The Daily Times Football Preview

2 2014 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW THE DAILY TIMES
2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

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Aug. 29 Los Lunas 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 5 Kirtland Central 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 12 Belen 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 19 Durango 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 26 Los Alamos* 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 3 Grants 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 10 Piedra Vista 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 17 Aztec 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 31 Miyamura 7 p.m. Away
Nov. 7 Gallup 7 p.m. Away
Home games played at Hutchison Stadium *Denotes Homecoming game
Aug. 29 San Juan 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 5 Goddard 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 12 Durango 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 19 Moriarty 6 p.m. Home
Sept. 26 Kirtland Central 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 3 Roswell* 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 10 Farmington 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 17 Miyamura 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 24 Aztec 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 31 Gallup 7 p.m. Home
Home games played at Hutchison Stadium *Denotes Homecoming game
Aug. 29 Bloomfield 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 5 Durango 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 12 Kirtland Central 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 19 Del Norte 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 3 Valley 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 10 Gallup* 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 17 Farmington 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 24 Piedra Vista 7 p.m. Away
Nov. 7 Miyamura 7 p.m. Home
Home games played at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium *Denotes Homecoming game
Aug. 29 Bayfield 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 5 Farmington 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 12 Aztec 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 19 Los Alamos 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 26 Piedra Vista 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 10 Zuni 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 17 Thoreau* 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 24 Wingate 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 31 Shiprock 7 p.m. Away
Nov. 7 Bloomfield 7 p.m. Home
Home games played at Bronco Stadium *Denotes Homecoming game
Aug. 29 Aztec 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 5 Pojoaque Valley 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 12 Socorro 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 19 Taos 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 27 Hope Christian TBD Away
Oct. 10 Wingate 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 17 Shiprock 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 24 Thoreau* 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 31 Zuni 7 p.m. Home
Nov. 7 Kirtland Central 7 p.m. Away
Home games played at Bobcat Stadium *Denotes Homecoming game
Aug. 30 Silver 2 p.m. Away
Sept. 5 Bayfield 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 12 Monument Valley 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 19 Newcomb 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 26 Navajo Prep 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 10 Thoreau 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 17 Bloomfield 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 24 Zuni 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 31 Kirtland Central 7 p.m. Home
Nov. 8 Wingate 12 p.m. Home
Home games played at Chieftain Stadium
Aug. 29 Laguna Acoma 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 5 Estancia 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 12 Escalante 7 p.m. Away
Sept. 19 Zuni 7 p.m. Home
Sept. 26 Shiprock 7 p.m. Away
Oct. 4 Clayton 1 p.m. Away(SFIS)
Oct. 18 Dexter 1 p.m. Away
Oct. 24 Tohatchi* 7 p.m. Home
Oct. 31 Newcomb 7 p.m. Home
Nov. 7 Crownpoint 7 p.m. Away
Home games played at Navajo Prep *Denotes Homecoming game
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ON THE COVER: Deangelo Phillips, left, Champ Mendoza, Chayton Salcido, Avery
Rasher and Austin Moore pose for a photo on Aug. 27 after football practice at
Hutchison Stadium in Farmington. Alexa Rogals/The Daily Times

