The latest news from the high school football state semifinals featured another impressive victory for St. Michael”s. The undefeated, top-ranked Horsemen defeated New Mexico Military Institute to advance to their fifth consecutive championship game. They are set to face Dexter in the finals on Saturday, aiming for their third title in a row and extending their winning streak to 33 games, which dates back over two years. This remarkable run marks the third-longest win streak in New Mexico high school football history.
What surprised many was the performance of running back Isaiah Dominguez. He rushed for 272 yards on just eight carries, scoring touchdowns on each of his last four handoffs from quarterback Kamal Stith. One of these runs was particularly notable, as it came close to breaking a long-standing school record of 97 yards. Dominguez speculated that he might have covered 97 yards with his impressive run.
After reviewing the game film, he clarified during an appearance on The New Mexican”s Sports Den Podcast that the line of scrimmage was at the 4-yard mark, making him just one yard short and approximately three feet away from the record. Regardless, it was a spectacular run that contributed significantly to the Horsemen”s overwhelming 54-8 victory. Along with his rushing performance, Dominguez added a 46-yard touchdown reception in the first half, totaling nearly 320 yards of offense and five touchdowns.
The championship game will take place on Dexter”s home field, one of the few remaining natural grass fields in high school football. Located at the southern end of Chaves County, Dexter lies halfway between Roswell and Artesia. This region of New Mexico boasts a rich history in high school championships, with 24 schools across various classifications winning an impressive total of 200 state championships since the New Mexico Activities Association began overseeing high school sports in 1950. Notably, Artesia has secured 32 of these titles and will be competing for their 33rd against district rival Roswell in the 5A championship game.
In total, five championship games are scheduled for Saturday, all beginning at 1 PM. The 6A matchup features No. 1 Las Cruces facing No. 2 Cleveland, while the 5A game has No. 1 Bloomfield taking on No. 2 St. Pius. The 4A championship pits No. 2 Roswell against No. 1 Artesia, and the 2A game showcases No. 3 Eunice against No. 1 Texico. All five contests will be available for live streaming on the NFHS Network.
