times.
Scoring
Summary
First Quarter
Mayfield -
Jacob Ceniceros 44 run (pass failed) 9:37
Mayfield -
Nathan Enriquez 28 pass from Matt Sandoval (Brock Baca kick) 5:29
Second Quarter
Cibola -
Jonathan Mader 3 run (Tony Minerd kick) 2:26
Third Quarter
Mayfield -
Sandoval 17 run (run failed) 3:47
Fourth Quarter
Cibola - Chase
Bennison 1 run (Minerd kick) 10:05
Mayfield -
Enriquez 67 punt return (Baca kick) 5:31
Coogs Fall Just Short
Journal Staff Writer
An offseason of could-haves and would-haves await Cibola's football team
after Friday's loss to top-ranked Mayfield.
The Cougars couldn't get out of their own way at times of a 26-14 loss in a
Class 5A semifinal at rainy Milne Stadium. They were flagged for 11 penalties,
turned the ball over twice, were suspect on special-teams coverage and failed to
score on two trips inside the Trojans' 10-yard line.
Despite that, the Cougars (10-2) were in it until the midway point of the
fourth quarter. The backbreaker was a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown that
closed out the scoring with 5:31 remaining.
Until then, Cibola still had a shot at its first trip to the finals.
"It's very disappointing because we're not a team that made mistakes like
that this year," said Cibola coach Judge Chavez, referring to the 80 yards in
infractions that included six illegal procedure calls. Seven of the penalties
came in the third quarter.
"It's hard enough picking up 10 yards against a team like that, but making
it 15 or more is a killer," Chavez added.
The win sends Mayfield (11-1) into the state final for the third straight
year and the sixth time in seven seasons. The Trojans will face the winner of
today's Clovis-Las Cruces game at the Field of Dreams. They beat both teams in
the regular season.
Quarterback Matt Sandoval was again Mayfield's catalyst, rushing for 113
yards on 18 carries and passing for 46 yards and a touchdown.
The 5-foot-6 senior teamed with running back Jacob Ceniceros and wideout
Nathan Enriquez to stake the Trojans to a quick 13-0 lead. Ceniceros opened the
scoring with a 44-yard run just five plays after the opening kick while
Enriquez, who also scored on the aforementioned punt return, got behind the
Cougars' defense for a 28-yard touchdown reception on Mayfield's second drive.
Sandoval hinted the conditions may have affected each team's passing game.
It certainly affected the Trojans' kicking game as they misfired on an extra
point in the first quarter and a 23-yard field goal attempt in the second half.
Each time the ball squirted between the holder's hands on the snap.
Sandoval attempted only nine passes, completing three. Cibola's Jonathan
Mader was 7-for-17 with two interceptions and 107 yards. Mader also had 126
yards on the ground, scoring on a 3-yard plunge in the second quarter.
"It wasn't the field that was the problem, it was the ball. It was hard to
do anything with it because it was so slippery," Sandoval said. "But honestly I
don't care what we do with the offense as long as we move it."
Mader lauded his team's senior leadership for getting off the canvas after
Mayfield's fast start.
"They're the best in the business at what they do and you can't mess things
up against a team like that," he said.
Mader's first interception came early in the second quarter when Mayfield's
Freddy Young stepped in front of Brandon Simpson in the back corner of the end
zone on a fade route. Young appeared to have gotten away with a push, although
Mader didn't question the officiating after the game.
"All the penalties, I think it was just a lack of focus on our part," he
said. "It hurts making those mistakes."
What really hurt was Cibola's special-teams coverage. Time and again the
Trojans worked their way into prime field condition with strong returns. After
Enriquez's 67-yard romp to paydirt, Cibola still had a chance.
The Cougars drove to Mayfield's 2-yard line, but turned the ball over on
downs when Mader's pass to Mycah Huitron fell incomplete when Huitron slipped
and fell as he made his cut toward the sideline.
Young had Mader's other interception, returning it 90 yards to the end zone
as time expired. An illegal block in the back negated the score, however.
"In games like this it's the quarterback who usually makes the big play,"
said Mayfield coach Michael Bradley. "But this team has been making the big
plays all season, not just the quarterback. They've answered the call every time
and it doesn't surprise me they did it again."
NOTES: If Las Cruces defeats Clovis, the Bulldawgs' rematch with crosstown
rival Mayfield would be played at Aggie Memorial Stadium. ... Both teams
surpassed 200 yards rushing Friday. The Trojans got a combined 193 from from
Sandoval and Ceniceros while Cibola's 202 yards included 46 from senior Chase
Bennision. Mader's total took a hit when he was dropped for a 19-yard sack on
the final play of the first half. ... Of Mader's 107 yards through the air, all
but six of them came in the second half.
Saturday,
December 1, 2007
Sandoval Wins Battle of QBs
Journal Staff Writer
As prep quarterback battles go, this was a heavyweight slugfest.
Mayfield's Matt Sandoval and Cibola's Jonathan Mader went toe-to-toe for
four quarters Friday night at Milne Stadium, both landing impressive shots along
the way.
In the end, Mader posted slightly more impressive stats, but Sandoval got
the decision. Mayfield (11-1) won the Class 5A semifinal game 26-14 and advanced
to next week's championship game. Cibola finished its season 10-2.
Sandoval, who'll be playing in his third straight title game, has a
well-earned reputation as a winner. The Trojans are 24-1 since he took over as
starting quarterback last season.
Though he stands just 5-foot-6 and weighs in at 170 pounds, Sandoval always
seems to play big when it counts. On Milne's rain-soaked turf he was a modest
3-for-9 passing for 46 yards but rushed 18 times for 113 yards. He threw for one
TD and ran for another.
