Prep football: Demons struggle as Aztec tears through Ivan Head Stadium in season opener

Pancho Morris | The New Mexican

8/29/2008 - 8/30/08

You know it's not your night when:

Your offense does not cross midfield until 17 seconds remain before halftime, and it took a 15-yard penalty to finally leave your half of the field;

After returning a kickoff 73 yards for the first touchdown of the season, your opponent completes a 73-yard pass for a touchdown on the very next snap;

Of your eight first-half possessions, six end in punts, one ends in a fumble and halftime ends the other;

You trail 35-6 at intermission after falling into a 24-0 hole.

The Demons of Santa Fe High School never recovered from a forgettable first half of their season opener Friday night against the Tigers of Aztec, who left Ivan Head Stadium with a 56-6 victory.

"There were some opportunities, but it got away from us," Mike Mares, Santa Fe High head coach, said. "There's a lot of things we've got to learn."

Aztec is ahead of the curve.

"These guys are polished," Mares said of the Tigers. "They're in playoff form."

When aren't they?

The Tigers have reached nine state championship games in Class AAAA. And even though they are devoid of a title, this is a program that reloads more than it rebuilds.

The Tigers reached the semifinals of the state playoffs a year ago before falling to the Rockets of Roswell Goddard. And the first impression they left will be lasting for all those coaches calling Mares for a copy of the tape.

Here's the rundown:

Quarterback Brycson King passed for 343 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to Trev Hammagren and a 59-yard strike to Jermaine Geter.

Running back Mike Hathcock rushed for 134 yards and 16 carries. He, too, reached the end zone. Twice, actually.

Of course King and Hathcock have the luxury of playing behind a human solar eclipse that is the Tigers' offensive line. Aztec averages at least
210 pounds up front.

The interior gave King a clear view downfield while Hathcock was never touched until after he was past the line of scrimmage.

As good as the Tigers were, and they were good, Mares felt the Demons made life even easier on them.

"The kids were not in the right spots most of the night," Mares said. "We have to play smarter and work a little harder."

The Demons did precisely that on at least one play — Anthony Ratliff's 73-yard kickoff return.

Ratliff fielded the ball at the right hash, and even though there was clearance ahead, he sprinted nearly 50 yards across the field to where the wall was set.

Once he cleared the wall, he ran untouched, providing the lone points at the 5:34 mark of the second quarter.

The cheering died 15 seconds later. That was when Hammagren got behind the Santa Fe High secondary and ran untouched for a 73-yard, back-breaking touchdown.