Prep football: Academy routs Manzano; Hope wins by a point

If you were setting out to identify the most volatile of New Mexico’s prep football districts, the league that is least predictable, you would lock onto the chaotic plight of District 2-4A.

In Week 6, an unranked and winless Portales team went on the road and beat up on a highly-ranked Valencia squad, 51-14.

In Week 7, an unranked Albuquerque Academy group, down three touchdowns, came from behind to knock off an undefeated, No. 2-ranked team in St. Pius with a stunning 49-36 victory.

In Week 8, Silver, the last-place team in the seven-school district, with no wins in three tries, took down the new No. 2 in the Class 4A coaches’ poll, Chaparral, in a 21-13 victory.

Academy helped restore some calm on Saturday, avoiding further dramatics as the sixth-ranked Chargers overcame an early deficit to beat No. 7 Manzano 43-15 at Wilson Stadium.

“They’re starting to believe,” Academy coach David Lee said. “They understand their worth and their abilities and you can see it on the field now.”

Academy (4-3, 2-1) is tied for second place in district with St. Pius, one-half game behind Chaparral, which still occupies first place despite the Lobos’ unexpected loss on Friday night in Silver City.

Manzano (4-3, 1-2) had the first points Saturday, with sophomore Broden Price scampering 24 yards 2½ minutes into the game. That drive only covered 28 yards, after an Academy punt moments earlier — into a stiff breeze — traveled zero yards.

The Chargers had the next 22 points. Quarterback William Braun, with all day to throw, finally let loose, and Finn Thompson made an excellent catch on the far side in the end zone, getting a foot down for Academy. After a blocked PAT, the Chargers trailed 7-6.

Running back Ryan Williams added a 1-yard scoring run for Academy on the first play of the second quarter, and Gage Conway moments later pounded home a 50-yard field goal, a kick (with a healthy wind at his back) that easily would have cleared the bar from 65 yards.

Logan Hague added a 20-yard pick-6 a minute later for a 22-7 edge.

“There’s a new sense of confidence in our team, and I feel it every single day,” said Williams, who later in the game scored on a 13-yard screen pass.

Manzano cut the deficit to 22-15 on a 5-yard TD pass from Bodi True to Price, but Academy scored less than a minute later, with Braun throwing 24 yards for a score to Conway.

The Braun-to-Williams TD connection upped the lead to 36-14, and Braun hit Conway on a 31-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

“It was really important that we came out and started quickly and punch a good team in the mouth, and that’s what we did today,” Williams said.

Academy has a short week coming up; the Chargers play host to Silver at 3 p.m. Friday, a game pushed to Friday afternoon because Academy is hosting a huge cross country meet the next day.

And in this district, who knows what might still be on the menu.

“It’s a super competitive district,” Lee said with a smile. “So I’m digging it.”

Manzano plays host to Valencia next Saturday.

HOPE CHRISTIAN 21, POJOAQUE VALLEY 20: At Milne Stadium, the Elks (3-3, 1-1 in 2-3A), trailing by a point midway through the fourth quarter following a touchdown, went for two and the lead, but an incomplete pass turned out to be the difference in a loss to the Huskies (6-2, 1-1).

Quarterback RJ Montoya scored all three touchdowns for Hope Christian. His last score was a 2-yarder early in the fourth quarter for a 21-14 lead. The teams had been tied 7-7 and 14-14.

Landon Cochran had three sacks for the Husky defense.

SANTA FE 27, ATRISCO HERITAGE 22: At Nusenda Community Stadium, Jasper Nelson had a pair of early touchdown runs and finished with three overall, and the Demons (4-3, 2-2 in 2-6A) eventually had to hold off the Jaguars (1-6, 0-4) with a late stop in the red zone.

Santa Fe is one of four 2-2 teams in its district, along with Eldorado, Albuquerque High and West Mesa. That quartet is tied for third place.

Albuquerque Academy football tops Manzano: Photos