Centennial Hawks 42, Alamogordo Tigers 32 — High‑Scoring Rivalry Thriller

In a high‑octane rivalry night, the Centennial Hawks defeated the Alamogordo Tigers 42‑32 Friday, delivering a comeback win fueled by a powerful ground game, timely special‑teams heroics, and enough big plays to keep both fan sections on their feet.

Game flow and turning points

Alamogordo drew first blood when Bryson Bloom exploded for a 39‑yard touchdown run, giving the Tigers a 7‑0 lead with 6:49 left in the first quarter. Centennial answered late in the quarter on a 30‑yard touchdown pass from Ruiz Laborin to Andrew Sandoval to tie it 7‑7 with 2:26 remaining.

The second quarter swung heavily in Centennial’s favor as Dailen Ramirez rushed for three touchdowns — a 1‑yard plunge, a 12‑yard run, and another 1‑yard push — building a 28‑14 Hawks lead with just over two minutes left in the half. Alamogordo fought back with two explosive plays: Bloom’s 79‑yard touchdown run knotted the score at 14‑14 earlier in the quarter, and a 25‑yard touchdown pass from Bloom to Drake D’Arezzo late in the half (extra point blocked) cut the halftime deficit to 28‑20.

Centennial extended its lead early in the third when Sandoval turned a short field into a 17‑yard touchdown run to make it 35‑20. Special teams shifted momentum when Nathanael Cereceres returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards for a Hawks touchdown, the extra point blocked, leaving the score 35‑26. Ramirez capped the third with another 12‑yard TD run, giving Centennial a 42‑26 advantage with :43 remaining.

Alamogordo staged a fourth‑quarter rally as Nate Best found Keaton Orona on a 26‑yard touchdown pass, bringing the Tigers within 10 after a failed two‑point try. Alamogordo’s comeback fell short as Centennial held on for the 42‑32 victory.

Key performers

Bryson Bloom (Alamogordo Tigers): 39‑yard TD run, 79‑yard TD run, and a 25‑yard TD pass to Drake D’Arezzo — a multi‑threat game that kept the Tigers competitive.

Dailen Ramirez (Centennial Hawks): Four rushing TDs (1 yd, 12 yd, 1 yd, 12 yd) and the workhorse presence that controlled key possession stretches.

Andrew Sandoval (Centennial Hawks): Impactful in both the passing and rushing game with a TD catch and a TD run.

Nathanael Cereceres (Centennial Hawks): 60‑yard kickoff return for a TD that swung momentum late in the third quarter.

Final and implications

Centennial Hawks 42, Alamogordo Tigers 32 — final. Alamogordo falls to 4‑3 overall and 1‑2 in district play. The Tigers will host Carlsbad on October 10 looking to rebound and tighten district standing. Centennial’s balanced rushing attack, clutch special teams, and timely execution bolster its district position and provide a template for close‑game success.

Alamogordo showed explosive playmaking but must improve red‑zone conversions and consistency. Centennial’s blend of a physical run game and opportunistic plays proved decisive in a rivalry matchup that delivered continuous drama.

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