Cleveland Storm Blank Rio Rancho 50-0 to Close Undefeated Season

Cleveland High School football players celebrated a 50-0 victory over Rio Rancho High School on Friday night.

The final score capped a perfect 10-0 regular season for the Storm. This marks their first undefeated regular season since 2021.

Cleveland extended its winning streak over the Rams to 13 straight games. The series has favored the Storm since 2016. The 50 points also tied the rivalry record for the most points scored by a single team in one game.

The Storm dominated the game from the opening drive. Michael Denison threw touchdown passes to extend the early lead. Cleveland’s defense allowed only seven points per game in its last five outings. That number improved sharply from the 23.2 points per game allowed in the season’s first five games.

Rio Rancho struggled to move the ball all night. The Rams did not record a first down until late in the second quarter. They botched a snap on their next possession, and Cleveland recovered the fumble. Joaquin Manning also sacked Rio Rancho quarterback Micah Takahashi late in the first half. Takahashi returned to the game but did not finish it.

Evan Nanez finished the regular season with a strong performance. He caught an 81-yard touchdown pass with less than 16 seconds left in the first half. The junior receiver also scored on a six-yard direct snap earlier in the game. Nanez received the MVP award from the Great American Rivalry Series.

Coach Robert Garza said the team stayed focused despite the crosstown attention. “Anytime you play a team from down the street, in town, kids know each other, sometimes it’s a little more build-up than there really needs to be,” Garza said. “I feel like our guys did a good job staying focused on what was at hand.” The Storm will receive a first-round bye in the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union State Football Championship. The NMAA will release its seeding and bracket at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at www.nmact.org.