What a time to be alive. The University of New Mexico football team dominated a Big Ten team on Friday, defeating UCLA 35-10 at the Rose Bowl for one of the biggest wins in program history. Also on Friday, Santa Fe High’s football team took down Albuquerque High 18-6 for the Demons’ first district win since 2023.

On the latest episode of “The Sports Den,” Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss the recent momentum of these two programs that have struggled to find success over the decades.

The Lobos take a 2-1 record into their Sept. 27 home game against rival New Mexico State. Will says 30,000-35,000 fans are expected for the matchup. The guys talk about first-year UNM coach Jason Eck's early season success, which has already brought rumors of him being a candidate for other jobs around the country.

Santa Fe High, meanwhile, faces Sandia at home on Friday as it looks to build on its district success and make a push for a spot in the playoffs. The guys also talk about St. Michael’s, which takes on Eunice Saturday in a battle of unbeatens. The Cardinals could offer an interesting challenge, as their high-flying offense has averaged nearly 60 points per game during their 4-0 start.

Will and James touch on Capital’s first win of the year and discuss the impact of Garnett Stokes at UNM on the day she announced her planned retirement as school president.

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