The venerable high school football rivalry between Las Cruces and Mayfield is poised to enter a new chapter, as the teams prepare to clash in an unprecedented season opener. For the first time in their storied encounters, the Bulldawgs and Trojans are set to battle it out at the Field of Dreams this Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m., officially marking the 62nd meeting in a rivalry that harks back to 1967, as reported by the Las Cruces Sun News.
Historically, this high-stakes rivalry has seen its fair share of decisive games including district championships and state championships, specifically in 2002 and 2013, with Las Cruces taking home the titles on both occasions. The previous season ended with Las Cruces securing a dominant 44-7 victory over Mayfield. Despite the lopsided score last year, the anticipation is high as the game marks the first of the season, a spot usually reserved for less high-profile matchups, as detailed by KVIA.
Coaches and players alike have been fueling the competitive fire in the offseason, notably with Mayfield provocatively selecting Las Cruces as their first opponent. "In December of last year they kind of called us out," said Las Cruces head football coach Mark Lopez, as per KVIA. "They arranged the whole thing and said they wanted to play us in week one. We were happy to oblige and it gave us some motivation and some fire throughout the off-season to get us ready for week one."
Entering the game, Mayfield Trojans will be leaning on the experience of their 13 returning starters, seven on offense, and six on defense. Among the talent to watch are playmakers like QB/LB Luke Linnan, TE/DE Andy Garay, and WR/DB Zaiden Salcido, highlighted as key players ahead of a season that presents challenges right from the gate with three tough non-district games, starting with their crosstown rivals, as noted by KTSM.