"Sandoval's a really great player," Mader said. "He throws the ball hard,
he's accurate and he's a great runner. I felt like I picked up things just
watching him on tape. I knew I had to step up my game against him."
Mader did. The 6-4, 210-pound senior didn't have a great night passing in
Friday's rainy conditions, finishing 7-for-17 for 107 yards. He rushed 17 times
for 126 yards, however, and gave the Trojans' defense fits.
"Quarterbacks win big games," Mayfield coach Michael Bradley said, "and we
knew Mader would be carrying the football for (the Cougars). We still had a
tough time stopping him."
Unfortunately for Mader and Cibola, it was a night of coming up just short.
He nearly scored on an eye-grabbing, 61-yard option run in the second quarter
but was pulled down at the Mayfield 4. Two plays later a Mader pass was picked
off in the end zone on a controversial play (Cougar fans and coaches felt pass
interference should have been called on the Trojan defender).
In the fourth quarter, with his team trailing 26-14 but threatening, Mader
completed an 11-yard pass to Mycah Huitron on a third-and-goal play from the
Mayfield 13. Mader again passed toward Huitron on fourth down, but his open
receiver slipped down, effectively ending Cibola's hopes.
"The coaches showed they believed in me," Mader said. "I really appreciated
it. I just wish we could've made one more play."
Sandoval, on the other hand, was just glad to end up on the winning side of
the quarterback battle.
"It was fun," Sandoval said. "We're almost like two total opposites to look
at, but we get the job done. I'd love to have (Mader's) size but not have to
sacrifice my speed."
Sandoval flashed his quickness and elusiveness late in the third quarter,
weaving around, through and past the Cibola defense on a 22-yard TD run that
gave the visitors a 19-7 lead.
Later, when the Trojans needed first downs and ball security to put the
victory away, Sandoval carried five straight times.
"Matt did a terrific job," Bradley said.
Cibola coach Judge Chavez was duly impressed with both quarterbacks.
"You saw two warriors out there tonight," Chavez said. "We rode Jon and (the
Trojans) rode Sandoval.
"I told Jon all week he needed to play the game of his life if we were going
to win. I think he pretty much did. It's a shame it wasn't quite enough."
Saturday, December 1, 2007
High school football: Cibola's mistakes give merciless
Mayfield ticket to state final
By
James Staley
Albuquerque Tribune
Except for the hum of a few propane heaters on the
sideline, Milne Stadium was silent.The thoughts
swirling through the steaming heads of several Cibola football players
didn't leave room for words.
Only tears. And hugs.
It wasn't merely the fact the Cougars lost to two-time
defending state champion Mayfield, 26-14, in a Class 5A semifinal on Friday
night.
It was how Cibola lost.
"We knew what we were capable of doing," said Cougars
senior linebacker Matt Chavez. "Just to come in here, play our hearts out
and then little mental mistakes kill us, that's what hurts the most."
To say Cibola handed No. 1 Mayfield the game would be
an exaggeration. Several Trojans made crucial plays - quarterback Matt
Sandoval's running, Freddy Young's two interceptions and Nathan Enriquez all
over the field - but the Cougars often seemed more helpful to Mayfield than
to themselves.
Penalties often bogged Cibola drives. Officials
flagged the Cougars 11 times for 77 yards. Of those infractions, six were
the result of illegal procedure, or moving before the ball is snapped.
Cibola mounted 11 drives. Three of them had multiple
penalties. The most painful for the Cougars arrived in the third quarter.
Mayfield led 13-7 and Cibola got the ball on their
6-yard line after a goal-line stand. A procedure penalty made it 1st-and-13.
A hold turned a manageable 2nd-and-4 into a headache 2nd-and-11.
Eventually Cibola punted. An impressive return - one
of many Mayfield had on the night - landed the Trojans deep into Cougars
territory. A personal foul assessed after the return gave Mayfield the ball
at the Cibola 17.
Matt Sandoval, Mayfield's undersized quarterback
(5-foot-5, 145 pounds) squirted into the end zone on the next play.
"It makes it a lot worse," Cibola quarterback Jon
Mader said of the mistakes. "We made real stupid penalties. We know we could
have won this game if we played to our capacity. We knew we had to come in
and play mistake-free football, everyone knew that. . . . It's definitely a
disappointment. We wanted to win state."
Added Cougars senior Indiana Jones: "All those little
things add up. Coach (Judge) Chavez has stressed them all year. That's why
(Mayfield has been) such a great team for all these years, they don't make
those little mistakes."
Despite Cibola's miscues, the Cougars remained within
striking distance until late in the fourth quarter.
Chase Bennison's 1-yard touchdown made the score 19-14
with more than 10 minutes to play - more than enough time for the run-heavy
Cougars to mount another scoring drive.
Cibola simply needed a defensive stop. The Cougars got
it and ventured, once again, for the end zone. But their drive stalled after
three plays and the Cougars punted.
On the other end of the kick was Enriquez, who darted
67 yards for the score that sealed Mayfield's win and advancement to next
week's state title game against either rival Las Cruces or Clovis, who were
to play today.
Cibola has to wait until next year.
Like Mader, other Cougars were disappointed with the
season. Frustrating? Yes. Beneficial? That, too.
Disappointment seems to go up when expectations rise.
And if there is anything this batch of Cougars will be remembered for it's
raising the standard at Cibola.
"I think we've established that we're one of the
better programs in the state of New Mexico," Judge Chavez said. "What we
tried to do when we got here was build a program, not just have a good team
for one year. This was a great team and I love these seniors, . . . but it's
their time to move on and the next group to come. We'll be back."
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