Football: Sartans Storm Past Valencia, 62-12
The St. Pius X Sartans rolled to a dominant 62-12 district win Friday night over Valencia in Los Lunas, continuing their late season surge behind a balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense.
The Sartans jumped out early, scoring in every quarter and piling up 343 yards of total offense while the defense held the Jaguars scoreless after halftime. Junior quarterback Isaiah Carpenter orchestrated the offense with poise, completing 9-of-14 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, junior running back Hershul Olloway Jr. was electric, rushing for 120 yards on six carries and scoring three total touchdowns, including a 53-yard punt return that broke the game open.
In the passing game, Curtis Flakes III and Cayl Cox-Liggins torched the secondary, each hauling in two touchdown receptions. Flakes posted 115 receiving yards on three catches, while Cox-Liggins added 80 yards on four grabs.
Defensively, the Sartans were flying around all night. Sophomore Nicholas Casco led the charge with 12 total tackles, while sophomore Kane Huffmyer added 13 and senior Kolbe Padilla chipped in eight and a sack. Senior Collin Foster delivered one of the game’s highlights with a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown, one of two turnovers forced by the defense. Juniors Joaquin Aragon and Casco also came up with fumble recoveries that kept momentum squarely in the Sartans’ favor.
Special teams contributed in a big way. Senior Logan Underwood handled kickoffs with precision, averaging nearly 40 yards per kick, and Preston Terrazas went 4-for-6 on PATs. Freshman Cy Saenz added a pair of two-point conversions to close scoring drives.
By the numbers, St. Pius X outgained Valencia 343- yards to 143, forced three turnovers, and scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams. The 62-point output is the Sartans highest of the season. They now sit at 7-1 overall, 4-1 in District 2-4A. The Sartans wrap up the season next week vs Manzano at 11am at Community Stadium.
Volleyball: Sartans Sweep the Week, Extend Win Streak to 10
The St. Pius X volleyball team continued its dominant form, earning back-to-back district sweeps over Highland and Belen last week to remain unbeaten in District 5-4A play.
On October 21, the Sartans traveled to Highland and made quick work of the Hornets, winning 25-6, 25-11, 25-6 behind a complete team effort that kept Highland off balance from the opening serve. Two days later, St. Pius X rolled into Belen and again controlled the match from start to finish, sweeping the Eagles 25-15, 25-14, 25-19.
The victories push the Sartans’ record to 15-3 overall and 5-0 in district, while extending their win streak to 10 matches. The program continued to dominate across all levels, JV defeated both Highland and Belen 2-0, and the C-team matched that result with 2-0 wins of their own.
With the playoffs approaching, St. Pius X sits firmly atop District 5-4A, boasting a 9-0 home record, 5-0 away record, and a 47-13 set margin this season. The Sartans return to action on Tuesday, October 28 at Grants (6:00 p.m), loooking to keep the streak alive and move one step closer to a district title.
Boys Soccer: Sartans Blank Highland, Extend Win Streak to 13
The No. 1-ranked St. Pius X boys soccer team continued its dominant march through District 5-4A, defeating Highland 6-0 last week to close the regular season undefeated in district play.
The Sartans controlled possession from the start, piling up six goals and five assists while shutting out the Hornets behind another stout defensive performance. Freshman Nico Certain and senior Mateo Certain led the attack with two goals each, combining for eight points on the afternoon. Juniors Nico Reyes and Jude Benavides each added a goal, while Christopher Justus and Kenneth Calderon chipped in with assists that kept the offensive rhythm flowing.
In goal, the tandem of junior Dominic Vollbrecht and senior David Bunnell combined for the team’s 13th consecutive victory and another clean sheet. Bunnell made three saves and recorded the win, while Vollbrecht added one stop early in the match.
With the victory, St. Pius X improves to 16-1-3 overall and a perfect 8-0 in district play, outscoring opponents 103-13 on the season. The Sartans remain unbeaten at home (9-0) and will enter the postseason as one of the clear favorites to defend their Class 4A state title.
Up Next:
Following their commanding 6-0 win over Highland, the St. Pius X boys soccer team officially earned the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A State Tournament, as announced over the weekend.
The Sartans will open postseason play on Friday, November 1, hosting the winner of the No. 8 Taos vs. No. 9 Chaparral first-round match. With a 16-1-3 record, an 8-0 district mark, and a 13-game win streak, St. Pius X enters the tournament as the top-ranked team in New Mexico and the defending state champion.
Girls Soccer: Sartans Dominate, Clinch Perfect District Season
The St. Pius X girls soccer team closed out district play in style last week, delivering back-to-back blowout wins to secure an undefeated District 5-4A title and extend their win streak to eight matches.
On October 21, the Sartans traveled to West Mesa and delivered a complete performance, cruising to an 11-0 shutout victory. Junior Vanessa Cichy scored four goals and added two assists to lead the attack, while eighth grader Kayla Herrera netted three goals and senior Kaylee Perea added two. Sophomore Amara Torres, junior Maddilyn Garcia, and freshman Viviana Chavez all contributed assists, helping the Sartans overwhelm the Mustangs with precision passing and relentless pressure. Goalkeepers Juliana Warren (8th) and Elizabeth Ouellette (So) combined for the shutout, each playing a half in net.
Just two days later, St. Pius X returned home and overpowered Highland, rolling to another 11-1 win. Cichy again led the scoring charge with four goals, while Perea and Herrera each added two. The victory improved the Sartans’ record to 16-4 overall and 8-0 in district, finishing the regular season atop the District 5-4A standings.
St. Pius X has been one of the most explosive offensive teams in the state this season, scoring 125 goals while allowing just 21. The Sartans are 7-1 at home, 9-3 on the road, and enter the postseason with strong momentum and championship aspirations after dominating district competition from start to finish.
Next Up: State Tournament Quarterfinals
The Sartans received the No. 3 seed in the New Mexico High School Soccer State Playoffs and will host the winner of No. 6 Miyamura vs. No. 11 Highland in the quarterfinals on Thursday, October 31. With an eight-game win streak and a potent offensive lineup, St. Pius X is poised to make another deep postseason run.
St. Pius X Sartan Athletics
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