6A Team Previews: ABQ Metro (AHS, Atrisco, West Mesa)

2023 6A Albuquerque Metro Preview   ALBUQUERQUE HIGH   Head Coach: Desmond Anaya                                      Mascot: Bulldogs                        Twitter: @BulldogCityFB; @coachdezanaya   Colors: Kelly Green and White       2022 Record: 3-7 (No Playoffs)                                              Overview: Desmond Anaya begins his first season at head coach of the AHS Bulldogs. Experienced senior Frank Hren is the quarterback. He's an excellent athlete. He also runs track and competes in powerlifting, so he's fast and strong. He'll be protected by a study offensive line that includes elite LT T.J. McCarthy (offers from all 3 D2 programs in the state) and LG Esteven Baca. Sophomore RB [player_tooltip player_id='1266534' first='Alberto' last='Landeros'] played varsity last season as a freshman. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1258916' first='Jonathan' last='Chavez'] averaged 8.0 yards per carry last season with one 100+ yard rushing game. Both run downhill and are able to gain the tough yards inside. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1258907' first='Isaac' last='Houlihan'], Gabe Fernandez and [player_tooltip player_id='837213' first='Abran' last='Vigil'] are the top WR targets with [player_tooltip player_id='615840' first='Jordan' last='Choice'] being a promising newcomer. Baca is an excellent defensive lineman as well. One of the standouts of the Bulldogs' defense will be outstanding SS [player_tooltip player_id='815923' first='Diego' last='Viscarra'], who had 76 tackles in 2022. He has been offered by New Mexico Highlands. Vigil is an excellent LB.   2023 Schedule:   Aug. 18 ORGAN MOUNTAIN   Aug. 25 Bye   Sept. 1 SANDIA   Sept. 7 at West Mesa (Thur.)   Sept. 15 at Farmington   Sept. 21 at La Cueva (Thur.)   Sept. 29 at Clovis*   Oct. 6 LOS LUNAS*   Oct. 14 CAPITAL* (Sat.)   Oct. 20 at Santa Fe*   Oct. 27 at Manzano*   * District Game   Coach's Comments: “Being a head coach for the first time has been a lot of fun and a lot of work. I love being with the players every day and helping them develop. They're ready to learn. That makes it easier. Frank can do it all as an athlete. We have to give him plays that work for him. We're building around what we do best. He's a great leader.”– Albuquerque High head coach Desmond Anaya.   ***************************************************************************************************   ATRISCO HERITAGE     Head Coach: Howard Knezevich                                    Mascot: Jaguars                        Twitter: @AtriscoJags; @HowardKnezevich   Colors: Gold, Green and Navy Blue.       2022 Record: 5-6 (6A First Round)   Overview: Howard Knezevich is leading the revival of the Atrisco Heritage program. Numbers are up (120 players) and the Jaguars made the playoffs last fall, a big step for the program. The Jaguars got some good news recently when QB [player_tooltip player_id='275207' first='Dean' last='Marquez'] was told by doctors that he was progressing quicker than expected from a serious shoulder injury he suffered in the next-to-last regular season game against Cleveland. Marquez, who underwent surgery several months ago, is expected to return around midseason. Until then, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1021201' first='Landon' last='Griego'] will be the starting quarterback. He started the final regular season game and the playoff game against Volcano Vista. Griego played well during the spring and summer and looks like a different QB. He'll have an outstanding WR corps catching his passes, starting with the dynamic (and speedy) duo of senior [player_tooltip player_id='274705' first='Marquise' last='Renfro'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='611116' first='Latavious' last='Morris']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='615453' first='Chauncey' last='Lane'] returns while [player_tooltip player_id='275444' first='Jayden' last='Ortiz'] is back after taking some time off. The No. 1 RB will be Andres Villalobos. Atrisco is hoping for improved offensive line play to boost the run game and allow the QB time to make throws. Three seniors led by center Santiago Gordon highlight the group. Senior Aidan Atencio is 6-foot-3, 300 pounds. Six-foot-2, 250-pound freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1155059' first='Dominick' last='Lewallen'] will be the starting left tackle. He could potentially become a big-time OL prospect. The Jaguars should be better on defense this season. [player_tooltip player_id='611058' first='Elycio' last='Roybal'] is the top DL. Sophomore DE Marcos Chavez saw action as a freshman last fall while sophomore Julian Alarcon (6-2, 240) is another promising young DL. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1103899' first='Joziah' last='Lopez'] (90+ tackles in 2022) headlines the LB corps.           2023 Schedule:   Aug. 19 SANDIA (Sat.)   Aug. 24 RIO GRANDE (Thur.)   Aug. 31 ELDORADO (Thur.)   Sept. 7 at Manzano   Sept. 15 at West Mesa   Sept. 22 at Capital   Sept. 30 CIBOLA*   Oct. 6 at Rio Rancho*   Oct. 13 at Cleveland   Oct. 20 Bye   Oct. 28 VOLCANO VISTA* (Sat.)   * District Game   Coach's Comments: “I like the way things are going. Numbers are up. We have a good freshman class. We took some big steps last year to go from 2-7 to 5-6. This year we hope to take another big step. Making the playoffs last year showed our guys we can get there. We were competitive for two quarters against Volcano in the playoffs but we collapsed. It's been a hard climb but we're getting there.” – Atrisco Heritage head coach Howard Knezevich.   **************************************************************************************************   WEST MESA   Head Coach: Landrick Brody                                   Mascot: Mustangs                        Twitter: @wmhs_mustangFB   Colors: Royal Blue and Scarlet      2022 Record: 5-5 (No Playoff)                                             Overview: Led by a 6-foot-3 gunslinging southpaw quarterback who has been offered by New Mexico, West Mesa enters the 2023 campaign with high expectations a season after barely missing the 6A playoffs. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'] transferred to West Mesa from Cleveland after his father was named Mustangs head coach and threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 29 TD last season. Brody is one of the top quarterbacks in the state and proved during 7x7 season that he's worthy of those accolades. He'll again have several elite receivers at his disposal, including [player_tooltip player_id='340311' first='Ricky' last='Martinez'] and Elias Guttierez. Sophomore Marcos Ochoa is a promising newcomer. He could make a significant impact this season. He possesses elite speed and runs crips, smooth routes. He could be utilized on jet sweeps. Junior Jeremiah Ellis is a capable possession receiver.      What will help Brody and the potentially lethal West Mesa passing game is a solid rushing attack, together with Brody's ability to make checks at the line of scrimmage and enhanced trust in the O-Line. [player_tooltip player_id='817244' first='Marcus' last='Sharp'], who is listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with superb athleticism and physicality, has moved to running back from TE/WR. The Mustangs hope Sharp, along with the reliable  Joseph Garcia, stabilize the ground game. West Mesa also has two veteran offensive linemen returning – seniors Javier Marquez (6-4, 270) and Jaycob Jinzo. Sophomore Miguel Olivus is 6-foot-3, 330 pounds, one of the biggest O-Lineman in the state. He'll likely be a major college prospect in a couple of years.   Defensively, West Mesa must improve significantly if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. New defensive coordinator Stacy Washington was on the Highland staff for years. Washington had the West Mesa defenders playing aggressively and with an attitude during 7x7 season. Now we'll see if they can carry that over into the fall. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='340285' first='Vences' last='Caraveo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1258892' first='Yorik' last='Molinar'] are the sparkplugs for the Mustangs defense. DE Victor Sutherland is a returning starter. In the secondary, senior CB [player_tooltip player_id='274992' first='Tavon' last='Archibald'] and 6-foot-1 ballhawk junior [player_tooltip player_id='1257343' first='Sajon' last='Thompson'] are the top playmakers. Archibald is a very physical player and shows little fear. Anthony Talamante and Mark Montano are seniors as well.   2023 Schedule:   Aug. 18 at Santa Fe   Aug. 25 at Volcano Vista   Sept. 1 CIBOLA   Sept. 7 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH (Thur.)   Sept. 15 ATRISCO HERITAGE   Sept. 22 Bye   Sept. 30 SANDIA (Sat.)*   Oct. 6 at Farmington*   Oct. 14 at La Cueva (Sat)*   Oct. 20 at Rio Grande   Oct. 27 ELDORADO*   * District Game   Coach's Comments: “We had a real solid offseason. For me, as well. I have a better idea of what to expect. We lost a good group of receivers but we still have two out of that group from last year. We have gained some depth. When I first got here, in a lot of instances once we got done with the first guy, it was scary. But at the receiver spot, we'll be seven deep. The biggest growth we've had is in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Our offensive line will be pretty competitive, and defensive line too. Elijah has matured a lot from an X's and O's standpoint, and he has gotten bigger and stronger. He took it upon himself to get his body physically ready to be competitive. He has put on about 15 pounds. He went to some camps too. Mentally, that put him in a good spot because he saw where he stood among the best in the nation. That offer from New Mexico definitely boosted his confidence. I think he will take a big step this year.” – West Mesa head coach Landrick Brody.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/elijahobrody/status/1588678434997374976?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BulldogCityFB/status/1662589029291032576 </div></figure>

2023 6A Albuquerque Metro Preview