By Joshua Perry
jperry@daily-times.com
@jperrysuu on Twitter
FARMINGTON
Navajo Prep had a historic
2013 season and is looking
to pick up right where it
left off.
The Eagles reached the
2Aquarterfinals thanks to
the arm of quarterback
Tyler Sorensen and a
plethora of speedy wide
receivers.
Sorensen is back for his
senior year, but he will
have to work with a differ-
ent receiving corps after
Mika Mauga, Alex
Danzuka and Isaiah
Yazzie all graduated in the
spring.
The Prep quarterback
said it took some work
over the summer, but his
new targets are getting
accustomed to the offense
and will be ready to go for
Week 1.
The whole summer,
theyve been working in
the system, and now
theyre getting it, said
Sorensen, who threw for
just more than 4,000 yards
and 51 touchdowns in
2013. Everything is com-
ing along. This is my last
year of high school foot-
ball, so Im really excited.
While the receivers
may all be new, Sorensen
can take comfort in the
fact that hell have most of
the offensive line back to
protect him as he orches-
trates the Eagles aerial
attack.
Not only is the line
back, but theyve been
working really hard in the
weight room during the
offseason, Sorensen said.
While the offense was
solid throughout the year
for Prep in 2013, the
defense struggled against
some of its strong oppo-
nents.
In the Eagles two loss-
es, they allowed 102
points to their opponents.
They just need to get
more mean, Sorensen
said of the defense. I
dont see what we had last
year, but Im confident
theyll get it done.
Like most teams in San
Juan County, Navajo Prep
finds itself in a new dis-
trict, playing in 1-3A this
season. Newcomb is the
only remaining opponent
from last years District 5-
2A, and the Eagles will
now face off with Tohatchi
and Crownpoint, instead
of Cuba, Dulce and
Navajo Pine.
The Eagles are expect-
ed to roll through the dis-
trict similarly to last year,
when they went 4-0 while
outscoring their oppo-
nents 229-0.
To make up for the
weaker district slate, head
coach Rod Denetso loaded
up with the strongest non-
district schedule the
Eagles have played in his
tenure.
Preps schedule fea-
tures 2A champion
Clayton, along with
Dexter, Estancia and
Laguna Acoma. All four
schools are ranked in the
top six in 3Aby MaxPreps
preseason rankings.
Denetso said the sched-
ule will play a role in get-
ting the team ready for the
postseason as it tries to
improve on its 2013 finish.
I think its good for us.
Having a schedule like we
did last year hurt us,
Denetso said. Those
teams used to beat up on
us. But with the develop-
ment of the program, we
want to see where were
at. It will just prepare us
for the playoffs. Weve got
to face guys like that.
Those teams called us and
wanted to play, so that
means a lot to our pro-
gram.
Prep will also take on
Shiprock, which the
Eagles defeated a year
ago, and Escalante, the
team that handed Prep its
only regular season loss in
2013.
I think well matchup
well this season, Denetso
said. Our front seven is
big and has a lot of experi-
ence. Theyll be a strength
for us.
Joshua Perry is the sports
editor for The Daily Times.
He can be reached at 505-
564-4577.
NAVAJO PREP EAGLES
NPS looks to build on its 2013 performance
Alexa Rogals/The Daily Times
Navajo Prep starting quarterback Tyler Sorenson
passes the ball on Aug. 21 during football practice at
Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington.

By Joshua Perry
AZTEC The Aztec foot-
ball team is out for redemp-
tion in 2014.
The Tigers are coming off
their worst season in more
than a decade after finishing
4-6 last year and missing the
postseason for the first time
since 2002. But with 18 return-
ing starters, the team is look-
ing forward to a turnaround
this year.
Its a night and day
change. We had a small senior
class a year ago. We have a
large senior class this year,
Aztec head coach Matt
Steinfeldt said. The leader-
ship in this class is second to
none. Were nothing but
pleased with the results were
seeing. The general attitude
toward our football program
has had a revitalization.
A return to the playoffs is
something the Tigers have
highlighted coming into the
season.
Its something thats unac-
ceptable here, Steinfeldt said
of missing the playoffs. The
expectations around here are
high. The expectations
werent necessarily low last
year, but we werent capable
of reaching the goals we set
for ourselves. Missing the
playoffs is something we
dont plan on doing again.
Were ready to compete.
Offensively, Aztec has
quarterback Marcus
Crawford returning for his
second season in the offense.
Crawford said having a year
of experience under his belt
has helped him progress in
Steinfeldts system.
Its definitely easier hav-
ing that year experience,
Crawford said. Having a full
year of experience will help
me a lot this year.
Also returning for the Tigers
is Crawfords primary target,
All-State receiver Josh Harris.
Harris finished with 12 touch-
downs in 2013, but a broken
elbow forced him to miss all
three games of the district
schedule. The senior is back
healthy for the start of the year
and said missing the district
season has him hungry for the
start of the year.
Those were the three main
games I wanted to play last
year, Harris said. Now I just
want to get out there and play.
Aztec will have to make
one change on offense at run-
ning back with the graduation
of Ryneal Lewis-Adams. Josh
Harris twin brother, Jake, will
step into that role for the
Tigers.
He looks phenomenal at
that position, Steinfeldt said
of Jake Harris.
The Aztec defense was a
weak point for the Tigers in
2013, but Steinfeldt said the
team is bigger and stronger up
front and that will go a long
way in helping his squad
improve on that side of the ball.
We were averaging some-
where around 185 or 190
pounds on defensive line last
year. At any level, thats going
to be tough to compete with,
Steinfeldt said. Weve cer-
tainly bulked up there with
some big physical guys.
The Tigers will open their
season with local rival
Bloomfield and take on
Kirtland Central and
Durango, Colo., prior to their
district schedule. Aztec also
has a marquee matchup
against Valley, the 2013 No. 1
seed in 5A, on Oct. 3.
Steinfeldt said those non-
district showdowns will have
his team ready to finish out
the season on a high note.
This is the first year Ive
had any input on our sched-
ule, and I like the schedule
weve put together, he said.
The local games are impor-
tant because it draws a lot of
interest and creates a great
atmosphere. Keeping
Kirtland, adding Bloomfield
and Durango all three of
those are great local games. I
believe all five of the teams
we see in non-district play
will be playoff teams.
Joshua Perry is the sports edi-
tor for The Daily Times. He can
be reached at 505-564-4577.
AZTEC TIGERS
Aztec kicker Jarrett Hathcock practices his kick with Logan Campbell on Aug. 27 during football
practice at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium in Aztec.
AHS strive for
turnaround season
Aztecs Derek Baca, left, and Zane Bradshaw practice drills on
Aug. 27 during football practice at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium
in Aztec.

