2023 Team Preview: Los Lunas Tigers
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Los Lunas 2023 Preview Head Coach: Greg Henington Mascot: Tigers Twitter: @LosLunasFB; @GregHenington; @CoachTGutierrez Website: https://loslunasllhs.ss13.sharpschool.com/students/sports/football Colors: Royal Blue and Orange 2022 Record: 7-5 (6A Quarterfinals) Overview: One year after capturing the Class 5A title, Los Lunas…
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Continue ReadingLos Lunas 2023 Preview
Head Coach: Greg Henington
Mascot: Tigers
Twitter: @LosLunasFB; @GregHenington; @CoachTGutierrez
Website: https://loslunasllhs.ss13.sharpschool.com/students/sports/football
Colors: Royal Blue and Orange
2022 Record: 7-5 (6A Quarterfinals)
Overview: 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.
Three signal callers – senior (2024) Damacio Kaneshiro Damacio Kaneshiro QB Los Lunas | 2024 State NM , junior (2025) Ty Gould Ty Gould 5'10" | 205 lbs | DL Los Lunas | 2025 State NM and sophomore (2026) Kaiden Reese Kaiden Reese 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB Los Lunas | 2026 State NM 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.
Junior Emi De La Torre headlines the running back corps along with senior Lorenzo Ibarra. Jordan Howard Jordan Howard RB Los Lunas | 2025 State NM 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 Ethan Baca Ethan Baca 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Los Lunas | 2024 State NM and slot Fabian Trujillo Fabian Trujillo WR Los Lunas | 2024 State NM (32 receptions for 749 yards and 10 TD in a run-dominated offense last season). J’Den Howard, twin brother of Jordan, should step into the No. 3 WR role. Brett Mansfield is another one hoping to make a dent in the passing game.
All-State senior center Jasiah Baca Jasiah Baca 6'0" | 285 lbs | OL Los Lunas | 2024 State NM , who has been starting since he was a freshman. anchors the offensive line. Marcus Granger, Kyle Valdez and Jamian Paquin are all returning starters. Together, they constitute one of the best – and strongest – offensive lines Los Lunas has had in years.
Defensively, everything starts with two-year starter Jason Ussery Jason Ussery 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Los Lunas | 2024 State NM , 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 Dominic Trujillo Dominic Trujillo DB Los Lunas | 2024 State NM (twin brother of Fabian) and Ibarra are both back. The secondary is definitely a strength for Los Lunas.
Gage Marquez Gage Marquez 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Los Lunas | 2025 State NM is moving to linebacker from defensive end. Bryce Norine Bryce Norine 5'8" | 220 lbs | DL Los Lunas | 2024 State NM returns at defensive line. Some younger players will have to step up for the Tigers in the defensive front seven.
2023 Schedule: 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.
Aug. 18 BELEN
Aug. 25 ALAMOGORDO
Sept. 1 at Farmington
Sept. 8 at Roswell
Sept. 15 at La Cueva
Sept. 22 VALLEY
Sept. 29 CAPITAL*
Oct. 6 at Albuquerque High*
Oct. 13 SANTA FE*
Oct. 20 Bye
Oct. 27 at Clovis*
* District Game
Coach’s Comments: “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.