2023 Week 13 (Texas & New Mexico)

2023 Week 13 (Texas & New Mexico)

I knew exactly where I was going in Week 13. And that was Texico. I was going to be in Farwell, Texas. Which meant, unfortunately, that I would be quite far from a Thursday and Friday game. But just a few hundred yards from Texico, across the border from Farwell, Texas into Texico, New Mexico.

As I looked around, I wasn’t really planning to go anywhere far from Farwell for a game on Thursday or Friday night. Not for a single, game, especially. And then I saw an odd start time for a game in Canyon, Texas. I wasn’t expecting there to actually be a doubleheader. But then I saw there was a second game. A Thursday afternoon doubleheader.

Friday, though, would be a problem. I couldn’t stay near Amarillo for a Friday game. And there was nothing near Farwell or far-eastern New Mexico. Everything that I could’ve seen was on Saturday. And as much as some of those games interested me, nothing was going to top see a game in Texico.

Thursday afternoon, I headed east from Farwell toward Hereford, and meandered north and east on a few county routes where that photo was taken. On my way to the west end of Canyon. And then headed north along US60/US87 toward I-27 to where former Kimbrough Stadium, now named Happy State Bank Stadium, sits alone atop a hill near the split of I-27 and US87.

I got to the stadium a tad early for the game. There wasn’t a huge crowd. In fact, other than the school vehicles there who brought the equipment and teams, you wouldn’t have noticed that there was a game starting at 4pm. Maybe at 7pm. But that’s because these are very small 11-man teams. Class 2AD2.

I had called ahead, first to West Texas A&M, as I didn’t know that WTAMU had built a new stadium on campus, and had sold Kimbrough to the Canyon ISD, the local school district. Though the district had played there previously, they now owned and ran it. And with some upgrades, newish turf, and a new name, it’s still a great facility. The seating area could use some upgrades.

But, I called CISD and had no issues getting in to cover the games. Though, the ‘list’ I appeared to need approved for didn’t matter as I showed up and the security guy let me in without so much as a glance at my credential. Carrying two large cameras can do that.

#57 – Wellington v. Morton

I had seen Wellington previously in a state championship game. They’re the Skyrockets and are located along US83 just north of Childress. Morton, the Indians, are located along TX214 near the west edge of the Texas Panhandle. About a half hour north of Plains, Texas. Another bucket list location for me. I had never seen Morton before.

This game got lopsided quickly. Wellington was a favorite, but they exploded for 62 first half points. And it could have been worse. That led to the teams agreeing to play condensed 8-minute quarters in the second half.

Along with a very liberal running clock management, the second half moved quickly with Wellington only scoring one more time. A 70-0 win for the Skyrockets.

It was fun being on the sideline for this one, even if it were one-sided. For small schools, the fans were loud and numerous. A thousand or two made the trip for the Thursday afternoon game. For the second game, I had a break and found the restroom in the massive fieldhouse building to the sound end. And then went to the second level, which is connected via walkway to the mid-level of the home stands, and found concessions. And bought dinner. A pulled pork sandwich and a sprite. The sandwich was a decent $5 and well worth it. While the sprite was $3. Very high for a high school game.

I stayed up in the stands, to the south end, watching the start of the second game. I had done my sideline game. Figuring I’d end the second half on the sidelines.

The second game was Ralls and Gruver, also in another Class 2A Division II Area Playoff. Ralls was another one of those small towns I’ve been to and had on my list. The jackrabbits were in maroon and white. While Gruver was in mostly white with red pants. I had seen Gruver before, in a state championship game.

#58 – Ralls v. Gruver

I was pulling for Ralls, but Gruver was just the better team. Little by little, pulling away from the Jackrabbits. Including a 21-0 halftime lead.

I headed downstairs and back to the sideline. Second half was more of the same. Gruver lost the shutout bid, but won easily, 49-6.

The next day, I had not much to do for football. But, I did have to head over to Roswell Friday afternoon. Since I hadn’t planned for a game, I didn’t mind the drive. There were no Friday games in New Mexico anywhere near me. Everything below 6A were on Saturday afternoon. While Friday had two games, the state semifinals, in Albuquerque.

