WR Morehead is unstoppable, and so is Eldorado in Week 1 victory

Eldorado wide receiver Jahari Morehead celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Organ Mountain during Friday night’s game at Wilson Stadium. Morehead finished with 296 receiving yards, which ranks sixth all-time in the state.

Eldorado’s Nolan Romero-Williams runs the ball against Organ Mountain during Friday night’s game.

Organ Mountain's Romeo Jones attempts to dodge a tackle by Eldorado’s Matteo Quintana during their game at Wilson Stadium on Friday.

James Yodice James Yodice James Yodice Journal Staff Writer

Published August 22, 2025 - 11:02 p.m. Modified August 23, 2025 - 9:47 p.m.

Big picture, the night belonged to the Eldorado Eagles.

Zooming in, it was clear the night truly belonged to Jahari Morehead.

The Eldorado junior had an epic game, catching nine balls for 296 yards and four touchdowns — in just two quarters and one minute — and the Eagles scored early and often in their 56-28 victory Friday night over Organ Mountain at Wilson Stadium.

Morehead caught touchdown passes of 28 yards, 89 yards, 80 yards and a 53-yarder just over a minute into the third quarter.

He tweaked an ankle on a punt return midway through the third quarter and he wasn’t targeted again by Eldorado quarterback Giovanni Evans.

Morehead was not hit on the play when he got injured. He simply stepped wrong. He is also one of Class 6A’s premier kick returners. He had five scores on special teams last season.

But that was the only misstep Morehead made on Friday, as Eldorado several times took advantage of the Knights trying to guard him with a single defender.

“Our game plan was giving it trips to the right, have the safety move over, and just one on one (for me),” the 5-foot-8, 147-pound Morehead said. “My speed and my quarterback’s arm? It’s always gonna be a touchdown.”

And although he did return to the game, Eldorado, which was well aware of what the single-game state record for receiving was — Valley’s Aaron Molina had 351 yards in 2013 — there was no discussion about going after the record. But clearly Morehead wanted it.

“No. Never,” Eagles coach Charlie Dotson said, asked if he thought about trying to get Morehead the record. “We needed to get him out and keep him out. We’ll never go after records at Eldorado.”

Morehead’s 296 receiving yards ranks sixth all-time in the state and second all-time among Albuquerque athletes.

The Eagles put up 21 points in the first quarter and never looked back.

Sophomores Matthew Rodriguez and Matteo Quintana gave Eldorado its first points. Rodriguez blocked a punt inside the 10; Quintana scooped it up and had to go only 4 yards for a touchdown.

“Honestly, I just lined up on that side, because the guy wasn’t there,” Rodriguez said. “I just sprinted through the hole and nobody touched me. I just put my hands out and blocked it. Best feeling.”

Sophomore running back Nolan Romero-Williams, who had a fine game in his own right (110 yards on a dozen carries), scored on a 22-yard run midway through the quarter and a 14-0 lead. Late in the quarter, on third-and-goal from the Organ Mountain 28, Evans threw a perfect ball in the back of the end zone to Morehead.

When the Eagles got the ball back, it was Evans to Morehead, this time a marvelous 89-yard connection, with Evans hitting his receiver in stride, wide open, along the far sideline.

And about 90 seconds after that, Morehead took a short flip pass (this ball traveled about three feet) and Morehead turned on the afterburners, getting outside and outracing the Knights defense for an 80-yard score.

While Organ Mountain did score on a hook-and-ladder play on the final play of the first half, the Eagles were in command, leading 35-14.

It was Evans to Morehead, 53 yards on Eldorado’s third play of the third quarter.

“Jahari is special,” Dotson said. “And he had a good night. He’s gonna have some tough nights ahead with two and three guys on him.”

And Dotson instructed new offensive coordinator Steve Castille — who is a recent head coach at Organ Mountain — to “keep throwing it until they stop it.”

The game featured six combined touchdowns of 28 yards or more.

Organ Mountain QB Jaden Gonzales actually supplied the longest play from scrimmage, a 94-yard touchdown run right after Morehead’s fourth TD.

“Every day we have to go against (Morehead),” Rodriguez said. “It just gets us better.”

Morehead far exceeded his hopes for this Week 1 matchup.

“I was just trying to go for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and I doubled that,” he said. “I’m really excited about that.”

Morehead said he expects to be ready for Eldorado’s next game, a week from Friday versus Cibola.