Bloomfield Dominates Bernalillo, Advances to Semifinals in 4A Playoffs

Bloomfield High used an explosive start and steady defense to overwhelm Bernalillo 49, 0 in the Class 4A quarterfinal at Bobcat Stadium on November 16. The top seeded Bobcats improved to 10 and 1 while extending a nine game winning streak and securing a trip to the semifinals in Taos.

The game opened in dramatic fashion when Gavin Pecotte returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown just 12 seconds into the contest. Quarterback Manual Chavarria completed three touchdown passes and finished 7 for 19 for 289 yards, continuing a season in which he leads the state in touchdown passes and is approaching 3,000 yards for the year. Running back and playmaker Kaleb Hutchens recovered a fumble and returned it 90 yards for a score in the first half, and he finished with four touchdowns.

Bloomfield’s defense set the tone, forcing six turnovers while holding Bernalillo to just over 100 yards of total offense. Penalties and discipline issues plagued Bernalillo, which was flagged 19 times and had two players ejected from the game. The combination of explosive special teams, efficient passing, opportunistic defense, and opponent self infliction produced the shutout and a convincing advance.

For San Juan County, the result is more than a playoff win. The Bobcats’ run brings a surge of community energy and a stream of families planning travel to Taos for the semifinals. Local businesses, youth programs, and school activities often see a spillover effect when high school teams make deep postseason runs, from increased patronage on game days to heightened youth participation in athletics. Those benefits come with responsibilities around student athlete safety and equitable support for sports programs across the region.

Public health considerations remain relevant as crowds travel and gather. School officials and event organizers must balance community celebration with attention to injury prevention, concussion management, and the health logistics of transporting students and fans. The spotlight on Bloomfield also invites discussion about resource distribution among schools, and how travel costs and staffing affect equitable access to postseason opportunities.

Bloomfield will take its momentum to Taos as the team chases a rare back to back state championship for the region. Coach Mike Kovacs emphasized the need to keep improving despite the dominant win as the Bobcats prepare for the next level of competition. The coming week will shape how the community rallies around the team and how local leaders address the broader health and equity implications of a deep playoff run.