Bearcats, Tigers advance in football playoffs
by Ruth Stodghill
It was a tough one in regional high school sports last week, with a number of local volleyball teams falling in regional playoff action and Springer’s winning streak coming to an end. Both Kim/Branson and Raton tasted victory on the gridiron, and will advance to the next round of football playoff action.
Volleyball
Hoehne
The 17-6 Lady Farmers began postseason gameplay for Class 2A Region 7 on Nov. 3, first taking on the 10-13 Burlington Lady Cougars. After splitting the first four sets, the two teams faced off in the tie-breaking fifth, with the Lady Farmers falling to the Cougars 15-10, leading to a 3-2 game loss
Hoehne then challenged the 12-10 Yuma squad, besting their foe in two straight sets. Senior Janae Ramos and juniors Ellegra Gutierrez and Kaylah Crosson each made 14 attacks, while sophomore Mikenna Dasko made 11 points with one ace. Crosson and senior Janelle Ramos each made three blocks, and senior Mackenzie Guana was good for eight digs.
HOEHNE -V- BURLINGTON
Nov. 3 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 Wins
Burlington 25 21 25 20 15 3
Hoehne 19 25 21 25 10 2
HOEHNE -V- YUMA
Nov. 3 S1 S2 Wins
Yuma 21 15 0
Hoehne 25 25 2
Trinidad
On Nov. 3, the 14-7 Trinidad Lady Miners began their postseason with a playoff game against the 22-1 Lake County Lady Panthers. The Miners struggled to find their rhythm, falling in three straight sets.
The Lady Miners then challenged the 14-9 Meeker Lady Cowboys. It was another tough matchup for Trinidad, who fell 3-0.
TRINIDAD -V- LAKE COUNTY
Nov. 3 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Trinidad 8 17 18 0
Lake County 25 25 25 3
TRINIDAD -V- MEEKER
Nov. 3 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Trinidad 21 10 8 0
Meeker 25 25 25 3
La Veta
The 19-4 La Veta Lady Redhawks battled it out in Class A Region 10 postseason volleyball action on Nov. 3, playing against the 13-10 Kit Carson Lady Wildcats. Despite strong gameplay, the Lady Redhawks fell 3-0.
LA VETA -V- KIT CARSON
Nov. 3 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Kit Carson 25 25 25 3
La Veta 20 22 19 0
Cimarron
The 10-10 Lady Rams hosted the 8-11 Des Moines Lady Demons on Oct. 30, besting their opponent 3-1.
Springer
The 16-1 Springer Lady Red Devils had a busy schedule last week, first hosting the 2-14 Wagon Mound Lady Trojans on Oct. 30. The Lady Red Devils kept their winning streak alive, beating the Lady Trojans in three straight sets.
Sophomore Brenna Duran earned 11 kills in 21 attacks during the matchup, while senior Naomi Rivera earned 17 points for Springer. Sophomore Abigail Eppler was good for 17 assists.
On Nov. 2, Springer traveled to Maxwell to challenge the 6-13 Lady Bears, besting their opponent 3-0.
The Lady Red Devils’ winning streak came to an end at a tri-tournament on Nov. 4, when Springer fell to the 18-3 Gateway Christian Lady Warriors 3-2 and the 17-2 Melrose Lady Buffaloes 3-0.
SPRINGER -V- WAGON MOUND
Oct. 30 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Wagon Mound 8 6 10 0
Springer 25 25 25 3
SPRINGER -V- MAXWELL
Nov. 2 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Springer 25 25 25 3
Maxwell 13 15 7 0
SPRINGER -V- GATEWAY CHRISTIAN
Nov. 4 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 Wins
Springer25 18 17 25 9 2
Gateway 22 25 25 16 15 3
SPRINGER -V- MELROSE
Nov. 4 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Springer 11 16 13 0
Melrose 25 25 28 3
Wagon Mound
The 2-14 Wagon Mound Lady Trojans trekked to Springer on Oct. 30 to take on the 16-1 Lady Red Devils, falling to their foe in three straight sets..
WAGON MOUND -V- MAXWELL
Oct. 30 S1 S2 S3 Wins
Wagon Mound 8 6 10 0
Springer 25 25 25 3
Raton
The 8-11 Raton Lady Tigers hosted the 12-7 West Las Vegas Lady Dons on Oct. 31. Despite strong gameplay as the match progressed, the Lady Tigers were defeated 3-0.
Senior Samantha Phillips made 24 attacks and five kills for the Lady Tigers, while senior Reyna Marquez snagged 10 digs.
On Nov. 4, the Lady Tigers again played host, this time to the 11-9 Robertson Lady Cardinals. Despite strong gameplay and deuce in the third set, the Lady Tigers fell 3-1.
RATON -V- WEST LAS VEGAS
Oct. 31 S1 S2 S3 Wins
West Las Vegas 25 25 25 3
Raton 17 21 23 0
RATON -V- ROBERTSON
Nov. 4 S1 S2 S3 S4 Wins
Robertson 25 20 26 25 3
Raton 20 25 24 21 1
Football
Primero
The 6-3 Bulldogs competed in the first round of the 2023 CHSAA State Football Playoffs on Nov. 11, challenging the 8-1 Otis Bulldogs. Otis ran away with the game in the first quarter and never looked back, besting Primero 56-14.
PRIMERO -V- OTIS
Nov. 4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Primero 0 0 0 14 14
Otis 40 10 0 6 56
Branson/Kim
On Nov. 4, the 7-2 Branson/Kim Bearcats also played in the opening round of the playoffs, taking on the 7-2 Peetz Bulldogs. It was a nailbiter for the Bearcats, who edged out the Bulldogs 39-37.
Junior Kolter Cranson led the Bearcats with 281 total yards, followed by senior Brock Doherty with 263. Sophomore Will Doherty earned 16 total tackles during the game, while senior Cole Hofmeister was good for 71 yards in two kickoffs.
BRANSON/KIM -V- PEETZ
Nov. 4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Peetz 15 14 0 8 37
Branson/Kim 12 15 6 6 39
La Veta
The 6-4 La Veta Redhawks played their first round of the playoffs against the 5-5 Cheyenne Wells Tigers on Nov. 4. The Tigers hit hard offensively in the first half of the game and effectively shut down the Redhawk offense as the game progressed, leaving La Veta with a 64-18 defeat.
Senior Kade Andreatta earned six solo and 17 total tackles, while senior Jessey Montunnas tallied 260 total yards in the game. Senior Nicholas Cox earned a sack, while seniors Brayden Nix, Vincente Vallejos, and Andreatta all scored touchdowns.
LA VETA -V- CHEYENNE WELLS
Nov. 4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
La Veta 12 6 0 0 18
Cheyenne Wells 30 22 12 0 64
Raton
On Nov. 4, the 4-6 Raton Tigers competed in the first round of the 2023 Nusenda Credit Union State Football Championships when they traveled to Thoreau to challenge the 7-3 Hawks. The Tigers scored early and often, leading to a 35-8 victory for Raton.
Senior Jacob Mattorano earned 137 total yards in the game, with junior Cannon Walton right on his heels with 132. Walton earned four touchdowns for the Tigers, with junior Joseph Saenz good for another and sophomore Logan Elliott adding four kicking points to the scoreboard for Raton.
RATON -V- THOREAU
Nov. 4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Raton 21 7 7 0 35
Thoreau 0 0 0 8 8
