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FARMINGTON Navajo Prep is a football team on the rise, and it has set high expectations heading into the 2013 season. The Eagles are coming off a 6-5 season in which they won the District 5-2A title. This year, Prep has its sights on repeating as district champs and making a run in the state playoffs. I think well do pretty good this year. I expect well get past the first round, said 2012 District Player of the Year Mika Mauga. Prep ran into trouble in the opening playoff round last season, losing to Clayton 52-6, but the Eagles say they have learned from the experience and will be better prepared for the postseason this year. I think we were a little in shock last year in the playoffs. This year, well be more ready, Mauga said. Junior Tyler Sorensen, who returns as the Eagles starting quarterback, said he has learned a lot from last season and thinks hes ready to lead Prep to a playoff victory. Last year, I wasnt able to make a lot of reads and I was just playing off of what opened up. This year, everything has slowed down and Im able to

NAVAJO PREP EAGLES

pick it up, Sorensen said. Our goal is to win state, and we feel like we have a chance with a lot of returning players. The Eagles lost only five seniors and Prep head coach Rod Denetso has seen an increase in the returning players motivation after the success in 2012. Theyre hungry. Weve been hungry since Clayton beat us, Denetso said. The guys have been in the weight room, and the team showed up in shape. The kids are ready. We have a lot of speed and some size, so were ready to go. The Prep offense piled up points last season, averaging a little more than 35 per game, and similar results can be expected in 2013 with the hires of five former Aztec assistant coaches Mike Kovacs, Chris Kovacs, Ernie Kovacs, Brett Alexander and Jose Santistevan and the implementation of the Tigers spread offense. They have a lot of returners that were very successful. Its exciting to see that, said Mike Kovacs, who will run the offense. I think Tyler Sorensen, the quarterback, has a live arm and bringing over that spread offense we ran at Aztec will be exciting. Its a young bunch, but its exciting to watch them grow.

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

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Jon Austria/The Daily Times

ABOVE: Navajo Preps Mika Mauga (22) runs the ball in a game against the Wingate Bears during the 2012 season. RIGHT: Navajo Prep quarterback Tyler Sorensen throws a pass to an open receiver during football practice on Aug. 22 at Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington.

THE DAILY TIMES

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Navajo Prep beefs up coaching staff

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

FARMINGTON Navajo Prep will have a new offense, but a familiar look to football fans around San Juan County. The Eagles and head coach Rod Denetso added five former Aztec High coaches to the staff in the hopes of improving from last seasons district title. Mike Kovacs, his brother, Chris Kovacs, and father, Ernie Kovacs, along with Brett Alexander and Jose Santistevan, joined Prep in the offseason and will install the same spread offense that helped to make Aztec successful over the past few seasons. I got a call from (Mike) Kovacs saying they had some guys who wanted to come and help out. They wanted to take

Navajo Prep football assistant coaches confer with each other during football practice on Aug. 22 at Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington.

on this challenge, Denetso said of the hiring. Mike Kovacs, who will serve as the Prep offensive coordinator, said the five coaches were looking for a new way to get involved with football in the area, and they found that chance with coaching the Eagles. I think theres a lot of talent here, and were excited to see the opportunity in 2A and get our feet wet in another area of competitive football in the state of New Mexico, he said. This will be the first time in Denetsos three years as head coach that the Eagles have had a full coaching staff. They bring a lot of experi-

ence. Last year, we didnt have a line coach. That got addressed, Denetso said. We didnt have somebody in the box. Individual positions werent being addressed, so now we have all of that. Anytime you go down south and play those teams, you need that experience. Mike Kovacs also noticed the small staff Denetso had in the past and thinks the new addition will be able to improve the team. One thing that Rod didnt have last year was enough coaches, he said. Its hard to work with so many position. With more coaches, well be able to isolate and do more individual work.

