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Massive Storm: Cleveland scores on offense, defense and special teams in win over Volcano Vista
Cleveland senior Samuel Bustillos (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown. (2025)
According to Cleveland head coach Robert Garza, the Storm are peaking at just the right time.
That was evident Friday night, when the second-ranked Storm (8-1, 4-0) scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams to roll to a 49-13 victory over District 1-6A rival Volcano Vista (6-3, 2-2) at Nusenda Community Stadium.
“I think we’re starting to hit our stride,” Garza said. “This is a time of year where you want to be playing your best football, and I think we’re starting to get there. That’s a really good football team. They play really, really good defense — so something to be proud of tonight.”
Perhaps the most spectacular play of the evening occurred late in the second quarter when Storm sophomore wide receiver Evan Nañez returned a punt 85 yards for a score to give his team a 15-0 advantage.
“I just saw an open side on the left, started running,” he said. “I saw a guy come (at me near the sideline), duked him out. Then my legs started getting gassed, someone came from behind me, tipped my ankle. I almost fell, but came straight up to score a touchdown.”
No. 6-ranked Volcano Vista responded with its best drive of the game, when a two-yard run by quarterback Jude Herrera capped off a 13-play, 75-yard drive to bring the Hawks to within 15-6 at halftime. That momentum proved to be fleeting, however, because Cleveland put its foot on the accelerator in a decisive third quarter.
After an 18-yard run on a fake punt by Nañez helped set up a 17-yard TD scamper by Samuel Bustillos on Cleveland’s opening drive of the second half, the Storm defense made its presence felt.
On back-to-back Volcano Vista possessions, Cleveland got defensive touchdowns from Jacob Garcia — first on a fumble return following a backward pass, and then on a pick-six just two plays later.
That made it 35-6 and essentially ended the Hawks’ hopes.
“Getting two defensive touchdowns, that’s something I’m really, really thrilled about,” Garza said. “Our guys (in the) first half weren’t breaking on balls. We challenged them at halftime and they came out and made something happen.
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“He made a few mistakes, but I like the way he responded,” Garza said of Garcia. “He came out and made some big plays for us.”
A 22-yard scoring pass from Jordan Hatch to Nañez made it 42-6 early in the fourth quarter to initiate a running clock. Nañez, Garcia and Bustillos all finished with two TDs for the Storm.
“The big defensive touchdowns really got us going, “Garza said. “We were able to settle in offensively and just kind of relax and play.”
The victory sets up a pivotal showdown at Rio Rancho next week for the District 1-6A championship.
“It’s always a good game, man,” Garza said. “We’re gonna treat it like we treated it this week. Each week in district for us, we treat it like it’s a district championship.”