By Karl Schneider
kschneider@daily-times.com
@karltschneider on Twitter
BLOOMFIELD The
Bloomfield Bobcats have lofty
goals in mind for the 2014 4A
football season.
Bloomfield has its sights set
on not only matching the suc-
cess of the 2013 season which
saw the Bobcats earn a No. 4
seed and a first-round bye into
the quarterfinals of the 3Astate
tournament but making a
run in the 4Aplayoffs.
This year, were really hun-
gry, and we have a lot more
people buying into the sys-
tem, said Bobcat senior run-
ning back and safety Adrian
Vigil. We want it bad. I think
that will motivate us to get past
the first round of the playoffs,
like every year, and get as far as
we can.
But replicating the success of
past seasons could be challenge
for the Bobcats, who are imple-
menting a new offense under
new head coach Bob Allcorn.
Bloomfield will operate out
of the Delaware Wing-T, a run-
heavy scheme that plays to the
strength of the Bobcats.
We have a lot of good run-
ning backs here, and we can
attack from anywhere on the
field. Its a very diverse misdi-
rection offense and something
Ive been running for a lot of
years, and it has always been
very effective, Allcorn said.
Allcorn knows it will take
time for the players to get com-
fortable with the new system
and add to the complexity of
the playbook. But he said
theyve added all the pieces to
make the team successful dur-
ing the first part of the season.
Its a slow process putting
in a new offense, Allcorn said.
The kids are picking it up pret-
ty well, but were a long way
from being a polished team
right now. Were also not trying
to overload them too much.
Theyre getting better and bet-
ter each day, and weve had
some really good practices this
past week.
Senior quarterback Josh
Stowell said the team has
picked up the new offense pret-
ty well in the first weeks of
practice. Now, he said, the
Bobcats need to focus on get-
ting the details right.
Junior running back and line-
backer JD Robinson said the
teams efforts will not only work
out the kinks of the new play-
book but bring the Bobcats to
the top level of play in the state.
It doesnt matter who we
play, Robinson said. We
could play any team in this
basin, any team in the state, as
long as we come into practice
every week and do what we
need to do, Friday nights will
handle themselves.
And Robinson is ready for
that first Friday night when
Bloomfield will host 5AAztec.
Im very, very excited,
Robinson said. Very excited.
Im trying not to overthink it.
Just go to practice and give it
everything I have during the
week, and Friday night, come
out and show what I and the
team have been working really
hard for. As coach always says,
You got be the harder hitter. Be
the aggressor. Go make the
plays.
Rather than focusing on
early season success with a lim-
ited playbook, Allcorn said hes
more interested in seeing how
aggressive his players are in the
first few weeks during practice,
in the weight room and
throughout games.
Thats how Ill gauge
things, by the personality of
our team, Allcorn said. I
know we have those abilities,
and Im looking to enhance
that. As the kids get better at
execution, I expect well be a
much better team down the
road. I want to see that we are
steadily improving and playing
our best football at the end of
the season, going through dis-
tricts and into the postseason,
hopefully.
Karl Schneider covers sports for
The Daily Times. He can be
reached at 505-564-4648.
BLOOMFIELD BOBCATS
BHS look to improve on 2013 season
Jon Austria/The Daily Times
Bloomfields Joshua Stowell practices with his team-
mates on Aug. 25 at Bobcat Stadium in Bloomfield.
Bloomfields Adrian Vigil leads his team on Aug. 25 in a warm-up drill before
football practice at Bobcat Stadium in Bloomfield.

