RIO RANCHO - Las Cruces High's bid for a Class 6A state football championship came up just short on Saturday afternoon.

The No. 2 seeded Storm never trailed and defeated the No. 1 seeded Bulldawgs, 35-28, at Cleveland High School to repeat as state champions on Nov. 29. The Bulldawgs were seeking their first state title since 2013. They were making their first state showing since 2016 when they lost to Rio Rancho High.

Both teams finish the season 12-1. Cleveland avenged a 38-34 loss to the Bulldawgs in the regular season.

Close first half

The two teams traded scores and the Storm led 21-14 at the half.

Las Cruces High running back Daniel Amaro scored on runs of 3 and 13 yards and Cleveland got a 28-yard touchdown run by Samuel Bustillos, a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Hatch to

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