Colts drop district match to Tularosa

Junior running back Carlos Retamoza  with an 11 yard gain during the Colts' sole scoring drive in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Christopher Mumba.
Junior running back Carlos Retamoza with an 11 yard gain during the Colts' sole scoring drive in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Christopher Mumba.

NMMI Sports Press

The New Mexico Military Institute Colt football team turned in another stellar game defensively against the state’s top team in 3A, but missed opportunities led to a 22-7 loss to Tularosa at Colt Field on Friday night.

The Colts stopped an 18 play, 71 yard drive on the Wildcats first possession, forcing them to turn the ball over on downs on the Colt eight yard line.

NMMI could not get a first down on the ensuing drive and had to punt from their own 16 yard line. Tularosa’s Israel Ortega returned the ensuing kick all the way back to the NMMI 10 yard line, then scored one play later on a rush from Emilio Gonzales to go up 6-0 with 36 ticks left in the first quarter. The try for two was no good.

The defenses for both teams stood tall and did not allow any points in the second quarter, keeping that same 6-0 Wildcat lead as both squads heading into the locker rooms at halftime.

The first possession by each team in the third quarter also resulted in punts, but the Wildcats struck again on their second possession with 5:31 to go in the third on an 11 play, 71 yard drive, finished up by a six yard run by Gonzales. After a successful two-point try, Tularosa was up 14-0.

Tularosa’s third TD came with 11 minutes left in the fourth. They needed just two plays to move 42 yards into the end zone. Another try for two was good, making it 22-0, before the Colts could come up with their own scoring drive.

NMMI moved the ball 70 yards on a 14-play drive highlighted by a pair of Daniel Xibille passes to Gus Curnutt – one for 17 yards near the start of the drive, and another on a clutch 2-yard TD on fourth down with 1:35 left in the game.

“The defense has been our backbone all year long,” said head Colt football coach Randy Montoya. “When they show up and are ready to play like they have been the past couple of weeks they give us a chance. We had our chances tonight - our offense has to pick it up. I am proud of our defense. They have come through the past couple of weeks and they help us stay in games. We are going to get better by looking at the film and hopefully get a playoff berth.”

The Colts next game will be on November 1st at 7 p.m. against the Tucumcari Rattlers. This will be the last regular season game for the Colts.