Horsemen spread thin

St. Michael’s defense struggles as Los Alamos opens up passing offense

Lee Yobbi | The New Mexican

9/6/2008 - 9/7/08

It could have been worse, but the bad was bad enough for St. Michael's against the new-look Hilltoppers of Los Alamos on Saturday at Brother Abdon Field.

The Horsemen played a little better overall than they did a week ago, but still gave up too many big plays on defense as Los Alamos took its playbook into the 21st Century. The formerly ground-bound Hilltoppers went to the spread offense, partly scraping the customary double-wing, and it was effective in a 28-6 season-opening nondistrict win.

"I was happy with the way we played," said Los Alamos head coach Bob Scott.

Hilltoppers quarterback Zach Mang completed 6 of 10 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Those totals are a bit shocking for Los Alamos fans that have watched the Hilltoppers toil between the hash marks for the past two decades. Three passes a game in years past could have been considered a wide-open attack.

But Scott has too much speed and skill to isolate or ignore.

Raul Rodriguez at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds can bruise would-be tacklers and 5-9, 143-pound speedster Corey Clark can slip and squeeze through cracks in the defense. Los Alamos was able to change speeds in the running game out of the spread to compliment the pass. Clark rushed for 88 yards on seven carries and caught all of Mang's passes, save for a 9-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Mang and Clark connected early. The two hooked up through the air on the game's first drive for a 5-yard score with 8 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first. It capped a seven-play procession.

The two were then as dazzling on their third drive as they were workmanlike on their first. Mang faced third-and-11 from the Los Alamos 26 when he hoisted the ball up for Clark on a go-route near the far sideline. Clark ran under it and into the end zone for a 74-yard TD for 12-6. The 2-point conversion failed.

"I was just waiting for the ball to come down," said Clark, who returned to Los Alamos this season after a year in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Zach put it right on the money."

Plays like that are what have kept Horsemen head coach Joey Fernandez from sleeping peacefully at night. In the season-opener, St. Michael's (1-1) gave up three plays of 60-plus yards to Bloomfield, but still won 20-19. Against Los Alamos, the Horsemen surrendered five plays of 25 yards or more and three of more than 50 yards.

It could mean a shake-up in the Horsemen secondary.

"We're gonna open up some positions," said Fernandez. "I'm not gonna name names, but we'll be taking a look."

Fernandez knew the secondary would be a concern as the season began. He also knew the passing game could be a weak link. Both concerns were justified.

St. Michael's best drive was its first. The Horsemen looked seasoned on a six-play, 76-yard march. Sophomore quarterback Michael Wiegel completed two passes on the drive, including a 35-yarder that set up Manuel Trujillo's 13-yard run to pay-dirt with 5:18 to go in the first period. The score tied the game at 6. The Horsemen had two other drives stall inside the Los Alamos 16.

The Hilltoppers started to put the game out of reach when — guess who? — flashed his numbers again. Clark took a toss right and cut it back against the grain 55 yards untouched for the score with :34 left in the third quarter. He executed the same play to convert the two points for 20-6.

Mang scored on a 12-yard keeper with 4:36 left in the game to cap things.

"We got off to a sluggish start," said Scott. "But we got settled in and played pretty well."

The Horsemen now begin preparing for what will be a telling five-game road trip that will keep them away from Brother Abdon Field for six weeks. Los Alamos prepares to visit Ivan Head Stadium on Friday to face Santa Fe High.

It's no secret what St. Michael's needs to improve on.