Eagles beat Wildcats, head to finals

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Eagles survived the wispy wind and the Wildcat's second half onslaught to soar into next week's state championship game.

The No. 2 Eldorado Eagles downed the No. 3 Clovis Wildcats by a count of 10-7 at Wilson Stadium on Saturday.

The Eagles reward is a date with the undefeated No. 1 Las Cruces Bulldawgs and a shot at the state title.

The championship game will be played at 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Wilson Stadium, according to  nmact.org.

Turnovers and timely conversions lead to the Eagles victory.

In the first quarter, Eldorado's Justin Sedillo picked off a Clovis pass, giving the Eagles prime field position. The interception set up an Eagle field goal with 2:34 remaining in the first quarter.

Leading 3-0 in the second, the Eagles were stopped a yard short of the sticks on a third down in Clovis territory. Eldorado lined up to go for it, but a player on the offensive line moved, backing the team up five yards.

Unaffected by the penalty and facing a stiff wind, the Eagles converted the fourth down on a pass by quarterback Armin Day.

A few plays later, Day would fire a 14 yard touchdown pass to Orrin Sears to extend the Eldorado lead.

Facing a 10-0 deficit in the third quarter, the Wildcats mustered a nine play, 38 yard touchdown drive with the wind at their backs.

Clovis clamped down on the drive, rushing the ball on all nine plays.

However, the 'Cats just couldn't drive in the fourth quarter against the strong winds at Wilson.

The loss is only Clovis' second on the season. Their first defeat also came at the talons of the Eagles.