Lovington squeezes Albuquerque Academy in district tilt

Lovington senior quarterback Wyatt Gomez threw five touchdown passes and the Wildcat defense forced six turnovers to accrue a 43-26 victory over Albuquerque Academy.

The Wildcats (6-3, 2-0) garnered the District 4/6-4A win in Albuquerque at the home of the Chargers (5-4, 0-2).

Gomez threw two of his TD passes to Elijah Rivero (25 and 34 yards) during a 22-point second quarter when the Wildcats took command. They scored those 22 points in a span of 3 minutes and 14 seconds.

Lovington led 29-13 at halftime. Academy got an 85-yard scoring run from Jett Galles and a 30-yard scramble for a touchdown from Gage Conway.

The Chargers scored a defensive touchdown on the first play of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 29-19, but Lovington never allowed Academy to cut the deficit to single digits.

Gomez threw another scoring pass moments later for a 36-19 edge, and later added another on fourth down for a 43-26 lead after the Chargers cut the deficit to 36-26 on a TD pass of 18 yards from Conway to Finn Thompson.

“We were just trying to get the ball to our receivers and let them win out in space,” Gomez said.

Lovington’s win sets up a game on Friday against undefeated Portales for the district championship. The Rams (9-0, 2-0) were on the road as well, Friday, winning 38-0 in Bernalillo in a night game.

“You look at our district, I feel like it’s the very best district in the state,” Lovington coach Anthony Gonzales said. “To be in the position we’re in right now is a direct reflection of our kids’ efforts.”

The Lovington-Academy game was a mid-afternoon start as Academy needed to prepare for a huge cross country meet on Saturday morning.

Galles finished, unofficially, with 138 yards for Academy, which plays host to Bernalillo a week from Saturday.

LOVINGTON 43, ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY 26

Lovington 7 22 7 7 – 43

Academy 7 6 13 0 – 26

Scoring: L, Camon Ochoa 24 run (Caleb Aranda kick); AA, Jett Galles 85 run (Gage Conway kick); L, Elijah Rivero 25 pass from Wyatt Gomez (Alec Holguin run); L, Rivero 34 pass from Gomez (Aranda kick); L, Cesar Gonzalez 25 pass from Gomez (Aranda kick); AA, Conway 30 run (kick blocked); AA, Roan McKinley 10 fumble return (run failed); L, Holguin 12 pass from Gomez (Aranda kick); AA, Finn Thompson 18 pass from Conway (Conway kick); L, Demarcus Thompson 2 pass from Gomez (Aranda kick). Records: 6-3, 2-0 in 4/6-4A; AA 5-4, 0-2.

Photos: Lovington defeats Albuquerque Academy