by 
N. Waddell
After two tough games on the road, the Hayden Lobo football team had their first home game of the season. The game almost did not happen when the Cibecue High School athletic director called to inform that they were having eligibility problems but they did show up and for the first quarter gave Hayden all they could handle.
Hayden kicked off to start the game holding the Cibecue offense to three plays and a punt but on the punt attempt, Hayden’s Manny Armenta broke through the line blocking the punt. With the football rolling around, the Wildcat punter alertly picked up the football and ran for a Wildcat first down. The Wildcats did not hold the football long having to punt again after three plays. The Lobos went on offense completing a ten yard pass but on the tackle Erik Rivera fumbled the football with the Wildcats recovering. Again it was three plays and a punt for the Wildcats. The Lobo offense took the field this time not taking the Wildcats lightly and ran the football down to the Wildcat twenty-seven yard line. From the twenty-seven yard line, Roman Padilla dropped back and found Adrian Ochoa for a 27 yard completion and a touchdown. Erik Rivera ran the football over for the two points to give Hayden an 8to 0 score at 1:28 of the first quarter. The Lobos kicked off and on the Wildcats next offensive play, Padilla stepped in front of a Wildcat pass for an interception returning the football to the 30 yard line. The first quarter ended with the Lobos at the Cibecue two yard line.
The second quarter started with Aaron Lagunas taking the football over the goal line for a touchdown and with the two point run by Erik Rivera the Lobos had a 16 to 0 lead at 11:54 of the second quarter. The Wildcats were again held to three plays and a punt after the kick-off but on the punt, the snap was fumbled by the punter giving Manny Armenta time to tackle him to give the football Lobos at the Cibecue twenty yard line. Erik Rivera took care of the twenty yards on two plays for the Lobos third touchdown. Adrian Ochoa carried for the two points for a 24 to 0 Hayden lead at 9:23 of the first half. On the ensuing kick-off, the receiver let the football get past him and in retrieving the ball went down to his knees at the four yard line. On the next play, Aaron Lagunas broke through the defense to tackle the Wildcat runner for a safety and a 26 to 0 lead at 9:14 of the second quarter. The Lobos went on offense giving the younger players a chance to play after the free kick by the Wildcats. The new Lobo runners were held by the Wildcats on downs and with the younger players in on defense, the Wildcats made a short drive getting stopped on a fourth down play. With Rodney Ortiz and Aaron Lagunas taking turns running the football, they covered the forty-one yards with Lagunas taking the football over the goal line from sixteen yards out for his second touchdown of the game. The two point play was stopped with the score now 32 to 0 at 1:33 of the third quarter. The first half came to an end with Hayden leading 32 to 0.
The Wildcats kicked off to start the second half with Rodney Ortiz returning the football to the forty yard line. On the next play, Adrian Ochoa took the hand-off and raced sixty yards into the end zone for another Lobo touchdown. The two point play did not work leaving the Lobos with a 38 to 0 lead at 11:40 of the third quarter. The Lobos kicked off and again held the Wildcats to three plays and a punt but again on the punt the Wildcat punter fumbled the football giving Armenta time for the tackle at the 17 yard line. With sophomore running backs now in the offense, they covered the 17 yards on three plays with Antonio Medina taking the football over the goal line from eight yards out for his touchdown and with the two point run stopped the Lobo built their lead to 44 to 0 with 8:15 left on the third quarter clock and also forced a running clock for the rest of the game. With nothing but clean jerseys on the field for the Lobos, the young players held their own holding the Wildcat offense after a short drive. The third quarter came to an end with the young Lobos moving the football and leading 44 to 0.
The Wildcats finally stopped the young Lobo offense but they could not break the Lobo defensive play of the Lobo reserves turning the football over to the Lobo reserves at the forty-three yard line. After two runs to reach the forty-eight yard line, Jacob Manriquez took the hand-off, broke a couple of tackles and was on his way to a 58 yard touchdown run. Lineman Gabriel Ramos was given a chance to carry the football and responded with the two point run to give the Lobos a 52 to 0 lead with 2:59 left to play. The Lobos kicked off but on the play the Wildcat receiver fumbled the football with Hayden’s Gabriel Mariscal recovering as the game came to an end.
The Lobos ran forty-five offensive plays for a total of 372 total yards with ten different Lobos backs getting a chance to carry the football for 329 rushing yards. Roman Padilla completed three of four passes for 43 yards and one touchdown. Erik Estrada led Lobo rushers with 89 yards on eight carries for one touchdown and a two point play. Adrian Ochoa carried four times for 73 yards good for a touchdown and a two point play. Sophomore Jacob Manriquez carried five times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Ortiz carried nine times for 25 yards with Aaron Lagunas gaining 42 yards on four carries for two touchdowns. Antonio Medina had ten yards on two carries for one touchdown with Francisco Delgado getting nine yards on two carries. Manuel Palofox carried one time for a negative six yards and Gabriel Ramos had the three yards on the two point play. Quarterback Roman Padilla had five carries for 12 yards and threw four passes completing three for 43 yards and a touchdown.
The defense again turned in an outstanding game holding the big Wildcat offense to a total of 31 yards on 41 offensive plays. Manny Armenta and Panchito Moreno each had seven tackles with Armenta recording a punt block. Erik Rivera also recorded seven tackles and had two quarterback hurries. Adrian Ochoa had eight tackles with Rodney Ortiz getting six tackles. Roman Padilla had two tackles and an interception. Aaron Lagunas had two tackles to go with his safety. Getting four tackles apiece were Louis Dominquez and Jacob Manriquez. Getting three tackles apiece were Antonio Medina and Francisco Delgado. Juan Hernandez had one tackle, Robert Sandoval had one tackle and Gabriel Mariscal had one tackle to go with his fumble recovery.
Next week the Lobos are on the road again traveling to Superior High School to take on a tough Panther football team that has been putting up some impressive scores. The kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. This should be a very good game with the Superior offense colliding with the tough Lobo defense.
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