Santa Fe High Varsity football came around this year with a new title that they haven’t had in over 23 years. Six wins in a season doesn’t sound like much, but for all the blood, sweat, and tears sacrificed from the Demon players, they’ would probably disagree.

Starting strong by beating not only Robertson but also Moriarty, St.Mike’s (bringing a 13-year losing streak to its knees), and Capital (also being district champions), they started on a great note with a four-game winning streak. However, that came to an end once they lost to Eldorado 28 – 12. But they made it up to themselves by winning their first Homecoming game against Manzano, 35 – 27. Only then was the idea floated that Santa Fe High would finish off their regular season and make it into the playoffs. However, that idea then lost its touch once they lost to Sandia, Clovis, and La Cueva. The Demons were monsters on the field, home and away, yet their chances for the playoffs looked slim with a 5 – 4 record compared to the other teams in their 6A division.

But it was senior night on the field, which meant that since Albuquerque would be the final game of the regular season, families and supporters would send all the good karma they could to the senior stars of the varsity team. With good energy all around, the team’s fate would be decided: If they lost to Albuquerque, that would knock them out of the playoffs; if they beat Albuquerque, they could get a seed in 7th or 8th place. 

The Demons won, 41 – 38.

A tug of war it was, with Santa Fe taking a 9-point lead into halftime. After honoring cancer survivors at the halftime show, the Demons marched back onto the field to only get enough kicks out of the Bulldogs’ to go from 21 – 12 to 35 – 12. Everything looked like it was a shoo-in before the Bulldogs scared the Demons by making a 26-point combat. After running the ball in the endzone once more, with a minute and 48 seconds left on the clock, they could have tried an onside kick and finished off the Demons with a touchdown or field goal. But instead, they made a normal kick-off down the field that left the Demons’ offense to chew out the play clock, ending the game 41 – 38.

Now with the best season for the past decade, the Demons will get a seed in the state playoffs.