Many of the players have been practicing during the offseason and think the Eagles offense, which averaged more than 35 points per game last year, will be more explosive this year. Most of our receivers and skill players live around here and know it pretty well because weve been running it all summer, said Mika Mauga, who won the District 5-2A Player of the Year in 2012. This new offense is a lot better. I think were looking pretty good. Despite the staff having fewer players to work with at 2A Navajo Prep compared to 4A Aztec, Alexander, who is working with the wide

receivers and defensive backs, said they havent had to scale back or water down the system. And the Eagles will be running the exact same offense that the Tigers had last year. These kids picked things up pretty quick, he said. Theyre hungry after they got a little taste of the playoffs last year, and theyre hardworking, just like we had in Aztec. Denetso has already noticed the difference the new coaches have brought and cant wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds. Weve seen it already. Kids cant take plays off and cant get away with stuff, he said. Everything is now very detailed oriented.

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

THE DAILY TIMES

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Bloomfield running back Adrian Vigil breaks through the Piedra Vista defense during a scrimmage game on Aug. 23 at Hutchison Stadium in Farmington.

THE DAILY TIMES

BLOOMFIELD The Bloomfield Bobcats have high hopes for the 2013 football campaign, and a good draw from the 3A state tournament selection committee will largely depend on the Bobcats performance on the opening night of the season. Led by third-year senior quarterback Bobby Lyon, the Bobcats will host the defending champion St. Michaels Horsemen in Week 1. Though Bloomfield has a solid non-district schedule with 4A competition, a lot will ride on the first game against the Horsemen in the eyes of the seeding committee due to the lack of strength in Bloomfields District 1-3A schedule. We are treating it like the state title game, Lyon said. We are going in with everything we have got. A week out from the season opener, Bloomfield scrimmaged Piedra Vista and Los Alamos, both of which are 4A schools. Every player on the Bloomfield sideline was motivated for the St. Mikes game, saying the team was already in state tournament mode. They are the defending state champs and have been 251 the last two years, said Bloomfield head coach Bruce Hatch. It would be a big win for us. Like anything, we have got to win as many games as we possibly can, but we definitely have to have a good showing in that game. We have to have a good record coming out of our non-district and district schedules and hope for the best with the seeding committee. Every game counts, but that one is huge. Lyon emerged during his junior season as a solid threat after suffering through growing pains as a sophomore first-

BLOOMFIELD BOBCATS

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Bobby Lyon prepares to throw to a receiver during a scrimmage game against Piedra Vista High School on Aug. 23 at Hutchison Stadium in Farmington.

year starter. Bloomfield glided to a district championship but suffered losses to Grants, Miyamura, Farmington and St. Mikes in the regular season, all of which are back on the schedule for 2013. Bloomfield earned a No. 4 seed in the tournament and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, but No. 5 Lovington went into Bobcat Stadium and took a 21-8 win in the state quarterfinals to end Bloomfields season. With a few new pieces and a dynamic weapon in Adrian Vigil, Lyon is looking to make the next step in his final season. I went to a lot of camps

over the summer and feel real confident with my abilities going into this season, Lyon said. Adrian Vigil is a really fast guy. With him, I know we will be alright. A good group of wide receivers will help keep Bloomfields offense balanced, and an experienced offensive line will help Lyon stay on his feet in the pocket and allow him to be creative with his feet when plays break down. Our receivers and our offensive line have gotten a lot better since last year, Lyon said. The guys are all picking up their blocks, and our inside receivers are catching about

everything I throw to them. I couldnt ask for much more. Josh Archibeque produced nearly 1,200 yards of offense for Bloomfield in 2012, and Hatch is hoping Vigil can make up for that this year since Archibeque has graduated. We think Vigil can fill that role, but we do have some other guys we can mix in, too. It is hard to replace Joshs speed and quickness because he was such a fast kid, but Vigil is up there, too, he said. While the Bobcats plan on scoring a lot of points, as long as they control the football and limit turnovers, the fate of Bloomfields season will large-

ly rest in the hands of its defense. We are young on defense. Not age-wise, but experiencewise, Hatch said. We are looking to hopefully get better as the season goes and hit our stride mid to late November. What has impressed Hatch and Lyon the most this offseason is the way the team has gelled through all the workouts. It is almost like the guys can read each others minds. They know what the other is going to do, and everyone can rely on each other to do the job, Hatch said. We have a ton of good kids who all get along. It has been really great.

