2023 Team Preview: St. Michael’s Horsemen
Photo: Twitter
In this article:
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>St. Michael's 2023 Preview</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Joey Fernandez </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Mascot</strong>: Horsemen </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Twitter</strong>: @StMikesHorsemen </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Colors</strong>: Blue, Navy Blue & White </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>2022 Record</strong>: 11-2 (3A Championship Game) </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Overview</strong>: Three things in life are certain: Death, taxes and St. Michael's being one of the top teams in Class 3A. The Horsemen have reached the state championship game the past two years (Robertson in 2021, Ruidoso in 2022) only to lose at the wire. For some teams, just playing on Thanksgiving weekend is the pinnacle. But state championships are the standard at St. Michael's and they appear to possess the talent to again compete for the title in 2023. As one Class 3A coach told us, ‘We're all chasing St. Michael's.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The Horsemen must replace the ‘Big 4' on offense from a season ago – QB Zach Martinez, RB Marcus Leyba (signed with Ottawa University Arizona), TE/WR Tavon Lozada (accepted walk-on offer at FCS Idaho State) and WR/DB Creed Chavez. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119628' first='Reed' last='Bass']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600843' first='Kamal' last='Stith']</strong> are competing for the starting QB job. The competition is likely to extend into preseason camp. Bass is working on his accuracy this summer. Three candidates are battling to replace Leyba at running back: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103488' first='Mathias' last='Duran']</strong> (played OL in 2022), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613193' first='Cole' last='Sandoval']</strong> (has added 25 pounds to frame in offseason + speed) and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853063' first='Isaiah' last='Dominguez']</strong>. All three could get carries. Sandoval also could play slot receiver in one-back sets.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The WR position doesn't have a Lozada or Creed Chavez this season, but the depth could be better in 2023. The group will be led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103490' first='Lucas' last='Gurule']</strong> and 6-foot-5, 200-pound <strong>John Leeder</strong> (likely successor to Lozada). The O-Line will be inexperienced but several potential starters saw action in 2022, including RT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613133' first='Joseph' last='Sanchez']</strong>, <strong>Colten Saville</strong> and <strong>Donevan Ricker. James Gallegos</strong> returns after missing the entire 2022 campaign with an injury.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Defensively, many of the aforementioned players will play both ways. Duran excels on the defensive line along with Sanchez and Leeder. Linebacker features experienced veteran <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119096' first='Joele' last='Griego']</strong> at MLB, Sandoval and Bass. <strong>Sabiani Rios Guevara</strong> returns at safety.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>2023 Schedule</strong>: St. Michael's plays two Class 6A schools (city rivals Capital and Santa Fe) and three 4A schools (Taos, Los Alamos, Aztec) during non-district play. That schedule should get them prepared for the toughest 3A district in the state and a road trip to El Paso to face sister school Cathedral. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Aug. 18 at Taos</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Aug. 26 CAPITAL (Sat.)</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 1 at Santa Fe</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 8 at Los Alamos</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 15 Bye</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 23 AZTEC (Sat.)</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sept. 30 WEST LAS VEGAS (Sat.)*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 6 at Robertson*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 14 RATON*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 20 at El Paso (TX) Cathedral</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Oct. 27 at Santa Fe Indian*</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>* District Game </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Coach's Comments</strong>: “It was good to get the state championship game the last two years but our goal is always to win the title. Getting there is good but we want to come away with the blue trophy. The loss last November left a bad taste in our kids' mouths. We started working pretty hard in February and we've been at it ever since. This is probably the best offseason weight program we've been through since I've been coaching here. I like the attitude and work ethic. It's been fun to watch so far. We have to step up from where we've finished the last two years. . .I want our quarterbacks competing to make themselves better. They both bring different things to the table. Hopefully, somebody will be ahead by the start of season. Right now, I want them to compete.” – St Michael's head coach Joey Fernandez.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
St. Michael's 2023 Preview
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in