For the weekend, so far, I had added two new teams. Morton now my 1,552nd and Ralls my 1,553rd different teams. Friday evening, I drove 120 miles back toward Texico. I then watched the CSP playoff game on NFHS Network. They won comfortably, over Canisteo-Greenwood in the Far West Regional in New York.

I then planned for my Saturday. I had a state championship game to cover. I had called the school and had gotten clearance to be there. Though, as it is with a lot of games, no one was there to even question me when I arrived.

It is interesting how much of this area of the country I’ve been to for games now. Memphis, Texas was first. And then a playoff game in Plainview. And from there, I’ve added a 6-man game in Lubbock (Kingdom Prep), and many games in Eastern New Mexico: Jal, Hobbs, and Elida in recent years.

It really filled in my map in the central/southwest.

There was other options around Eastern New Mexico for Saturday. The 3A, 4A, and 5A semifinals were all on Saturday afternoon. Including games in Portales (ENMU), Lovington, Artesia, and Roswell.

Now, being that I was just in Roswell, and the Wool Bowl in Roswell is one of my bucket list stadiums, in other circumstances would’ve wound up there. As well as Artesia’s Bulldog Bowl being an iconic venue in the state. With Artesia holding 32 state championships in football.

I got ready early. Including scoping up the small town of Texico. I had been here before, passing through, but never really ventured far from the main drag through town: US60 and US84.

With a state championship game, I wanted to be at the school earlier than normal. So, I was at the school two hours prior to kickoff. Maybe a little earlier. I walked around, and tried to find the entrance. Like some small schools, the entrance is through the school. Using the main vestibule located near the gym and doubles as the concessions for both football and gymnasium events.

There was no one there when I walked in, the concessions were still closed up. And I made my way to the field along with a Eunice booster.

The game was for the New Mexico Activities Association Class 2A Championship. Unlike other states, New Mexico lets the higher seed host the state championship game. In a state as large as New Mexico (over 340mi wide, over 370mi tall), it’s easier to schedule games between the two teams. Especially when there’s a marked difference between the western and eastern halves of the state. Sure, you could host all the finals in Albuquerque. But, many times, the teams will be from far Eastern New Mexico. Though there’s considerable population along the Rio Grande near Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe, there’s a higher density of people east of the San Andres and Sacramento Mountains in Southeast New Mexico or east of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains in Northeast New Mexico than there are just a few miles west of the Rio Grande. Small outposts such as Farmington, Gallup, Lordsburg or Silver City pale compared to the grasslands and oil field lands of eastern New Mexico. Roswell, Artesia, Carlsbad, Alamogordo, Santa Rosa, Clovis, Hobbs, Portales, etc that dot the eastern expanse.

In this game, it featured Eunice and Texico. Two teams very close to Texas. Eunice is just 6 miles from Texas. While Texico’s football field sits just under 2000 feet from the state line. Though the two towns are neary 155 miles apart. I wrote a much longer preview of this game for PA Football News and can be found here:

PREVIEW: New Mexico 2A State Championship Between Texico and Eunice

#59 – Texico v. Eunice

Texico ran away with this one in the end. Eunice made them sweat for the first half. But the third quarter blew things open for the Wolverines. Given that these two played for a state title just a years earlier, and Texico had lost the final to Jal in 2022, it was a huge win for Texico, 44-7 over Eunice.

My article can be found here: Texico Wolverines Win Class 2A Championship (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I headed home. Down to the home stretch of the season.

Texico and Eunice were the 1,554th and 1,555th different teams I saw in person. And my 495th new stadium.

ECONOMICS

Total mileage from Texico to Canyon to Roswell to Texico was 321 miles. The only non-work related expenses were $82 for food that I bought on Thursday and Saturday. $8 at the game in Canyon. $8 at Allsups after the game. A quick stop at Dollar General. And lunch at Laredo Taco Company. On Saturday, I had Laredo Taco Company in Texico both before and after the game. As well as a gatorade at the game for $2.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK