La Cueva steamrolls West Mesa, win third straight

The 0-2 start is long gone. And now, the La Cueva Bears turn to the next two dates on their schedule, two Friday nights that will likely determine much of their fate — and the fate of others — in this 2025 prep football regular season.

Sophomore wide receiver Chris Lopez not only scored the first touchdown of his varsity career Thursday night, he had three of them, and the No. 6-ranked Bears also blocked a punt that was returned for a score in a 49-0 District 2-6A homecoming thumping of West Mesa at Wilson Stadium.

La Cueva (3-2, 2-0) scored touchdowns on its first two drives and never looked back as it rolled to its third straight victory.

“We started fast like we wanted to, that was the big push for us this week,” Bears coach Brandon Back said.

Lopez caught a 13-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Monty Melendez less than four minutes into the game. That duo combined on a 14-yard score early in the second quarter, and those two added a 6-yard connection early in the second half.

“He’s one of the fastest sophomores in the state, and one of the best playmakers on our team,” Melendez said. “We’re very grateful for him.”

Lopez for his part has matured quickly within the program, where he was largely a newcomer last season but is now a crucial element in this La Cueva passing attack.

“We’re just growing in confidence and getting into rhythm with such a young team,” Lopez said.

La Cueva led 35-0 at halftime. The Bears blocked a punt and Jhett Kinghorn scooped it up and raced 20 yards for a score, and after a West Mesa fumble on the Mustangs’ very next snap, La Cueva quickly scored again, with junior James Barreras III scoring from the 5 for a five-touchdown edge.

The La Cueva starters didn’t play too much of the second half, and its defense kept the struggling Mustangs (1-4, 0-2) at bay.

The Bears have wins over Sandia, Farmington (a walkoff overtime victory last week) and now West Mesa as they hit the biggest two-week stretch of the regular season.

La Cueva plays rival Eldorado a week from Friday, and then visits Los Lunas in two weeks. How those two games play out will determine much of how the 2-6A standings will shake out at the top for the Bears, Eagles and Tigers.

The Bears were 0-2 after getting whipped at Wilson by Pinnacle, Arizona.

“We knew something had to change,” Melendez said. “That very next practice, the intensity was crazy.”

Said Back: “Our boys are trending in the right direction and that’s what we’re proud of.”

LOS ALAMOS 62, DEL NORTE 12: At Milne Stadium, Hilltoppers junior tailback Jordan Herrera had another huge night, going over 1,000 yards for the season and reaching the 20-TD plateau with nearly 200 yards and four scores Thursday night in a mercy -rule, District 1-5A victory over the Knights (0-6, 0-3).

Los Alamos, the last remaining undefeated team in Class 5A and ranked sixth in the division, is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.