One Away: Cleveland gets second chance against Bulldawgs, title on the line Saturday

RIO RANCHO — “I'm excited to get our ‘get-back.’”

Cleveland High School quarterback Jordan Hatch said after the Storm’s semifinal win over Hobbs, punching their ticket to the 6A state championship and a rematch against Las Cruces.

For the Storm to notch their seventh state title as a program, they will have to go through the Bulldawgs, the No. 1 seed from down south, who took down Cleveland back in September.

“Everybody says not to look ahead on your schedule, but we've had this one marked since the (September) game happened,” Cleveland linebacker Troy Logan said. “We knew that this was what it was going to come down to.”

Las Cruces won 38-34 at Lightning Bolt Stadium on Sept. 12, picking off Hatch on the final play of the game after Cleveland led 21-7 early on.

While it was a gutsy win by the Bulldawgs, it will be hard to duplicate that performance. Las Cruces picked off Hatch twice on the night, with only three interceptions in his other 11 starts combined.

Cleveland’s defense also allowed 38 points. Since then, the Storm have not allowed more than 20 points in a game in their next eight wins, including two shutouts.

Game by game, it feels as if the Storm only gets better and better. But that does not mean Las Cruces has let up. Exhibit A: Daniel Amaro.

Amaro has been the lifeblood of the Bulldawg offense, tallying 1,843 yards and four games with over 200 yards rushing. His senior campaign puts him fourth on the all-time list for rushing touchdowns with 39.

Las Cruces’ top runner ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns against Cleveland in their last meeting. He will be a focal point for the Cleveland defense, coming off a 234-yard, three-touchdown semifinal against La Cueva.

On the flip side, it will be all about the pass for Cleveland, coming off a 322-yard, six-touchdown game from Hatch and the receiving core against Hobbs. Sophomore Evan Nanez was responsible for four of those touchdown catches on a massive six-touchdown game for the star receiver.

“I am not really thinking about that,” Nanez said about the possible revenge on Las Cruces, “But it is not just another game; it is the state championship, and we know we can bring it.”

In their September meeting, the Bulldawgs held the Storm to under 200 passing yards (183) for just the third time this year. Cleveland recorded just one passing touchdown in the process. If they want to keep pace with the Runnin’ ‘Dawgs, there will have to be a healthy dose of Nanez and senior Jacob Maldonado.

Both offenses stand out, but the Storm defense may be the difference maker. Cleveland’s playoff run so far includes a 42-0 shutout over Volcano Vista and a six-turnover win over Hobbs, posting very impressive performances when it matters most.

“There are a lot of teams that play their best during the season, and then they kind of fall off in the playoffs,” Logan said after the semifinal win. “But we progressively get better every single weekend, and I think that showed today.”

A stout defense may be the championship formula for the Storm. In 2024, Cleveland did not allow more than 20 points in any of their three playoff games, including a 26-8 championship win over La Cueva.

At the end of the day, this matchup of two powerhouses will come down to one word: cleanliness. I am not talking about avoiding grass stains and sweat marks, but putting together a clean game of ball security and penalty-free football.

Self-inflicted wounds were Cleveland’s Achilles heel in the first meeting, including two penalties halting a potential game-winning drive before the aforementioned game-sealing pick by the ‘Dawgs defense.

As the Storm players and most people in the high school football space will tell you, this is not the same Cleveland team that took the field in September. But what team will take the field on Saturday afternoon?

There is only one way to find out. Cleveland and Las Cruces are set to battle for the blue trophy in the 6A State Championship, set for 1 p.m. at Lightning Bolt Stadium Nov. 29.

“This is what we play for,” Hatch said. “This is what every team plays for. To go to the state championship.”