4A State Champs: Bloomfield overpowers St. Pius X, 62-28, in title game

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

BLOOMFIELD, N.M. — The Bloomfield Bobcats claimed their second New Mexico Class 4A state championship title in three years with a commanding 62-28 win over the St. Pius X Sartans on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.

Senior quarterback Blake Spencer led the charge with three rushing touchdowns and a passing score, while the Bobcats’ defense and special teams stifled a high-powered Sartans offense led by standout sophomore quarterback Isaiah Carpenter.

The 6-foot-5 Carpenter, who is ranked third in the state in passing with 2,844 yards and 34 touchdowns, faced relentless pressure from Bloomfield’s defense.

But it was the Bobcats’ special teams that turned the tide in the second half, scoring 14 points off two blocked punts and adding a pick-six to swing the momentum decisively in Bloomfield’s favor.

The Sartans opened the scoring with a safety after a block-in-the-back penalty pinned Bloomfield deep in their own territory, giving St. Pius X an early 2-0 lead.

The Sartans extended that advantage to 8-0 when sophomore running back Hershul Olloway Jr., broke free for a 19-yard touchdown run.

Bloomfield responded with authority. Spencer eluded two rushing linebackers and scrambled to the left pylon for an 11-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 8-7.

Moments later, Carpenter connected with sophomore slot receiver Curtis Flakes III on a 74-yard touchdown bomb, but Bloomfield answered with a methodical drive capped by Spencer’s second rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second, Spencer found junior running back Peyton Duncan on a 36-yard touchdown pass, putting Bloomfield ahead 22-15 after a successful two-point conversion.

St. Pius X fought back, with Carpenter scoring on a 4-yard run on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at 22. The rest of the first half ended chaotically, with Bloomfield committing two fumbles and St. Pius X throwing an interception to junior defensive back Tayetum Callado. Despite the turnovers, neither team capitalized, and the game remained deadlocked at 22-all at the half.

Bloomfield returned to form in the third quarter, erupting for 26 points. Spencer ignited the offense with a 72-yard touchdown run up the middle, giving the Bobcats a 29-22 lead. On the Sartans’ next possession, senior linebacker McKell Colbert blocked a punt and recovered it at the 1-yard line, setting up Duncan’s 1-yard touchdown plunge to extend the lead to 35-22.

Then it was Bloomfield’s defense to shine. Senior defensive back Elias Johnson intercepted Carpenter deep in Bobcat territory, and Duncan turned the ensuing possession into an 84-yard touchdown run, electrifying the crowd and widening the gap to 42-22.

Backup sophomore quarterback Phillip Delgado entered for the Sartans late in the third quarter, but quickly found himself under pressure from a pursing junior defensive line Cole Gosnell. Attempting to throw the ball away, Delgado instead tossed it directly into the hands of senior safety Hunter Samora, who returned the interception 46 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Bobcats’ lead to 48-22.

The final quarter began with Colbert blocking another punt and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 55-22. Despite a late touchdown pass from Carpenter to Flakes, Bloomfield capped the scoring with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Tyler Reinhardt, sealing the 62-28 victory.

Spencer led the offense with four total touchdowns, including three on the ground, while Colbert’s special team’s heroics and the defense’s four turnovers set the tone.

Bloomfield head coach Mike Kovacs credited the halftime adjustments and the senior leadership for his team’s dominant performance in the second half.

“Our defense needed to settle down and play Bloomfield football,” Kovacs said. “Our seniors spoke at halftime, and they told everyone to keep their composure. We knew if we stayed focused, we’d win this game.”

Kovacs also praised the Sartans’ young core, led by Carpenter, and their head coach Curtis Flakes II.

“That team is going to be dangerous next year,” the Bloomfield coach said. “Coach Flakes has done an amazing job with such a young group of players. I hope we see them again in Albuquerque next year.”

Athletic Director Ben Tensay applauded Kovacs’ leadership. “What he brings to the program and the community is uplifting. His teaching and coaching have helped our student-athletes succeed on and off the field.”

The victory capped a stellar season for Bloomfield, during which the Bobcats averaged 49.83 points per game while holding opponents to just 7.4 points per game—a testament to their dominance on both sides of the ball.

Blake Spencer closed out his remarkable career at Bloomfield with over 6,600 passing yards, 87 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, completing nearly 64% of his passes. His leadership and versatility were instrumental in the Bobcats’ championship run, cementing his legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats.

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