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Click on Tournament for Bracket & Game Stories
There’s little doubt that football has been king when it comes to the history of Lovington sports. But the Wildcats have big-time tournament success in other sports too.
But of course, we must start with Lovington football in the Roll Call of State Championships…
Football
2004…Lovington overwhelms St. Michael’s 40-14 as coach Speedy Faith garners his fourth championship
2001…Wildcats go back-to-back with an undefeated 13-0 campaign as Lovington swamps Robertson 59-3 in finale
2000…Cobre is clobbered 42-7 in 3A championship as ‘Cats claim another title
1995…A perfect 14-0 season is capped when Lovington beats back Silver 24-7 for 10th overall crown
1990…Lovington goes 12-0 under coach Jerry Brown and finishes it all with a 13-7 win over Bloomfield
1987…A rare instance where co-champs are named. Lovington and Artesia share Class 3A title after 0-0 struggle in title contest
1986…First of four undefeated seasons for Wildcats ends with a 20-7 victory over Ruidoso for 3A honors
1970…Three straight for Lovington when ‘Cats beat St. Michael’s 29-7 in championship
1969…Lovington blasts West Las Vegas 46-14 to take Class 3A for a second straight year
1968…Wildcats nip Aztec 13-12 in 3A finale to begin stretch of three-in-a-row
1960…Winning state for three times in four years, Lovington beats Aztec 26-7 in title game
1958…The Class 1A title goes to ‘Cats for second year in a row when Lovington knocks off St. Michael’s 28-6
1957…First of 12 gridiron titles comes Wildcats’ way after a 20-6 win over Raton in Class 1A final
Softball
2002…Lovington shuts out Bernalillo 4-0 to claim second straight Class 3A championship
2001…Wildcats grab first crown in softball with a 9-5 victory over Shiprock
Boys Basketball
1983…Records don’t matter if you win the big one. Lovington finishes 14-14 season with a 92-81 state title victory over Tucumcari
1949…Before Ralph Tasker was at Hobbs, he won a hoops title at Lovington. Final: Lovington 47, Tucumcari 39
Baseball
1973…Lovington routs Cobre 10-3 for Class 3A crown and lone title on the diamond
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And now, a word from our Sponsor…
“Ole!” greets drive-through customers from the speaker box.
If that’s the case, it can only be one business: Taco Box.
From frijole burritos to Spanish fries to pig-in-a-panchos, and quite nearly everything in-between, the restaurant has been serving up its eclectic menu for 40 years.
According to owner Tom Martin, the number one seller is the simple-and-tasty frijole burrito while tacos, chalupas and cheese sticks follow closely in popularity.
A popular side item are Spanish fries, a Taco Box-invented title for another potato-based munchie (any guesses?). Martin says his restaurant has only occasionally ventured into making regular french fries and the attempts have ultimately always been futile with the Taco Box customer base.
“I always joke that I don’t make french fries so I can help keep McDonald’s in business,” Martin says.
Other items also remain popular to an extent even though not officially on the menu board anymore – a testament to the loyalty of the typical Taco Box consumer.
The Mexi-Burger was on the menu back in the early 1980s and still gets ordered today. By those in the know, at any rate.
“There’s probably at least a dozen different items over the years like that,” Martin says. “We took it off, just because of space, but we still make ‘em. We probably sell as many as we did when they were on the menu.”
Martin lists breakfast tacos, frijole tacos, guacamole tacos as other such “underground” items. And that’s not to mention the vast array of drink combinations, utilizing the different soft drinks and flavorings, that have actually never been listed on the big board at Taco Box.
Martin, raised in Cleveland and a graduate from Cornell University in New York, ventured west after college and tried his hand with the Taco Box brand. He took over Taco Box on June 1, 1970.
Remembering his first foray into Mexican food, Martin has an oft-repeated story with some variation or another.
“I never had a taco until I was 21. I remember having a mild green chile taco and I thought I was going to die,” Martin recalls.
After having a tastebud-adjustment and following countless tacos served to his customers at Taco Box, it’s safe to say one thing about the guy who originally thought he’d be in the Land of Enchantment for “a couple of years.”
Well Tom, you’re a New Mexican now.
