2024 Look Ahead: Valley Vikings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of Cleveland, La Cueva and Rio Rancho, few (if any) schools in the Albuquerque Metro Region have experienced more success than the Valley Vikings over the past two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolstered by the new energy brought by head coach Billy Cobos and his staff, together with exceptional talent and a strong work ethic, Valley finished a combined 16-8 in 2022 and 2023 and won the district championship last fall. They reached the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs in both seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our message to the team this off-season has been to keep working hard and get better,” Cobos told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “They definitely work hard in the weight room. We push them, make sure they stay positive and get done what they have to get done. Valley doesn't have a history of consistent success, so we need to work hard to achieve that.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prior to last year's 8-4 record, the last time Valley had back-to-back winning seasons was 2012-13. Three consecutive winning seasons? Never been done in school history. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cobos' third season at the helm will look a bit different, especially on the offensive side. After relying on a dominant rushing attack (the Vikings ran the ball 74 percent of the time) led by stud running backs [player_tooltip player_id='590712' first='Charles' last='Lopez-Burton'] (1,832 yards on 195 carries; Eastern New Mexico signee) and [player_tooltip player_id='592353' first='Tazhe' last='Wilson'], Valley looks to be more balanced on offense in 2024 behind returning quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615626' first='Julian' last='Butkivich']</strong>, a two-year starter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Last season we leaned more on the rushing attack,” Cobos said. “This year we're hoping to be more balanced. We really want to be 50-50. We'll ride whatever works the best.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A spirited battle to replace Lopez-Burton and Wilson at running back is already underway. Transfer <strong>Zach Toledo</strong> is one of the top candidates for the job along with <strong>Joseph M. Martinez</strong> and rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605046' first='Zachary' last='Perez']-Verdeja</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're looking at those three guys and maybe some dark horses to replace the productivity we had with Charles and Tazhe,” Cobos said. “It's going to be a challenge to replace those two. Charles had probably the greatest season by a running back in school history. He shattered the single season rushing record by 400 yards.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>Joshua Sanchez</strong> is expected to lead a revamped &nbsp;and younger wide receiver corps. Last season's WR group for the Vikings was dominated by seniors. <strong>Chris Melendez</strong>, who also plays safety, is another potential WR contributor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>Joseph H. Martinez</strong> returns at offensive line. The other four spots are wide open. <strong>Jeremiah Sandoval</strong>, <strong>Hunter Alvarado, Emanuel Soro</strong> and <strong>Gael Alacon</strong> are expected to compete for starting jobs. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Valley's strength in its 4-2-5 scheme will be big and strong defensive line led by 6-foot-5, 285-pound rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837220' first='Juan' last='Vigil']</strong>, who was impressive at the recent Prep Redzone Combine in Grants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I expect Juan to have an exciting and well-rounded senior year,” Cobos said. “He has really come into his own since his sophomore year. He demands double and triple teams.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If opposing offensive lines use that strategy to contain Vigil, that will free up 6-foot-1, 235-pound rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615451' first='Christian' last='Powell']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259024' first='Dylan' last='Anderson']</strong> to make plays from their D-Line spots. Lopez-Burton also played defensive end last season and must be replaced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At linebacker, Daniel Valdez must be replaced after leading Valley with 121 tackles in 2023. <strong>Ray Estrada</strong>, <strong>Julian Lopez</strong>, <strong>Spencer Brooks</strong>, <strong>Joseph H. Martinez</strong> are all competing to fill the LB spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior cornerback <strong>Josiah Garcia</strong> headlines the secondary. Melendez is a talented free safety. <strong>Santiago Aragon</strong> and <strong>Louis Valencia</strong> are hopefuls for the other two spots. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 VALLEY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 at Bernalillo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 at Albuquerque High (Milne)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 GODDARD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 BELEN*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 MIYAMURA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 at Highland (Milne)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 at Capital*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 18 DEL NORTE*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 at Los Alamos*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 1 RIO GRANDE*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 5A-1 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ValleyFB54/status/1779270946848702669","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ValleyFB54/status/1779270946848702669 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1779220768754409502","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1779220768754409502 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->