Weekly News and Notes – May 23
Belen has named a new football coach and he’s a name familiar to high school football fans in the Albuquerque metro area. Phil Lopez, who coached Rio Rancho from 2003-06, was officially hired as the Eagles new coach on Friday,…
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Continue ReadingBelen has named a new football coach and he’s a name familiar to high school football fans in the Albuquerque metro area.
Phil Lopez, who coached Rio Rancho from 2003-06, was officially hired as the Eagles new coach on Friday, Belen Consolidated schools athletic director Steve Contreras announced.
Lopez has spent the last five years as the New Mexico sales representative for football helmet manufacturer Riddell. He replaces Ty House, who resigned after two seasons as Belen’s coach and intends to move to Texas, according to the Valencia County News-Bulletin.
Lopez coached at Cobre and Fort Sumner before taking the Rio Rancho job.
Lopez led Rio Rancho to a 29-14 record and three district championships, the first titles for the Rams program. He left Rio Rancho to coach at Bel Air High School in El Paso, Tex. for six years before taking the job with Riddell.
Belen’s success over the past several years convinced Lopez that he could win with the Eagles. Belen reached the Class 5A state championship in 2017 under Greg Henington.
Henington, who led Belen to a 27-9 record in three seasons (2016-2018), was recently named the new coach at Los Lunas after Jeremy Maupin was hired as the new coach at Artesia.
Lopez said he plans to build the Belen program around a strong running game and defense, the same formula he used at Rio Rancho. But the Eagles will also spread it out and throw the ball too.
Another aspect of the job made it attractive for Lopez: Belen is the only high school in the district. Essentially, they’re the only show in town.
NOTES:
— While 2021 schedules have yet to be released, we know the date for the annual Cleveland-Rio Rancho Battle: Oct. 29, 2021.
— Former Rio Rancho WR Daymari Cox has moved to New Orleans, so he won’t be playing for the Rams this fall. Still, Rio Rancho should be loaded on both sides of the ball and goes into the 2021 season as a legitimate Class 6A championship contenders.
— Speaking of Rio Rancho, 2022 RB Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM has announced an ambitious camp schedule. Our #2 overall prospect in the 2022 rankings plans to camp at SMU, Redlands (CA), UNLV, Utah State, Weber State and Air Force in the month of June.
— Capital High coach Bill Moon has resigned after nine seasons coaching the Jaguars. He served two stints at Capital.
— 2022 Los Lunas DE Mikkal Beltran has been offered by Arizona Christian.
— Bloomfield QB Raymundo Alcantar was honored as the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. In addition to being a graduating senior involved in athletics and community service, nominees had to write an essay on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their educational process. “It’s just a blessing,” Alcantar told the Farmington Daily News. “It was a crazy year for everyone. I feel like everyone adapted well. I just kept my head straight. I didn’t let it stray away with the pandemic, stayed on top of my school work, stayed on top of sports.”
Phil Lopez has been selected as the next head coach of the Belen High School football program, Belen Consolidated Schools athletic coordinator Steven Contreras announced on Friday. https://t.co/zhi3gp7Llc
— VC News-Bulletin (@VCNewsBulletin) May 21, 2021
Capital head FB coach Bill Moon resigned earlier this week, the New Mexican has learned. He leaves after nine years in his second stint at the school, producing a 36-50-1 record with three district titles and three playoff appearances.
— New Mexican Sports (@sfnmsports) May 21, 2021
Camps I will be attending in June:
•SMU Dallas Showcase(June 6th)
•Redlands Camp Series-Cali(June 9th10th) @DavidHowes5 @JordanSom_UNM
•UNLV camp(June 12th)
•Utah State camp(June 15th) @CoachKeeton
•Weber State camp(June 17th)@ursua05
•Air Force (June 21st) @COACH_HIMEY pic.twitter.com/8LyAjFcMTP— Zach Vigil (@zacharyvigil21) May 21, 2021
October 29, 2021
Cleveland vs. Rio Rancho
7pm. Mark your calendars! https://t.co/GyoSed39cl— Rio Rancho Rams (@_RRHSathletics) May 20, 2021