SHIPROCK CHIEFTAINS
By Karl Schneider
SHIPROCK The
Shiprock Chieftains wont be
the biggest or strongest foot-
ball team in District 1-4A, and
first-year head coach James
Snyder is fine with that
because his team may be the
quickest.
Were young and gifted,
Snyder said. Weve got a lot
of quick guys. We dont have
a lot of big guys, which is OK.
The early assessment is we
have a very bright future here,
but its going to be a process.
Part of the process will be
getting stronger. But while
adding strength and bulk will
take time in the offseason,
Snyder plans on taking
advantage of the tools the
team currently possesses
quickness.
Our goal is to take what
we have and squeeze every
drop out of it. And what we
have is a lot of really quick
kids, and thats the style that
well play to, Snyder said.
Its about positioning and
getting to the right spots, and
thats playing to the kids
strengths. Were not going to
be the biggest or strongest up
front, but with the proper
footwork, well be able to fit
where were supposed to
fit.
After the Chieftains first
scrimmage, the players are
starting to find their spots in
the new offense. Junior wide
receiver Irwin Holiday, who
Snyder plans on lining up at
multiple positions to take
advantage of his speed and
athleticism, said the offense is
starting to work as a single
unit. The quarterbacks are
getting the ball out quicker,
receivers route running is
sharper and the offensive line
is improving on blocking
schemes.
While mistakes are still
being made, Snyder sees them
as learning opportunities for
the team.
Its almost like we need to
make some mistakes in order
for it all to come together,
Snyder said. Im seeing more
and more where the kids are
realizing what it is were look-
ing for them to do, but we had
to make those mistakes and
kind of mess up to help every-
one realize that. But I think
its all going to come together.
Im waiting for that week in
practice where it all makes
sense.
Holiday shared Snyders
assessment of the team, say-
ing the team is young and
needs a few weeks to accli-
mate. But based on the
improvements hes seen in
practice, Holiday said he has
no doubts that by midseason,
when the Chieftains enter dis-
trict play, theyll be ready.
The team wants to win this
season, but Snyder and his
players realize the bigger pic-
ture is building a program
that is competitive year after
year.
You can hear people talk-
ing about wanting to win the
district and make it to the
playoffs, said junior line-
backer and center Zander
Dale, who transferred from
Window Rock, Ariz., to
Shiprock, where he is origi-
nally from, this season. But
for me, its just about taking
steps to help establish a lega-
cy and be recognized as a
football team.
And establishing that lega-
cy starts with Shiprocks first
game, when the Chieftains
will travel to Silver City to
face the Fighting Colts, a team
that was in a position similar
to the Chieftains a few years
ago.
Im really excited for the
first game, especially being
against Silver, Holiday said.
A lot of people told me how
a few years ago Silver was like
us, a young team, trying to
build a good team for the
future, and now thats us,
thats our challenge. I know
that were going to be a good
team. Were not going to go
out and play like garbage.
Were going to be good, and I
have no doubts. Im ready, I
know the other guys are
ready and the coaches are get-
ting us ready. Im excited for
it.
Karl Schneider covers sports
for The Daily Times. He can be
reached at 505-564-4648.
Shiprock head coach James Snyder works with his team on Aug. 18 during foot-
ball practice at Chieftain Stadium in Shiprock.
SHS take steps to better programs future
Shiprocks quarterback Arjay Miller takes the snap during football practice on
Aug. 18 at Chieftain Stadium in Shiprock.
Shiprocks Logan Charley practices with his team on Aug. 18 at Chieftain Stadium in Shiprock.
By Joshua Perry
FARMINGTON
Although the Piedra Vista foot-
ball team reached the playoffs a
year ago, it will have to rely on
some young players if it is to
make a return trip in 2014.
Beau Clafton, who was
named to four 2013 All-State
roster slots, and three-year start-
ing quarterback Isaiah Valdez
graduated, putting the bulk of
the offense into the hands of a
group of underclassmen.
PV head coach Jared Howell
is expecting the young guys to
step up and fill the big shoes of
his former standouts.
Well just take our better
athletes and put them there,
Howell said.
Junior Ryan Montoya and
sophomore Alex Shay have bat-
tled it out in camp to see who
will be the starting quarterback
in place of Valdez, and its likely
both will see snaps at the posi-
tion throughout the early part of
the season.
We knew Isaiah was going
to be gone, so weve tried to pre-
pare for that, Howell said.
Weve had a good little quar-
terback battle going on with
Ryan Montoya and Alex Shay,
and weve had a new kid come
in as a third string guy in Trent
Thomas who might work his
way in there. Weve got a nice
battle, and Im not sure weve
been able to settle on a true No.
1 yet.
After Clafton received the
bulk of the offensive touches a
year ago, the Panthers will have
a more balanced attack heading
into this season.
We wont have the speed of
a Beau Clafton out there, but
weve got some good sopho-
more kids that run well and are
athletic, the PV coach said.
They can put yards on people
if we block and do the funda-
mentals.
While PV may be inexperi-
enced at the skill positions, it has
some solid players returning on
the offensive and defensive
lines.
Senior tackle and defensive
end Tanner Hunt said hes
expecting the Panther upper-
classmen in the trenches to set
the tone early in the season.
Were definitely well-
rounded and have a lot of
depth, Hunt said of the lines
strengths. Overall, I feel like we
are a really solid unit.
Given the choice, Howell
said hed rather have the experi-
ence on the lines heading into
the year.
If they dont go, then
nobody does, he said of his
lineman. Were looking for
them to have that experience
shine through.
Among a handful of PV
players providing experience in
the skill areas will be senior
Grayson Tracy, who is expected
to start in the secondary and see
time at wide receiver.
Tracy said the key will be for
players both young and older to
learn from each other and
improve during the season.
Were feeling good. It takes
a lot of hard work, he said.
Our role as seniors is to lead
them, but also to learn from
them, because we have a lot of
talented guys who know how to
play football.
The Panthers will have to
come out of the gates strong as
they face a brutal non-district
slate of opponents.
After opening on the road
against San Juan High in
Blanding, Utah, PV will travel to
4A runner-up Goddard before
hosting Durango, Colo., and
Moriarty.
The Panthers close out the
non-district portion of the
schedule with Kirtland Central
and Roswell, then open District
1-5Aplay with rival Farmington
on Oct. 10.
PV faced six of their 10 2014
opponents last year, going 3-3
with victories against
Miyamura, Aztec and Kirtland
Central, while losing to
Farmington, Durango and
Moriarty.
PIEDRA VISTA PANTHERS
Alexa Rogals The Daily Times
Second-string right tackle Dillon Weaver practices on Aug. 21 at the Piedra Vista
High School in Farmington.
Alexa Rogals The Daily Times
The Piedra Vista High School football team practices on Aug. 21 at Piedra Vista
High School in Farmington.
Core of experienced players will set the tone

