A failed two-point conversion in overtime gave the Alamogordo Tigers football team a 28-27 win over the Goddard Rockets in their homecoming game Friday night at the Wool Bowl.
The Rockets rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter against the Tigers, tying the game and forcing overtime.
In the final moments, Goddard head coach Art Bolaños elected to go for a two-point conversion and quarterback Nate Vazquez looked for tight end Josiah Thompson. His pass fell incomplete, allowing the Tigers to escape.
“I don’t regret that decision one bit,” Bolaños said. “We were two to three yards away, so we’re always going to go for that. I felt like we had some momentum, but unfortunately things didn’t go our way.”
Both offenses struggled to find their footing early, with the teams entering the second quarter scoreless.
Goddard (2-3, 1-1 District 2-5A) finally broke through with 10:30 left in the first half when wide receiver Jose Porras scored on a 4-yard run, putting the Rockets ahead 7-0.
From there, the Tigers (2-3, 1-1) seized control, dominating the next two quarters and carrying a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
That’s when the Rockets came roaring back. Goddard began chipping away behind a strong offensive attack on the ground and through the air. Running back Isaiah Montoya finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 21-14 with 8:46 remaining.
Goddard’s defense immediately forced a three-and-out, with linebacker Deegan Gaston making a tackle on Alamogordo receiver Tristan Bowman to end the possession.
Vazquez then found receiver Noah Lujan for a 59-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 21-21 with 4:33 remaining.
Goddard’s defense came up with another stop, giving the Rockets a chance to complete the comeback in regulation. Vazquez guided Goddard into field-goal range, but kicker Braden McDaniel missed a 41-yard attempt with five seconds left.
Overtime was next and Alamogordo started on offense. Bowman opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, putting the Tigers ahead 28-21.
The Rockets answered directly after, as Vazquez found Porras for a 1-yard touchdown pass. This led to the two-point conversion fail, sealing the victory for Alamogordo.
Despite the loss, Bolaños said he was proud of the way his team battled back.
“I was proud of the boys to come back and fight a two-touchdown deficit,” Bolaños said. “We made some adjustments and did a pretty good job from there.”
Goddard will be back in action against the Gadsden Panthers (4-1, 1-1) at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Sal Gonzalez Stadium.
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.
