2023 Team Preview: Los Lunas Tigers
Photo: Twitter
In this article:
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Los Lunas 2023 Preview</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Greg Henington </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Mascot</strong>: Tigers </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Twitter</strong>: @LosLunasFB; @GregHenington; @CoachTGutierrez</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Website</strong>: https://loslunasllhs.ss13.sharpschool.com/students/sports/football</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Colors</strong>: Royal Blue and Orange </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>2022 Record</strong>: 7-5 (6A Quarterfinals) </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Overview</strong>: One year after capturing the Class 5A title, Los Lunas posted a respectable 7-5 mark and reached the quarterfinals of the playoffs in the Tigers' first season in the rigorous Class 6A. Now they must find a worthy successor to one of the best players in school history, dynamic quarterback Paul Cieremans, who's now with the New Mexico State program as a walk-on.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Three signal callers – senior (2024) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103683' first='Damacio' last='Kaneshiro']</strong>, junior (2025) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119305' first='Ty' last='Gould']</strong> and sophomore (2026) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137088' first='Kaiden' last='Reese']</strong> battled to replace Cieremans throughput 7-on-7 season. However, we're likely not going to get a final verdict until deep into preseason camp. Kaneshiro did not play football last year but has shown few signs of rust. Gould was last season's backup to Cieremans. Reese is an elite athlete with a strong arm and will certainly play another position if he doesn't win the QB job.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Junior <strong>Emi De La Torre</strong> headlines the running back corps along with senior <strong>Lorenzo Ibarra</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119303' first='Jordan' last='Howard']</strong> should contribute to the cause too. Los Lunas' top four ball carriers last season all graduated, so the Tigers will rely on a new group of rushers in 2023. The wide receiver spot features returning standouts <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590581' first='Ethan' last='Baca']</strong> and slot <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274796' first='Fabian' last='Trujillo']</strong> (32 receptions for 749 yards and 10 TD in a run-dominated offense last season). <strong>J'Den Howard</strong>, twin brother of Jordan, should step into the No. 3 WR role. <strong>Brett Mansfield</strong> is another one hoping to make a dent in the passing game.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>All-State senior center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274794' first='Jasiah' last='Baca']</strong>, who has been starting since he was a freshman. anchors the offensive line. <strong>Marcus Granger</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1593628' first='Kyle' last='Valdez']</strong> and <strong>Jamian Paquin</strong> are all returning starters. Together, they constitute one of the best – and strongest - offensive lines Los Lunas has had in years.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Defensively, everything starts with two-year starter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274991' first='Jason' last='Ussery']</strong>, who holds at least one offer and will play at the next level, at free safety. Ussery is 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, so he brings plenty of size and speed to the position. Cornerbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274795' first='Dominic' last='Trujillo']</strong> (twin brother of Fabian) and <strong>Ibarra </strong>are both back. The secondary is definitely a strength for Los Lunas.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615687' first='Gage' last='Marquez']</strong> is moving to linebacker from defensive end. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='933964' first='Bryce' last='Norine']</strong> returns at defensive line. Some younger players will have to step up for the Tigers in the defensive front seven.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>2023 Schedule</strong>: Los Lunas opens the campaign with home games against local rival Belen and Alamogordo before consecutive road trips to Farmington, Roswell and La Cueva will test their mettle. After that, three of the next four games are at home. The season finale is at Clovis and last season that contest was a winner-take-all district championship game.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Aug. 18 BELEN</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Aug. 25 ALAMOGORDO</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 1 at Farmington</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 8 at Roswell</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 15 at La Cueva</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 22 VALLEY</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 29 CAPITAL*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 6 at Albuquerque High*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 13 SANTA FE*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 20 Bye</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 27 at Clovis*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>* District Game </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Coach's Comments</strong>: “Moving to 6A was definitely a tough adjustment for us. Those teams you face like La Cueva, Cleveland and Centennial, there's definitely a big difference. There are some great football teams in 5A too but 6A is a different level. I thought our guys handled it pretty well and will continue to make that adjustment and come more solidified in that classification. . .All three quarterbacks competing for the job have different strengths and characteristics they bring to the team. If one is not at quarterback, they'll probably be playing somewhere else. Comparing them to Paul is unfair because Paul was in a league of his own with his style, playmaking ability, what he could do with the football and his physical and mental toughness. We're not trying to fill Paul's shoes but developing our own pathway and developing their strengths. We've told them not to compare themselves to Paul as a player. Be your player with your own strengths.” – Los Lunas head coach Greg Henington. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LosLunasFB/status/1681753864192794624?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} -->
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/LosLunasFB/status/1681753864192794624?s=20
</div></figure>
<!-- /wp:embed -->
<!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JasonDime10/status/1593266602782269442?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} -->
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/JasonDime10/status/1593266602782269442?s=20
</div></figure>
<!-- /wp:embed -->
Los Lunas 2023 Preview
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in
