La Cueva-Pinnacle: For the first time in 52 years, an APS school is traveling out of state to play football

The whispers have existed for years. Longer than that, probably, and not always in whisper form.

Why can’t Albuquerque’s best prep football teams venture outside New Mexico’s borders and challenge top programs from neighboring states?

Cleveland and Rio Rancho have been playing games like that for years.

It has been over half a century since anyone from Albuquerque Public Schools has done what the La Cueva Bears are about to do on Saturday — namely, test themselves against a reputable program from outside our state.

Thanks to an APS philosophy shift a couple of years ago that opened the door for varsity teams to leave New Mexico for a competition, we are presented with the first APS-vs.-neighboring-state football game since 1972.

Defending Class 6A state champion La Cueva is headed west to Flagstaff, Arizona, on Saturday to play Phoenix’s Pinnacle High. Kickoff is 5 p.m. local, 6 p.m. in Albuquerque. Coconino High in Flagstaff is hosting.

“We all know all the hype is gonna be on us, representing New Mexico,” La Cueva senior linebacker Mason Posa said. “We want to show that New Mexico can play.”

It has been 14 years since a big-school power from the metro area traveled to meet a similarly large school from Arizona. That was 2010, Rio Rancho visiting Salpointe Catholic out of Tucson.

Salpointe is one of 30-plus Division 6A programs in Arizona. The overwhelming majority of those Division 6A teams in Arizona are in the Phoenix metro area. Albuquerque’s metro area, by contrast, has 10 Class 6A programs. There are 21 overall in the state.

La Cueva has been actively seeking a game outside the state for a couple of years, and finally found a dance partner in Pinnacle. The Pioneers and Bears will play this year and again in 2025.

“It’s a good early test for us, to find out where we’re at,” Pinnacle coach Dana Zupke said.

Playing in Flagstaff was by design; La Cueva does not want this to be an overnight trip. The Bears leave early Saturday and will return after the game. Flagstaff is roughly the same distance from Albuquerque (about 325 miles) as Hobbs is, though the Flagstaff drive is far less demanding.

Pinnacle has about 2,600 students, a mid-size 6A program in Arizona, Zupke said. La Cueva’s enrollment, Bears coach Brandon Back said, is 1,840.

La Cueva had a rain-shortened 21-0 victory over Volcano Vista in its opener. The Bears played two quarters and two minutes against the Hawks, this after getting precious little work during their scrimmage.

This is Pinnacle’s opener. The Pioneers (7-5) were a 4 seed (in a field of 16) and a state quarterfinalist in Arizona’s 6A playoffs last season. Pinnacle played in Arizona’s state final two years ago.

“We’re not offering very much either (in the way of work),” Back said. The schools traded game film. “We’re both kind of in the same boat.”

One area in which Pinnacle and La Cueva appear similar is at quarterback, with shifty athletes who can make big plays with their feet. La Cueva’s Cam Dyer, last year’s New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year, is headed to Arizona State; Pinnacle’s Wyatt Horton (5-foot-11, 180 pounds), a three-year starter, has the same type of dangerous improvisational ability. Horton is committed to Idaho State.

“Everyone is excited for the opportunity to go out there,” Back said. “It’s gonna be one heck of a game. They’re a very talented team.”

Said Posa: “We’re going there to win. Our team is really excited. For four years, we never got that chance. Watching Cleveland or Rio play, we knew we’re good enough to go play those teams, too.”