Santos Open Fall Season at Home
October 11, 2026 - DW/CM
Santa Fe Santos 43, El Paso Scorpions 38
The El Paso Scorpions showed up one man short in Santa Fe Saturday, sans jerseys, but compensated with extra determination on both sides of the ball while conceding an early-season loss. On an ideal rugby day, Los Santos looked like the more organized attacking team under new Director of Rugby Rainer Ball, but the ball failed to stick at crucial moments while the Scorpions proved tough hombres to bring to ground.
While suffering the indignity of wearing the Santos’ second set of jerseys, the visitors preserved their honor by bringing along match referee Bill Cook, a new resident of that city. (Rumor has it the Rio Grande Union’s usual suspects had all been dispatched to the Flagstaff Tens tournament.)
El Paso scored the first try after just two minutes to take a 7-0 lead. Dane Robergs, who had an outstanding game at #8, returned the favor seven minutes later and then fellow/former New Mexico Tech stalwart Tadeo Herrera got across for a try converted by hooker Diego “Gabe” Cardiel for a slim 12-7 halftime lead.
The contest remained tight throughout the second spell. Following a try by SF prop Stephen Faulkner the fightin’ Scorps scored two consecutive tries to take the lead at 21 to 19. The second of these tries appeared moot to many in a crowd graced by a host of former Santos greats after a spectacular steal by Santo fullback Isaiah Sanchez occurred just as, or after, the ball touched the ground - but that’s why only one individual carries the whistle.
The home team then scored three pivotal tries to take a 36-21 lead. First, hardworking lock Jordan Demas scored a well-earned try which Cardiel converted, and then (pardon us) either Bill Bennet, Cole Smith, or Cole Fuerrier (all new Santos) touched down, with the rally topped by Jake Covington, former Las Vegas Vatos player-coach.
Facing a 36-21 deficit with the clock winding down, El Paso responded with a converted try through a miraculous and courageous offload pass by their #11 just before his face contacted the ground. Happily the young man suffered no serious injury and El Paso was back within eight at 36-28.
It fell to Santa Fe’s Captain Beloved, Ryan Weir, to tack on the decisive try with 10 minutes remaining, which Gabe Cardiel (some call him Diego) summarily converted for a 43-28 lead. But the boys from El Paso weren’t done and produced one last try to complete a notable 14-man performance by keeping the final score close, 43 to 38.
Santa Fe’s reserve players, from near and far and of little to considerable experience, were only gradually leaked into the fray due to the close nature of the contest: Charles Leak, Hakob Enfiajyan, Clinton Gochnour, Chuy, Cole Fuerrier (apologies for omissions). All of these players have back stories which contribute to the diversity and potential strength of our team.
Santa Fe’s Santos showed considerable potential in their first outing of the fall season under coach Ball, whose son Joaquin took the day off after a close gridiron win the night before for the Santa Fe High School Demons, possibly the most underrated team in the nation. Los Santos employed a Southern Hemisphere attack characterized by plenty of offload passing supported by occasionally excellent support running. It was apparent meanwhile that individual tackling skills can be improved. As Captain Weir told his men after the match, the main ingredient for success at this early juncture will be individual commitment to the team.
The Santa Fe Santos will take on age-old rivals Aardvarks in Albuquerque next Saturday, October 17.
Merrigan, Lithgow, WHO ELSE WAS MISSING?
1 Sam Schwyter
2 Diego Cardiel
3 Stephen Falkner
4 Jordan Demas
5 Enrique KIKI Salazar
6 Billy Bennet
7 Ryan Weir - Captain
8 Dane Rogbergs
9 Mateo Cardiel
10 Eli Naranjo
11 Louis Pennings
12 Cole Smith
13 Tadeo Herrera
14 Dan Allinder
15 Izzy Sanchez
16 Charles Leak
17 Hakob Enfiajyan
18 Clinton Gochnour
19 Chuy
20 Jake Covington
21 Cole Fuerrier
