New Mexico Class 2A Football State Champions

Santa Rosa rolls past Texico, 46-7


By Eric Butler
Globe-News Correspondent
Publication Date: 12/01/07

TEXICO, N.M. - An interception, a punt return for a touchdown,another pick, another punt brought back all the way to paydirt.

It was a formula much to Santa Rosa's liking on Friday night in the New Mexico Class 2A football state championship game.

The Lions used that combination to get out to a huge first half lead and eventually cruise home with a 46-7 victory over the Texico Wolverines. For Santa Rosa, a town accustomed to football success, it was the first state title since 1998.

"We heard about it all the time. We had to end that drought, bring it back to Santa Rosa and take care of business," said Lions senior quarterback Jesus Roybal.

Texico (9-3) got the ball first but gave it up when Santa Rosa's Ricardo Roybal returned an interception to the Wolverines' 38. Seven plays later, Roybal scored from three yards and scored the first of his three touchdowns before intermission.

"They just controlled us," said Texico coach Mike Prokop. "We had opportunities, but we threw it to the wrong team and that's going to happen."

Texico 0 0 0 7 - 7

Santa Rosa 20 19 0 7 - 46

SR - Jesus Roybal 3 run (kick failed)

SR - Roybal 72 punt return (Roybal conversion run)

SR - Aaron Maestas 3 run (kick blocked)

SR - Jason Martinez 2 run (Chris Sanchez kick);

SR - Andres Sisneros 41 pass from Roybal (kick blocked)

SR - Roybal 55 punt return (kick failed)

SR - Sisneros 32 pass from Roybal (Sanchez kick)

T - Courtland Luscombe 5 pass from Brett Anderson (Mario Posada kick).


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