Carlsbad Rallies Past Alamogordo 30-25 in District Thriller

Alamogordo- In a Friday night showdown packed with explosive plays and playoff implications, the Alamogordo Tigers jumped out to a commanding early lead but ultimately fell to the Carlsbad Cavemen 30-25 in a pivotal District 6A-3 contest. The loss drops Alamogordo to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in district play, casting a shadow over their postseason aspirations as the regular season nears its close.

The Tigers came out swinging, with quarterback Nate Best igniting the scoreboard on a 65-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Bowman, followed by a 71-yard touchdown run and a 70-yard interception return for a score—all in the first half. Despite missing two extra points, Alamogordo surged to a 19-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Carlsbad, however, refused to fold. Quarterback Marley Munoz connected with Robert Castaneda for two long touchdown passes—one for 58 yards in the first quarter and another for 29 yards late in the fourth. Running back Brock Wright added two short-yardage touchdown runs, including a 4-yard go-ahead score late in the third quarter. Kicker Eloy Lopez’s 42-yard field goal helped close the gap before halftime, and Carlsbad’s defense held strong in the final minutes to seal the win.

The loss marks Alamogordo’s fourth in five games, a skid that has significantly impacted their standing in the New Mexico 6A rankings. While the Tigers had shown flashes of offensive brilliance in recent weeks, including a high-scoring battle against Centennial, their inability to close out games has cost them dearly in both district standings and statewide perception.

Carlsbad, now 5-3 overall, has won three straight and is gaining momentum at a critical juncture in the season. Their victory over Alamogordo bolsters their district résumé and positions them favorably for playoff seeding, especially with a head-to-head win that could prove decisive in tiebreak scenarios.

Alamogordo, meanwhile, faces a must-win situation as they prepare to host Las Cruces on Thursday. With just two games remaining, the Tigers will need to regroup quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive and avoid slipping further in the rankings.

Next Up:

Alamogordo (4-4, 1-3) hosts Las Cruces on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Carlsbad (5-3, 2-2) hosts Las Cruces on October 24.

For full game replays, visit the NFHS Network, the official streaming partner of the NMAA and Alamogordo High School and stay tuned to KALHRadio.org and AlamogordoTownNews.org for in-depth analysis and updates on team rankings from around the state.

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