2023 Team Preview: Valencia Jaguars
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Valencia 2023 Preview Head Coach: Darrius Cage Mascot: Jaguars Twitter: @VHSJagFootball Colors: Cherry, Silver & Turquoise 2022 Record: 4-7 Overview: Valencia suffered four closes by seven points or less in 2022, including a hard-fought first-round playoff loss to Aztec.…
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Continue ReadingValencia 2023 Preview
Head Coach: Darrius Cage
Mascot: Jaguars
Twitter: @VHSJagFootball
Colors: Cherry, Silver & Turquoise
2022 Record: 4-7
Overview: Valencia suffered four closes by seven points or less in 2022, including a hard-fought first-round playoff loss to Aztec. Flip those results in 2023 and Darrius Cage’s first season as Jaguars head coach will be a tremendous success. He’ll also need solid quarterback play. Junior Aidan Harrington and sophomore Isaac Ramirez, both dual threat quarterbacks,are competing for the job. Harrington played defensive back last season so he has varsity experience under his belt. Ramirez lacks the same experience but has the arm talent to succeed. He did not play football in 2022.
Running back Daniel Villegas Daniel Villegas 5'8" | RB Valencia | 2024 State NM will likely be the No. 1 running back after sharing carries with a pair of seniors last season. Villegas is a good leader and should be one of the centerpieces of Valencia’s offense in 2023. Senior Aidan Woods and sophomore Michael Woods are the probable backups. Expectations are high for junior Cade Ash at WR. Ash has great hands and already knows the playbook inside and out. Senior Jorge Zuniga will contribute in his final season. Two starters return on the offensive line – senior C Andrew Ray Rightley Andrew Ray Rightley 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Valencia | 2024 State NM and senior RG Tilden Brown Tilden Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Valencia | 2024 State NM . They will definitely be the leaders for the OL.
Senior Zeke Martinez headlines the defensive line. Junior Tyler Farless will start at outside linebacker for the Jaguars. Aidan Woods will be a LB as well. Zuniga will spearhead the secondary.
2023 Schedule:
Aug. 18 at Kirtland Central
Aug. 25 DEL NORTE
Sept. 1 Bye
Sept. 8 at Portales
Sept. 14 at Santa Teresa (Thur.)
Sept. 22 BLOOMFIELD
Sept. 29 at Gadsden
Oct. 6 RIO GRANDE (Homecoming)
Oct. 13 ST. PIUS X*
Oct. 20 GRANTS*
Oct. 27 at Silver*
* District Game
Coach’s Comments: “The players showing up are the ones who know what they want out of this next football season. The attitude is there. We’re obviously changing a lot of things. We’re changing culture, we’re changing the playbook, we’re changing personnel. We’re moving a lot of things around in order to fit our team and what we want to do. The guys have bought into the process and they understand that if we want to be good it’s going to take a lot of hard work. . .Both of our quarterbacks are dual threat guys. We’re working on the playbook and how we’re going to utilize the strengths of both of them. ” – Valencia head coach Darrius Cage.