TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. — Freshman quarterback Nicholas Miller (#10) threw four touchdown passes and senior wide receiver Darrien Williams (#2) scored four touchdowns as Hope Christian defeated Hot Springs 55-19 Thursday night at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers cut a 29-point fourth-quarter deficit to 17 before the Huskies scored the game’s final 19 points.

Hope Christian’s Williams scored two touchdowns on the ground and brought in two touchdown passes, finishing with 124 receiving yards and 23 rushing yards. Landon Cochran (#17) added 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Huskies.

Hot Springs junior quarterback Zaiden Baker (#4) accounted for all three Tigers touchdowns, rushing for 138 yards and two scores while passing for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Hot Springs failed to gain a first down on its opening possession and lined up to punt. A bad snap to the punter resulted in Hot Springs turning the ball over on downs and Hope Christian starting deep in Tiger territory.

Hot Springs’ defense held firm in its own red zone and forced a Hope Christian turnover on downs. On the very next play, senior defensive tackle Cooper Cecil (#73) forced a fumble and junior middle linebacker Waylon Defrisco (#66) recovered. Hope Christian capitalized with Williams rushing 12 yards to the end zone on a reverse to score the first points of the game. Williams also tacked on two points with a successful two-point conversion run to go up 8-0 with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter.

Hope Christian then forced a Hot Springs three-and-out. Miller used his arm to take the Huskies into the red zone. From the 6-yard line, sophomore running back Jeremiah Roybal (#21) rushed in for a touchdown, extending the advantage to 14-0. Williams followed the touchdown with a run of his own for the two-point conversion to make it 16-0.

Hot Springs began moving the ball late in the first quarter, reaching the Hope Christian 21 before turning it over on downs with 11:02 remaining in the second. Lightning prompted an approximately hourlong delay before the Huskies could begin their next possession.

An apparent 39-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Williams was wiped out by a false start penalty on the first possession after the delay. The pair connected again several plays later for a 29-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt missed, leaving Hope Christian ahead 22-0 with 6:25 remaining in the half.

Hot Springs didn’t go into the locker room scoreless in the first half. Baker exploded for a 57-yard sprint down the sideline for the Tigers’ first score. A successful point-after attempt cut the deficit to 22-7 going into halftime.

The teams traded punts to open the third quarter before Miller found Cochran for a 55-yard gain to the Hot Springs 25. Roybal followed with a 21-yard run, and Williams eventually finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. Williams was stopped short on a two-point pass from Miller, leaving Hope Christian ahead 28-7.

Hope Christian followed its touchdown by forcing a Hot Springs turnover on downs to open the fourth quarter. A quick three-play, 26-yard drive ended with another Husky touchdown. Miller found Cochran for a 14-yard touchdown to go up 34-7. Junior wide receiver Blake Volk (#1) hauled in a reception on the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 36-7.

Hot Springs responded with a touchdown of its own. Baker and senior wide receiver Billy Baca (#18) connected on two fourth-down conversions. On the second conversion, Baca went streaking down the field for a 37-yard reception to bring the Tigers into the red zone. Baker followed the reception by running through traffic for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Roybal spoiled the Hot Springs two-point conversion attempt by intercepting a ball thrown by junior wide receiver James Oros (#33), keeping Hope Christian ahead 36-13.

Hot Springs’ defense gave the Tigers another opportunity on Hope Christian’s next possession. After Miller completed a pass to Cochran, Oros forced a fumble at the Huskies’ 45-yard line. Freshman Adan Marta (#85) recovered and returned it to the Hope Christian 25.

Baker and Baca connected again on fourth down, this time for a 21-yard touchdown with 5:32 remaining. The two-point pass fell incomplete, leaving Hot Springs trailing 36-19.

Hope Christian closed out the fourth quarter with 19 unanswered points. Miller and Williams connected on a 66-yard touchdown to go up 42-19. The two-point conversion attempt failed. Defrisco intercepted Baker and returned the ball 39 yards for a touchdown. A successful point-after attempt extended the lead to 49-19. After another Hot Springs turnover on downs, Miller found Cochran for an 18-yard touchdown on the next play to complete the scoring.

Hope Christian improved to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in Class 3A District 2, sharing the district lead with Silver. Hot Springs fell to 5-4 overall and remained tied with Ruidoso and Hatch Valley at 3-3 in district play.

Hot Springs travels to Ruidoso on Friday, Oct. 30 to face the Ruidoso Warriors (3-6). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Hope Christian welcomes the Socorro Warriors (0-9) to Albuquerque on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m.