By Karl Schneider
KIRTLAND Changes
have rippled through the
states high school athletic
landscape, and locally,
Kirtland Central may be the
most affected.
The New Mexico Activities
Association reclassified for
the 2014-2015 school year.
Rather than following long-
time district rivals Aztec,
Farmington and Piedra Vista
to 5A, the Broncos were held
at the 4A level, joining an
unfamiliar district.
But even though the
Broncos and their former dis-
trict rivals are now in different
classes, football fans will still
witness the gridiron rivalries
theyve followed for years
when Kirtland Central plays
all three of the now 5Aschools
plus Los Alamos before
meeting its new district mem-
bers in the second half of the
season.
Its sad that were not all
in the same district, but the
fact that we still have them on
the schedule to keep that
rivalry alive is really good,
said Broncos defensive tackle
Isaac Decker. We dont get
the same bragging rights that
we used to, but its a good
challenge for us.
The Broncos are also look-
ing at potential wins against
Aztec, Farmington and PV to
boost the teams seeding in
the playoffs.
Well have to prove our-
selves in the first half of the
season. We need to treat those
games like we have in the past
years, treat them like theyre
district games, said junior
running back Keishaun
Aspaas, who recorded more
than 1,000 all-purpose yards
last season. We have five
non-district games, so hope-
fully we come out with a min-
imum of three wins. If we can
beat a few 5A teams and we
end up making it to state, hav-
ing those wins against 5A
teams should give us a higher
seed.
While the Broncos hope the
first half of the schedule sets the
tone for the season, head coach
Kevin Graham is excited to get
into the district schedule and
see new competition.
Were excited about being
in the new district because
there are new teams to play.
Its a new challenge, and its
going to be a challenge for
sure, said Graham, who is
entering his third season at
KCHS. Weve got a tough
road ahead of us, but were
looking forward to it.
Kirtland Central will rely
on its defense which
returns its top two tacklers
from last season in Decker
and linebacker Jacob Belin,
both of whom were named
captains for the season and
a number of two-way starters
to dictate the game while the
Broncos run-based offense
eats up the clock.
We really emphasize that
if theyre going to get some
rest, its going to be on
offense, because theyre going
to be on the field on defense
pretty much all night,
Graham said.
The Broncos backfield will
feature a timeshare between
Aspaas, Belin and Bryceson
Arthur, all starters on the
defensive side of the ball. The
players welcome the idea of
splitting time.
Thats the good thing
about having depth, Aspaas
said. Well all three share
time and help each other out.
I dont think any of us are
worried about individual
stats. We just want to do what
it takes to be successful and
win games.
In their quest for non-dis-
trict wins and a playoff
appearance, some of the play-
ers arent looking far to pick
up lessons on reaching those
goals.
We need to come togeth-
er, Decker said. Farmington
did a good job last year. They
didnt get complacent. You
could see that they knew in
the back of their mind that
they had to win the next one
and the next one. You could
see them improve every
week, and thats what we
need to do this year.
Karl Schneider covers sports
for The Daily Times. He can be
reached at 505-564-4648.
Kirtland Central High School Coach John Zecca calls out plays on Aug. 27 during
football practice at Bronco Stadium in Kirtland.
KIRTLAND BRONCOS
Kirtland Central welcomes new, old rivals
Starting quarterback Jacob Flack warms up with defensive end Eduardo Arreola
on Aug. 27 during football practice at Bronco Stadium in Kirtland.

