The Goddard Rockets football team faces the Alamogordo Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Wool Bowl, with a chance to improve to 2-0 in district play and extend its winning streak to three games.
The Rockets (2-2, 1-0) opened district play with a 47-0 home victory over the Chaparral Lobos (3-1, 0-1) on Sept. 11. Alamogordo (1-3, 0-1), meanwhile, is looking to regroup after falling 56-26 to the Roswell Coyotes (3-1, 1-0) at Tiger Stadium.
Despite the contrasting results, Goddard head coach Art Bolaños said the Tigers present a significant challenge.
“Alamogordo definitely has size and they have some kids who are committed to play at the college level,” Bolaños said. “There are some great players on that roster and we definitely have our work cut out for us.”
The Tigers have leaned on quarterback Rudy Wolfe and running back Qymani Patterson through the first four games of the season. Wolfe has thrown two touchdown passes without an interception and has added 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 44 carries. Patterson has been Alamogordo’s leading threat on the ground, rushing for 342 yards and three touchdowns on 62 carries.
Goddard, meanwhile, has plenty of playmakers of its own. Bolaños pointed to quarterback Nate Vazquez, wide receivers Jose Porras and Kenyon Reese, and running back Isaiah Montoya as catalysts early in the season. He expects all four to play significant roles Friday night.
Vazquez showed off his arm against Chaparral, connecting with Reese on a 50-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. Porras and Montoya also found the end zone, with Porras scoring twice on the ground and Montoya adding a rushing touchdown.
For Goddard, Friday presents an opportunity to continue building momentum in district play. For Alamogordo, it’s a chance to end a three-game losing streak, earn its first district victory and pick up its first road win of the season.
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall. Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
