A 21-19 win at Cibola on Oct. 10 was a turning point in the Santa Fe High football team’s 2026 campaign, marking the start of a four-game win streak that propelled the Demons to earning their first home playoff game in 41 years.

The eighth seed in the Class 5A state tournament, the Demons will have a rematch with Cibola on their home turf at 1 p.m. Saturday with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe High running back Hank Clement and quarterback Manuel Peña join Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to share their perspective on the team’s 6-4 regular season and offer their thoughts on another matchup with Cibola.

Clement and Peña talk about the improvement of the team’s offense in the second half of the season. They also discuss the vibes both in their locker room and around their community as they’ve been riding a wave of momentum to a rare winning season for the program.

In the second segment, Will and James make their picks for the first round of the prep football playoffs. They also chat about other high school postseason competitions, including the Capital boys soccer team’s run to the Class 5A championship and the upcoming cross country state meet.

Oh, and the University of New Mexico football team is ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in its history after improving to 7-1 with a victory over San Jose State. The guys chat about the Lobos’ upcoming game against Nevada in Reno, a place where they’ve never won, and look ahead at the path to reaching the College Football Playoffs.

A 21-19 win at Cibola on Oct. 10 was a turning point in the Santa Fe High football team&rsquo;s 2026 campaign, marking the start of a four-game win streak that propelled the Demons to earning their first home playoff game in 41 years.
The eighth seed in the Class 5A state tournament, the Demons will have a rematch with Cibola on their home turf at 1 p.m. Saturday with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, Santa Fe High running back Hank Clement and quarterback Manuel Pe&ntilde;a join Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to share their perspective on the team&rsquo;s 6-4 regular season and offer their thoughts on another matchup with Cibola.
Clement and Pe&ntilde;a talk about the improvement of the team&rsquo;s offense in the second half of the season. They also discuss the vibes both in their locker room and around their community as they&rsquo;ve been riding a wave of momentum to a rare winning season for the program.
In the second segment, Will and James make their picks for the first round of the prep football playoffs. They also chat about other high school postseason competitions, including the Capital boys soccer team&rsquo;s run to the Class 5A championship and the upcoming cross country state meet.
Oh, and the University of New Mexico football team is ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in its history after improving to 7-1 with a victory over San Jose State. The guys chat about the Lobos&rsquo; upcoming game against Nevada in Reno, a place where they&rsquo;ve never won, and look ahead at the path to reaching the College Football Playoffs.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.   
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp; The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.  

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.