SHIPROCK CHIEFTAINS

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

THE DAILY TIMES

Shiprock quarterback Arjay Miller looks on during a practice.

Shiprock quarterback Ryan Nez throws a pass during a recent practice.

SHIPROCK Shiprock football is going through a transitional phase. The Chieftains enter the season with a new coach and a new quarterback as they attempt to return to the playoffs for the first time in three years. First-year head coach Storm Tallbull is evaluating the players to see which system will work best for the Chieftains. Tallbull took the coaching job from Don Story after Story was promoted to Shiprocks athletic director after a 5-5 season last year. Were not set into one

offense, and were not set into one defense. Its all based on our talent, Tallbull said. Defensively, if I need to run a three man front, then well run a three man front if were athletic enough. We havent set in stone what were going to do on offense or defense. Its just based on what the boys are capable of doing and what kind of athletes we have. With the loss of last years senior quarterback Adam Begaye, the Chieftains are working out three sophomores at the spot to try to find a replacement. Were very young at the

quarterback spot. Right now, we have Ryan Nez, Arjay Miller and Irwin Holiday competing for the spot, Tallbull said. Were just trying to find out whos the best quarterback and design our offense around that. Tallbull likes bringing in a young guy who he can mold into the system in his first year. If you have a young guy, you can teach them right off the bat, he said. Being around the coaches in our first season will really help us next year, because theyll understand what we want to do and

come in and do it. Despite having a young team, a few leaders among the seniors have stepped up and helped Tallbull ease into the job. Cory Dayish is really bringing out some leadership. He really busted his butt in the weight room all summer long, Tallbull said. Nathan Smart will be a game changer at linebacker. Raygen Charley has been a big help for us, and hell be in at linebacker and running back. Dayish is hopeful that the Chieftains will be able to get to the postseason in

Shiprock players warm up before practice.

his senior year. I believe we need to get to the state playoffs. Thats where I want to be and thats where the team wants to be, he said. We have a great team and can make a run for it. Shiprock fell short of the District 1-3A title, losing to Bloomfield in the final game of the regular season, but Smart thinks that if the Chieftain defense steps up, theyll have a better chance against the Bobcats this year. We just have to work hard and push each other if we want to get that district, he said.

2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

THE DAILY TIMES FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 7 Gallup Aug. 30 Los Alamos Sept. 6 Miyamura Sept. 13 Durango Sept. 19 Valencia Sept. 27 St. Pius X * Oct. 4 Bloomfield Oct. 11 Oct. 25 Aztec Nov. 1 Kirtland Central Nov. 8 Piedra Vista Home games played at Hutchison Stadium Aug. 30 Miyamura Sept. 6 Grants Sept. 13 Durango Sept. 20 Santa Fe Sept. 27 Moriarty Oct. 4 Bernalillo Oct. 19 St. Pius X Oct. 25 Kirtland* Nov. 1 Aztec Nov. 8 Farmington Home games played at Hutchison Stadium 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away *Denotes Homecoming game Estancia Aug. 30 Zuni Sept. 6 Monument Valley Sept. 13 Pojoaque Valley Sept. 20 Dulce Sept. 27 Navajo Prep Oct. 11 Escalante* Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Wingate Nov. 1 Thoreau Nov. 8 Bloomfield Home games played at Chieftain Stadium Aug. 30 Thoreau Sept. 6 Wingate Sept. 13 Crownpoint Sept. 20 Escalante Sept. 27 Santa Fe Indian Oct. 11 Shiprock* Oct. 18 Newcomb Oct. 26 Cuba Nov. 1 Navajo Pine Nov. 8 Dulce Home games played at Navajo Prep 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 6 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 6 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home *Denotes Homecoming game

FARMINGTON

7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away (Milne) 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home *Denotes Homecoming game

SHIPROCK

7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away TBD Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away *Denotes Homecoming game

