Warriors beat Wildcats 14-7 in Homecoming game

The Ruidoso Warriors won their 2018 Homecoming game against the Tularosa Wildcats holding onto a 14-7-point lead with seconds remaining in the game.

“We had to bounce back from last week’s game. We had a good week of practice. The kids were focused. We had a lot of stuff going on this week. Tularosa always plays us tough. Last year we beat them by only one point. It came down to the wire last year also against them. It is always a great ball game with them,” Kief Johnson, Ruidoso athletic director and head football coach, said.

The Warriors improved to 4-1 and the Wildcats fell to 2-3.

Despite penalties, a fumble by the Warriors that was recovered by the Wildcats and lost yards, the Warriors defeated their rivals during the Sept. 21, Friday night game on Warrior turf.

“We felt pumped up coming into tonight’s game. We needed to avenge last week’s game. We need this win,” said Hunter Stevens, running back for the Warriors.

The Warriors came out strong in the first quarter, maintaining field position and holding back the Wildcats. However, the Wildcats were able to put up 7 points up in the second quarter.

With 10:54 remaining in the second quarter, a holding penalty disallowed a Warriors interception and gave the Wildcats the ball in scoring range. With 8:58 seconds left in the second, Tularosa ran it in and the kick was good, to give the Wildcats a 7-0 advantage.

The Warriors answered on their next possession, running in a score to make it 7-7 at the half.

More: Ruidoso Warriors gearing up for 2018 season

The Warriors put another 7 points on the scoreboard in the third quarter to go up 14-7.

“The coach is doing a great job down there. They came ready to play and there is nothing like trying to upset somebody’s homecoming game,” Johnson said.

Ruidoso, under pressure, fumbled the ball and the Wildcats recovered, placing pressure on the 4-1 team, running it in for a T.D. With no more points in the third, the Warriors knew they had to come back fighting in the fourth quarter to redeem last week’s game against Robertson, losing in O.T. with a fumble.

“Even at this point in the season last year we weren’t 4-1,” Hunter said. “We lost against Robertson.”

Moving fast and hard, the Warrior Wall was able to hold the Wildcats from scoring any more points.

“We have something special like coach Johnson said,” said wide receiver/cornerback Isaac Brown.

Johnson said the team's offense was sluggish, but their defense stepped up. 

“We scored really fast. I think the first series from the half and then we just kind of puttered out each time. We were throwing the ball, a little overthrows,” he said.

“Isaac Brown had a big pick 6 early in the game," the coach added. "Our defense kept us into it, but they did a real good job of ball control, getting first downs and keeping the ball out of our offense’s hands. So, I felt like we could ever really get into a rhythm,” Johnson said.

The Warriors were looking to avoid a repeat of last week's loss to Robertson, and they succeeded, boosting spirit among team members and bringing the crowd to their feet. 

“We cannot afford to lose any guys at this point. We do not have many back-ups. We need to stay in our heads, we need to think,” Brown said. “We work hard at practice every day and we pick each other up. We needed this win. It really helped our confidence and helped some of the guys get better in their head,” #17 wide receiver for the Warriors, Isaac Brown said. “There is no blame game. We need to support each other,” Stevens and Brown said.

During the game, many spectators voiced their opinions about what they believed to be "bad calls" against the Warriors. Regardless, the Warriors won their 2018 Homecoming game against their rivals, the Tularosa wildcats.

“It is always going to be a hard-fought battle, but I wanted it to be more of a blow out against our rivals. There were some key players, Stevens, Grant Oberheu #47, that did really well tonight. He made his first two interceptions and a touchdown,” Brown said.

Next week the Warriors will play at home against Silver City . “We will connect, hopefully, more next week. It will be a very big game for us, “Johnson said.

“We have a lot of work to do but we have got a big 4A team, our first 4A opponent, coming in this next week with Silver City,” Johnson said. “That is going to be big for us. They are a good ball team and we need to have a good game plan, going into that game."

Warrior football schedule:

• Sept. 28 vs. Silver City 
• October 5 at Artesia
• October 12 bye week
• October 19 vs. Portales
• October 26 vs. Lovington
• November 2 at Moriarty

For game plays and New Mexico High School football rankings, go to MaxPreps.com or contact Ruidoso High School Athletics at www.ruidososchools.org