Panthers Face Navajo Prep in Playoffs

By John Earp

The Jal High School Varsity Boys’ Football Team (3-7 overall; 1-3 in 2A District 3; ranked 67 in state) will travel all the way to Farmington this Friday to play Navajo Prep (8-2 overall; 4-1 in 2A District 1; ranked 72 in state) at 5:00 p.m. in the first round of the state football championships. The winner of the game will then play Texico in the quarterfinals. The Panthers have had a difficult season due especially to the caliber of teams they have played as well as injuries, but even still, managed to make it into the playoffs. Eunice, Loving, Santa Rosa, and Texico, all of which the Panthers lost to this season, are also all in the playoffs as well, which underscores the strength of the Panthers’ schedule this year. The Tularosa Wildcats, which the Panthers beat 13-6 this season, are also in the playoffs. With four teams from District 3 (Jal, Eunice, Texico, and Loving) advancing to the playoffs, to say the Panthers have played in an especially tough district this season would be an understatement.