Chupacabras struggle against opportunistic Gunslingers

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Even with both the New Mexico Chupacabras and San Antonio Gunslingers well below .500 entering Saturday afternoon's contest, playoff implications remained squarely on the line in this Western Conference tilt at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. New Mexico was shooting to end a seven-game losing skid, while San Antonio had plans set to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Gunslingers turned in perhaps their most complete outing in franchise history, headlined by an incredible debut by rookie quarterback Zachary Calzada, setting new franchise and IFL single-game highs with tonight's result. In the onslaught, San Antonio scored the most points by any team this season in one game (74) and won by the largest margin of victory (56) seen in the IFL since at least 2022. The 56-point win also winds up as a franchise-best for the Gunslingers, surpassing a 24-point win over Tucson during the 2024 season in what was the team's first win as an IFL team. Once the final whistle sounded, San Antonio had earned themselves a 74-18 victory over New Mexico.

The hosts began the game with the opening possession, highlighted by key runs by newcomer quarterback Zach Calzada, who rushed in a seven-yard keeper to open the game's scoring. The extra point by Tyler Huettel was blocked by Allen Love of the Chupacabras, keeping the scoring to just six points. New Mexico drove close to the goal line with its first drive, but a series of impressive stops by the San Antonio defense turned the visitors back, settling for a 17-yard field goal by Kevin Macias for the Chupacabras' first points. Calzada showed off the strength of his arm on San Antonio's second possession, finding Austin Upshaw on a 36-yard touchdown pass on a third and 20 play. The Gunslinger defense got in on the early fun right before the end of the quarter, with a pass from Harry Roubidoux tipped at the line and intercepted by Octavious Oxendine, who dove for the ball and rolled across the goal line for the defensive touchdown. Huettel's point after pushed wide right to wrap up the first quarter, with the Gunslingers quickly building a 16-point lead.

New Mexico made little progress with its next possession, turning the ball over on downs after a four-and-out drive. San Antonio continued its impressive offensive form, with Calzada skying a six-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Rose, who timed the jump perfectly at the back of the endzone to come down with the score. The Chupacabras stalled out once more, bringing on Macias for a 44-yard field goal attempt, which Ravarius Rivers returned to midfield for the Gunslingers. Moments later, Calzada called his own number for a four-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the game on the ground. New Mexico's special teams provided a badly needed spark on the ensuing kickoff, with Walter Wilbon taking a squib kick 49 yards to the house for the first touchdown of the game for the Chupacabras. With the first half drawing to a close, San Antonio found another rapid response, with Zach Patterson making all sorts of moves turning a short reception into a 27-yard catch and run touchdown. The Chupacabras had just enough time on one last drive to try for some points, but a 31-yard field goal attempt by Macias got blocked, sending the teams to halftime with the Gunslingers ahead 39 to ten.

The halftime rest provided no assistance to the Chupacabras, as the second half began with an interception by the Gunslinger defense. Rivers returned the pick to the one-yard line, where Calzada finished the rest himself on a one-yard keeper, his third rushing touchdown of the contest. New Mexico made the quarterback change to Avaun Rucker at that point, with the former Knight Hawk making his team debut with the Chupacabras. His first drive resulted in a four and out, which gave way a handful of plays later to a 13-yard receiving touchdown by Glen Gibbons. The tumultuous drought finally came to an end for the New Mexico offense, as Rucker scrambled for a three-yard touchdown for the visitors' first offensive score. Rucker would then complete the "Octopus" on a trick play, catching the conversion off a pass from running back La'james White. The Gunslingers got the last laugh of the quarter, though, with Calzada rolling right and firing a 49-yard touchdown pass to Rose to close out the frame. Huettel's extra point sent the game to the final quarter with San Antonio ahead big, 60 to 18.

New Mexico's subsequent possession got within inches of breaking the plane, but on fourth and goal Rucker was tripped up just short at the one yard line, a play which was originally ruled a touchdown before being overturned by a San Antonio challenge. With the game's outcome largely in hand, the Gunslingers trotted out Joaquin Collazo for the remainder of the game, and his first drive in relief ended with a 17-yard touchdown reception by Patterson. San Antonio's two-point conversion missed, after it was announced that Huettel would be held out the rest of the game due to illness. The Gunslinger defense remained on high alert, with new addition Chris Chukwuneke picking Rucker off and giving the hosts possession from their own 11-yard line. San Antonio added to their total with a ten-yard touchdown pass from Collazo to Upshaw, and the ensuing two-point pass to Trenton Hudson was successful to put San Antonio at a league-high 74 points for a game this season. The Chupacabras let the rest of the clock run down during their final possession, and the clock hit all zeroes with San Antonio punctuating a convincing 74-18 victory to bring an end to a four-game losing streak.

The forgettable rookie season for Harry Roubidoux continued in today's defeat, with New Mexico's starting quarterback delivering just one completion on ten attempts for ten yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions before being pulled for Avaun Rucker in the third quarter. Rucker would go on to complete six of his 11 pass attempts for 58 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, adding 11 yards on eight carries for one touchdown. La'james White had just five yards on eight carries. CJ Jefferson found some life with Rucker in the game, ending with four catches for 49 yards. Kisean Johnson made two catches for 16 yards in his season debut. Walter Wilbon accounted for a touchdown with a 49-yard kick return in the second quarter.

Zachary Calzada may have made himself a household name after his stellar IFL debut, in which he completed 12 of 16 passes for 186 yards, with five touchdowns and no interceptions, with three more touchdowns on eight rushes for 37 yards. Zach Patterson rushed five times for 23 yards, adding four catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Derrick Rose had five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow receiver Austin Upshaw had five catches for 69 yards and a pair of scores himself. Terry Beckner recorded a sack to pace San Antonio's defensive line, while interceptions by Ravarius Rivers, Chris Chukwuneke, and Octavious Oxendine's pick-six spearheaded a fantastic day for the Gunslinger secondary.

The Gunslingers ended tonight's battle at a plus-three turnover margin and committed no turnovers themselves in the process. San Antonio got whistled for five penalties totaling 36 yards, while New Mexico was penalized eight times for 45 yards.

The only meeting between these two teams this season was also the first-ever matchup between the Gunslingers and Chupacabras. San Antonio did win a pair of games in 2024 against the previous iteration of the New Mexico-based franchise when they were known as the Duke City Gladiators.

The Gunslingers (4-7) will make their only visit to Tulsa next week, looking to avoid the three-game season series sweep at the hands of the Oilers (6-5) on Saturday June 20, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. The Chupacabras (1-10) will return to Tingley Coliseum and host the Northern Arizona Wranglers (1-9), the only team New Mexico has beaten this season, on Sunday June 21 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Times listed are pacific daylight time.

Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be available on the IFL's broadcast and streaming platforms. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2026 Schedule.

Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be available on the IFL's broadcast and streaming platforms. Sports Coast to Coast will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game on the site.