Las Cruces NM
1-04-2026 12:16am

High School Sports Las Cruces vs. Organ Mountain Rivalry History

The rivalry between Las Cruces High School Bulldawgs (established 1918, the oldest public high school in Las Cruces) and Organ Mountain High School Knights (originally Oñate High School, established 1988; renamed in 2021) is a relatively modern crosstown matchup in southern New Mexico. While not as historic as the longstanding Las Cruces-Mayfield rivalry (which dates back to 1965 and has been nationally ranked among the top high school rivalries), the Las Cruces-Organ Mountain games have grown in intensity since both schools compete in the same NMAA District 3-6A (along with Centennial, Alamogordo, Hobbs, and others).

These games are often played at the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces, drawing strong local crowds due to the intracity nature—families, friends, and students divided across schools. The rivalry features heated competition in football and basketball, with themes of local pride, military community ties (near bases like White Sands), and district implications.

Key Context

• Organ Mountain (formerly Oñate) opened its current campus in 1993 as Las Cruces’ third public high school.

• The 2021 name change to Organ Mountain honored the nearby Organ Mountains, avoiding controversy tied to the original namesake.

• Both schools are part of Las Cruces Public Schools, fostering natural crosstown tension.

Notable Games and Trends

Football

• Games are typically high-scoring and competitive, often described as “intracity rivalry” matchups.

• Recent examples:

• 2024: Las Cruces dominated Organ Mountain in a mercy-rule win.

• 2022: Las Cruces defeated Organ Mountain 31-21 after trailing early, scoring 31 unanswered points in a comeback described as a “rivalry contest.”

• The series has seen Las Cruces hold an edge in recent years, but outcomes vary with team strength.

Basketball (Boys)

• More back-and-forth, with Organ Mountain having strong showings recently.

• Recent examples:

• March 1, 2025: Organ Mountain won 59-43.

• February 13, 2025: Organ Mountain won 48-45.

• 2023: Organ Mountain swept the regular season series (e.g., 54-51 win) and beat Las Cruces 65-56 for the District 3-5A tournament title—the first non-Las Cruces winner since 2018.

• 2022: Las Cruces won the district championship 67-53 over Organ Mountain.

• District titles and playoff seeding are often on the line.

Other Sports

• Competitive in cross country, wrestling, baseball, and more, with prominent veteran/military family participation in protests and community events highlighting shared ties.

The rivalry continues to build, especially as Organ Mountain establishes its post-rename identity. With both in District 3-6A, they play multiple times per season in key sports, ensuring ongoing intensity.

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