By Joshua Perry
FARMINGTON The
Farmington Scorpions won the
schools first football state title
in 61 years last season, but
thats all in the past for Gary
Bradleys bunch as his squad
has its attention squarely
focused on the challenges it
will face during 2014.
The Scorps enter the new
year with new faces in the
backfield after the graduation
of quarterback Jacob Lucas and
running back Brian Farley.
Bradley will call upon junior
Diego Elebario to replace
Lucas under center, while sen-
ior Chayton Salcido will get
more carries at the running
back spot.
Weve all played the posi-
tion for a long time, and weve
all been playing together for a
long time, so we have that con-
nection just like last year,
Salcido said. I have my line
with me, and I think theyre
even better than last year.
While FHS has to replace six
of their seven all-state players
from last year, Bradley is confi-
dent every player coming into
a starting role will be able to fill
in and pick up where their
predecessor left off.
Weve got plenty of experi-
ence coming back. Its high
school football, so we lose great
guys every year, Bradley said.
But those guys under them
the juniors and some sopho-
mores are ready to step in.
Hopefully thats the sign of a
great program and that were
on that path. Every year is a lit-
tle bit of a mystery. I guarantee
we have some leadership. Its
quiet leadership and more lead-
ership by example, but theyre
definitely ready to roll.
Defense was the Scorps call-
ing card during their title run
as they held their opponents to
less than a touchdown per
game. FHS will rely heavily on
their lone returning all-state
player, Champ Mendoza,
along with Deangelo Phillips
to eat up blocks and allow the
linebackers to make plays.
I think we all have to work
together and have the intensity
and mindset to just shut a team
out, Phillips said.
FARMINGTON SCORPIONS
Farmington High doesnt intend to rest on its laurels
Danny Simkins runs with the ball after receiving a punt return on Aug. 27 during football practice at Hutchison Stadium in Farmington.
Donovan Gonzalez catches the ball on Aug. 27 during football practice at Hutchi-
son Stadium in Farmington.
Kicker Chayton Salcido kicks the ball to the defense for a punt return on Aug. 27
during football practice at Hutchison Stadium in Farmington.
FHS will face two of last
years 4A semifinalists Los
Lunas and Belen in the first
three weeks of the season. The
Scorps earned a 14-7 victory
over Belen to advance to the
4Atitle game. Those early sea-
son contests will give FHS a
good idea of where they stand
within the state.
FHS will also take on
Durango, Colo., the only team
that beat them during the title
run, on Sept. 19.
The Scorps will enter the
year as the 5Apreseason No. 1
in the NMPreps rankings and
No. 2 in the MaxPreps rank-
ings, but just like last year, the
team says it isnt paying atten-
tion to standings or rankings
and will concern itself with
the next opponent on the
schedule.
Were preparing for the
season. Were looking for-
ward to the first game,
because its the first game. Its
the most important game of
the season, and it happens to
be against Los Lunas, who has
been one of the top teams in
the state the last few years,
Bradley said. Weve got our
hands full, and its all about
Los Lunas.

The Daily Times Football Preview

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2 2014 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW THE DAILY TIMES

2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

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