August 23, 2024 was a monumental day for high school football in our broader community. Thousands of fans flocked to the Field of Dreams to watch the Mayfield Trojans take on crosstown rival Las Cruces High School Bulldawgs. Down south, Gadsden was preparing to take on Chaparral in the “Battle of the Gap”–another contest among neighbors.
A Las Cruces Digest Report
Photos by Kcenia Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
As our broader community prepared for what could like be the battles of the year for their respective programs, on the Organ Mountain High School JV field, the Melilla Valley Christian School SonBlazers warmed up to host a Menaul Panthers team they had played in the quarterfinals match in last year’s 8-Man Football State Tournament.
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Last year, the SonBlazers beat the Panthers 54-32 to eventually fall to Clayton in the Semis. Melrose took the the title, last year, defeating Clayton while not allowing a single point to be scored against them in the championship game.
When the SonBlazers took the field just before the coin toss, it was clear to see they were focussed on today’s game, and not what happened last year.
At times, the players seemed to run atop of some invisible, gravity-defying energy.
After the coin toss, and a show of sportsmanship, the SonBlazers were set to kickoff. Pigskin tee’d up, eight on a side, Payton Tharp reared back his kicking leg, and let loose…
an ONSIDE KICK! [I grudgingly admit how this was a surprise only to me. Panthers Head Coach Procopio Padilla had already warned his team from the sideline: “Watch out for that onside kick!” Apparently, SonBlazers head coach, Doug Coyle, is well known for his affinity for kicks of the onside persuasion.] Menaul received and protected against the kick, and started on offense.
The Panthers came out firing bullets, but in their first offensive series, none hit their target. They chose to punt on 4th down, and the punt was blocked. The Panthers recovered the ball, but it was turned over to the SonBlazers on downs. The SonBlazers promptly marched down the field for their first score of the night.
It was going to be one of those kind of nights for the Menaul Panthers.
Games like this are common in small-school, 8-Man football. Teams often lose control over who gets on the bus, and it was obvious when Menaul took the field, they were going to be short handed. MaxPreps lists 24 players on the Menaul Panthers roster, but a little more than half made the trip from Albuquerque to Las Cruces. This simply adds to the drama that is 8-Man football. It is a game where fortunes can turn on a dime, and the true nature of competition, grit and determination are given the opportunity to be displayed by any team, at any moment… regardless of circumstance.
The Santa Fe Opera is well known for its picturesque backdrop, but for our broader community, there is no more beautiful sight than to see the drama of 8-Man football and a hard-fought battle unfold at the foot of the Organ Mountains.
At the end of the night, the SonBlazers prevailed 68-14. The score may appear to be lopsided, but for 8-Man football, these kinds of point differentials are common. Besides, this opening game was one of three lopsided wins in our broader community on the night. Las Cruces bested Mayfield, 50-7. Gadsden held Chaparral scoreless on the way to a 33-0 win.
One of the most vital lessons a student athlete can learn is how the score today has no bearing on a team’s performance next week. Las Cruces Digest will be watching to see who shows up.
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