PIEDRA VISTA

Aug. 30 Los Lunas 7 p.m. Away Sept. 6 Goddard 7 p.m. Home Sept. 13 Raton 7 p.m. Away Sept. 20 Miyamura 7 p.m. Away Sept. 27 Manzano* 7 p.m. Home Oct. 4 Del Norte 7 p.m. Away (Milne) Oct. 11 St. Pius X 7 p.m. Away (UNM) Oct. 25 Farmington 7 p.m. Home Nov. 1 Piedra Vista 7 p.m. Home Nov. 8 Kirtland 7 p.m. Away Home games played at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium *Denotes Homecoming game Aug. 30 Bayfield Sept. 6 Durango Sept. 20 Los Alamos Sept. 27 Espanola * Oct. 4 Gallup Oct. 11 Capital Oct. 18 Bloomfield Oct. 25 Piedra Vista Nov. 1 Farmington Nov. 8 Aztec Home games played at Bronco Stadium Aug. 30 St. Michael's Sept. 6 Pojoaque Valley Sept. 13 Grants Sept. 28 Hope Christian Oct. 4 Miyamura* Oct. 11 Farmington Oct. 18 Kirtland Central Oct. 25 Thoreau Nov. 1 Wingate Nov. 8 Shiprock Home games played at Bobcat Stadium 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home *Denotes Homecoming game 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home TBD Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away 7 p.m. Home 7 p.m. Away *Denotes Homecoming game

BLOOMFIELD

KIRTLAND CENTRAL

AZTEC

NAVAJO PREP

FARMINGTON A strong core of 14 seniors plan to lead the Farmington High Scorpions to another state tournament appearance in 2013. The Scorpions will crank up their potent defense and formidable rushing attack again this season as head coach Gary Bradley aims to improve on a 7-5 campaign in 2012 in which the Scorps went 2-1 and finished third in District 1-4A via a tiebreaker with Aztec and Piedra Vista. A season ago, Farmington fell in the first round of the state tournament 45-20 on the road at Moriarty. Our maturity level is up there. All of the seniors played a lot of varsity football last year, whether they started or not, Bradley said. We havent had to push the guys or threaten them or reward them just to be there and to work hard. They have done it on their own. When you have leaders like that, the young ones tend to follow them. That is what we are most pleased with going into the early season. Farmington returns a lot of talent on defense, losing just two starting linebackers from a season ago. We replaced everybody and moved around the cornerbacks some. I think we will have a very strong D because we have a lot of experience, said senior wide receiver and ball hawking defensive back Kyle Reynolds. Last year, we did really good getting a lot of turnovers and setting up our offense with good field position. I think we can force even more turnovers this year. A solid offensive line that features depth has Bradley excited about this years rushing attack, which will be led by senior running backs Brian

FARMINGTON SCORPIONS

THE DAILY TIMES

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Brian Farley (30) carries the ball against Los Lunas during a scrimmage game on Aug. 16 at Hutchison Stadium at Farmington High School.

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Farmington High School quarterback Jacob Lucas throws the ball to an open receiver during a scrimmage game against Los Lunas on Aug. 16 at Hutchison Stadium at Farmington High School.

Farley and Austin Foutz and senior quarterback Jacob Lucas. Brian Farley has great speed and hits the hole hard. Foutz has fantastic vision and is very quick, Lucas said of his top two backs. We also have a lot of running backs who didnt play a whole lot last year, like Tyler Blades and Chayton Salcido. With Reynolds as a valuable threat at wide receiver, Farmington has the tools to open up the passing game more in Lucas senior season. Jacob and I have been throwing a lot and practicing

quite a bit, Reynolds said. I think it is going to be a really good year for us being a duelthreat offense because (Lucas) can run a lot, but, with his experience and our experience on the offensive line, I think we can start passing. Bradley said the team will go as far as the offensive line takes them. That is not pressure on them, but reality, he said. They know it and appreciate it and embrace it. That is why I love linemen. We havent had the depth there like we do this year in my time here, and all of those guys want that running

Farmington High School's Austin Foutz (6) moves around a Los Lunas player during a scrimmage game on Aug. 16 at Hutchison Stadium at Farmington High School in Farmington.

