2023 Team Previews: 6A Battling for Respect (Capital, Sandia)
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2023 6A Preview, Battling For Respect CAPITAL Head Coach: Joaquin Garcia Mascot: Jaguars Twitter: @Capitalhighjags Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capitaljagsfootball/ Colors: Turquoise blue, silver, and black 2022 Record: 5-5 (No Playoffs) Overview: Capital finished an encouraging .500 in their first season in…
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Continue Reading2023 6A Preview, Battling For Respect
CAPITAL
Head Coach: Joaquin Garcia
Mascot: Jaguars
Twitter: @Capitalhighjags
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capitaljagsfootball/
Colors: Turquoise blue, silver, and black
2022 Record: 5-5 (No Playoffs)
Overview: Capital finished an encouraging .500 in their first season in Class 6A but didn’t make the playoffs. The quarterback is junior Deaven Montano Deaven Montano 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Capital | 2025 State NM , who spent time at receiver last fall. He started one game at QB as a freshman in 2021. Behind him are a pair of freshmen, including Ace Bachicha and Josh Baker. After Juan Munoz Juan Munoz 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Cleveland | 2025 State NM transferred to Cleveland, the Jaguars will adopt a running back by committee approach. Seniors Fabian Ryan, Angelo Baker and Joseph Rodriguez will be three of the ball carriers. It’s the same story at wide receiver with Elijah Rodriguez Elijah Rodriguez 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Capital | 2024 State NM , Kristopher Trujillo Kristopher Trujillo DL Capital | 2024 State NM , Matthew Trujillo and others expected to rotate into the lineup. The Jaguars return Ricardo Martinez and Ryan Garcia to the offensive line. Hernan Salas will be the starting center. Sophomore Elias Griego is expected to earn a starting job. Defensively, Angelo Baker will be the starting MLB and serve as the leader of the defense. Capital is switching back to the 4-3 this season and head coach Joaquin Garcia will be calling the defensive plays. The DEs are Reeve Trujillo and Kris Trujillo. The outside linebackers will be Eli Dominguez Eli Dominguez 5'11" | 160 lbs | LB Capital | 2025 State NM and Fabian Ryan. Senior Elijah Rodriguez Elijah Rodriguez 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Capital | 2024 State NM headlines the secondary. Angel Gonzalez will be the free safety.
2023 Schedule:
Aug. 18 at Grants
Aug. 26 at St. Michael’s (Sat.)
Sept. 1 LOS ALAMOS
Sept. 7 ALAMOGORDO (Thur.)
Sept. 16 at Albuquerque Academy (Sat.)
Sept. 22 ATRISCO HERITAGE
Sept. 29 at Los Lunas*
Oct. 6 Bye
Oct. 14 at Albuquerque High (Sat.)*
Oct. 20 CLOVIS*
Oct. 27 SANTA FE*
* District Game
Coach’s Comments: “For as long as I’ve been here, people have underestimated us. We try to use that as motivation. We may not get the numbers like everybody else, but the kids we do get are tough kids. They want to prove people wrong and prove we are a good program. Every year we continue to get better. I tell the kids all the time we just need to worry about us, and not what everybody else is saying. We’re excited for Deaven. He’s been working real hard. He leads by example. He practices what he preaches.” – Capital head coach Joaquin Garcia
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SANDIA
Head Coach: Chad Adcox
Mascot: Matadors
Twitter: @SandiaMatadors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/41662473019/
Colors: Cardinal Red and Columbia Blue
2022 Record: 4-6 (No Playoffs)
Overview: Sandia has consistently been about a .500 football team for the last decade. In fact, the last time the Matadors won more than seven games was 2013 when they reached the quarterfinals of the 5A playoffs. Last season’s backup QB, senior Cruz Rivera Cruz Rivera 6'0" | 160 lbs | QB Sandia | 2024 State NM , is the new full-time starter after starting several games in 2022. Rivera was inconsistent from a performance standpoint. If he becomes consistently good, the sandia offense will benefit. Sandia must find a worthy successor to the dynamic Malachi Thymes at running back. The Matadors go into the season with a running back by committee approach. As many as four running backs were competing for playing time in preseason camp. Cyruiez Galbreath, Daymon Gleason, Lucas Hoswell and Aidan Maldonado are vying for playing time. None have carried the ball in a varsity game. Jacob Adcox Jacob Adcox 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Sandia | 2024 State NM (offered by NM Highlands) and Grayson Frederich, both dynamic playmakers, return at wide receiver. Joey Harris Joey Harris 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Sandia | 2025 State NM will line up in the slot with Isaiah Chavez being eyed for outside receiver. Along the offensive line, Sandia is looking for a new left tackle after three-year starter Franklin Finch graduated and signed with Eastern New Mexico. Two OL starters return – RG Rafael Molina and RT Demitri Smith. Sophomore Robert DeHerrera (listed at 295 pounds) will be a first-time starter. Defensively, the five returners are DB Juanito Cruz Juanito Cruz 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Sandia | 2024 State NM , speedy DB Hunter Maldonado Hunter Maldonado 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Sandia | 2024 State NM (ran fastest time at ENMU camp in June), OLB Thomas Adams Thomas Adams 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB Sandia | 2025 NM , MLB Jeremiah Bustillos Jeremiah Bustillos 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Sandia | 2025 NM and LB Luke Gonzales Luke Gonzales 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Sandia | 2024 State NM . The defensive line will be entirely new. Steven Quezada and Isaiah Ellison are two newcomers expected to make an impact in the trenches.
2023 Schedule:
Aug. 19 at Atrisco Heritage (Sat.)
Aug. 26 PIEDRA VISTA (Sat.)
Sept. 1 at Albuquerque High
Sept. 8 Bye
Sept. 14 at Volcano Vista (Thur.)
Sept. 22 MANZANO
Sept. 30 at West Mesa (Sat.)*
Oct. 6 ELDORADO*
Oct. 13 FARMINGTON*
Oct. 20 at La Cueva*
Oct. 26 CIBOLA (Thur.)
* District Game
Coach’s Comments: “We have some very good skill guys. We don’t have a lot of depth. We’ll be OK on the lines, but we need some young guys to step up. Our message to our kids all spring and summer was Sandia football needs to get out of this rut going back to 2015. We had to win the day in the weight room and then in 7-on-7 and on the field. The kids busted their butts in the weight room. Last year we lost some close games and we couldn’t put it together. We had three losses by seven or fewer points. If we had won those games, our record would look a lot better.” – Sandia head coach Chad Adcox.