play to be called behind them on 4th-and-1 or 2nd-and-goal. Bradley said the biggest key to the early season is determining whether some kids have to play on both sides of the ball or whether he has enough depth in all positions to allow kids to rest more. We are looking at what is most important. Sure, we have returning starters who went two ways, but do we want them to play both every game, or do we have guys there that we can fit in there that are just as good going just one way? We are trying to fit all the puzzle pieces

together, Bradley said. Farmington High opens with two road games at Gallup and at Los Alamos before returning home to face Miyamura and Durango. After a middle-of-the-season road game at Valencia, a home game against St. Pius X will test the Scorpions before games against San Juan County competition. We are taking it all one day at a time. We cant look at the district schedule yet or state. We are all doing a good job going one day, one game, one practice at a time, Reynolds said.

PIEDRA VISTA PANTHERS

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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

11

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

FARMINGTON A year removed from their most successful season since 2006, Piedra Vista is aiming to take the next step toward a district championship. The Panthers lost several valuable players from their 9-3 campaign in 2012 that ended with a state quarterfinal loss. A retooled offensive line will lead the way as seniors Isaiah Valdez and Beau Clafton try to lead PV back to the state playoffs. We have a good nucleus of guys coming back who have had a lot of playing time, said PV head coach Jared Howell. I am impressed, as everybody is, by Beau Clafton. Isaiah Valdez has adjusted real well to the changes around him at quarterback, and he has had to become a more

Piedra Vista High School quarterback Isaiah Valdez scrambles to find an open receiver during a scrimmage game against Bloomfield High School on Aug. 23 at Hutchison Stadium in Farmington.

Piedra Vista Panther Beau Clafton (22) carries the ball during a game against the Moriarty Pintos on Sept. 9, 2012, at Hutchison Stadium in Farmington.

vocal leader. Clafton emerged during the 2012 season as a dynamic threat, taking sweep tosses and running routes as a wide receiver. Along with Aztec running back Ryanel LewisAdams, Clafton will be one of the most dynamic players in District 1-4A. Ryneal is a great football and track athlete. He and Clafton are kind of the same kids, Howell said. They are very explosive. Beau was fourth in the 100-yard dash last year on a pulled hamstring running 80 percent. He was our district champ in the 100. When he gets daylight, nobody is catching him unless they have some kind of great angle on him. Clafton is only asking his offensive line for four seconds

of solid blocking, and he plans on being in the open field. I am extremely confident with the new line coming up. They have shown me that I can count on them. I am extremely impressed, Clafton said. Last year, we started to build a winning program, and now we can see that with the guys coming up. All of the guys are motivated and everyone is working hard. Howell is also confident emerging stars are among the ranks of the PV team. Storm Avendano is a kid who is going to make his mark. Grayson Tracy at cornerback on defense will, too, Howell said. Nick Varley is another guy who will be on both sides making an impact. We already have a good fullback with Ryan Rino, but

Varley can run it a bit there as well. Valdez is going from having an explosive group of wide receivers to smaller guys who have good hands, Howell said. Us seniors have to teach up the young kids and prepare them for what the state playoffs are like now that we have experienced it, Valdez said. We have a bunch of guys who are going to step up for the guys we lost like Bryson Martinez and Wyatt Hardy. But other seniors like Storm, Philiciano (Castiana) and Dylan (Puhuyaoma), they can all step up. Clafton, Howell and Valdez all pointed to the teams work ethic when asked why they believe the Panthers will win the District 1-4A title.

We are not necessarily the most talented, but we have great guys out here, and we are coming at it with a lot of intensity and playing harder than we normally have, Clafton said. Howell said offseasons are getting shorter in high school football, and he believes PV has put in the work to reach that stage again since falling in last years state quarterfinals. We have got it done in athletic hour getting in the weight room and putting in the work. That is what you have to do these days, he said. When I grew up, there was an offseason. There is not much of that anymore. There is a change of seasons, but the big factor is getting bigger and stronger in the weight room out of season now.