2024 Look Ahead: Eldorado Eagles

Eldorado head coach Charlie Dotson has rarely experienced two straight seasons without making the playoffs in his long and distinguished coaching career.   But the Golden Eagles failed to reach the postseason in 2022 and 2023, finishing 4-6 last season, including a season-ending 39-21 loss to West Mesa in a likely playoff elimination game that left them under .500 and out of the postseason.     “We were close but when you're low on numbers, you have to keep kids healthy towards the end of the year,” Dotson said. “We couldn't do that. It wasn't that we were injured, necessarily. Going from week-to-week having to win was tough. We just didn't get it done in that last game against West Mesa.   “Our goal is always to make the playoffs and try to win a state championship. Right now, getting back to the playoffs is our primary goal.”          Dotson says Eldorado's participation numbers are up, an encouraging sign for the future. Dotson also described Eldorado's new 8-team district as “fair.” It includes Albuquerque High, Atrisco Heritage, La Cueva, Los Lunas, Sandia, Santa Fe and West Mesa.   “If we can't beat the teams we should, we don't belong in the playoffs,” Dotson said. “For the past two years, we had a schedule that gave us no chance. Every school we played last year had more total students than we did.”         Offensively, the Eagles must replace the quarterback, top running back and the three best receivers from last season, including New Mexico Highlands signee [player_tooltip player_id='275436' first='Josiah' last='Mitchell'], who had 68 receptions for nearly 1,000 yards and 13 TD. Moreover, the offensive line returns just one starter.   Former Taos head coach Art Abreu has joined the Eldorado staff as associate head coach and offensive coordinator, so his primary job will be to keep the Eagles' offense humming. Abreu led Taos to the Class 4A state title in 2018 and a semifinal appearance in 2022.   “We're excited about Coach Abreu coming in and look forward to getting him on campus,” Dotson said.         Graduating QB [player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'] threw for over 4,300 yards and 54 TD in two seasons as the starter. Who will replace him? Dotson said three or four candidates are vying for the job. One of the probable contenders is 6-foot-0, 175-pound rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1248671' first='Giovanni' last='Evans'], who impressed the coaches at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants last month.   He anticipates a frontrunner will emerge when Eldorado practices for two weeks in pads late this summer.   “Our biggest question marks on offense are the offensive line, where we only return one player, and the quarterback position,” Dotson said. “Everywhere else, we feel we have skill kids in place. The quarterback job is wide open.”   Graduating senior (and NMHU signee) Johnpaul Ludi was, far and away, Eldorado's top RB last season in terms of carries and yardage. Promising rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='590582' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana'] is one of the likely successors along with rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1237979' first='Daniel' last='Quinones'], who has been offered by NMHU. Quintana had 81 rushing yards against Sandia.   Quinones also plays WR and had 21 receptions for 6 TD in 2023. Dynamic rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead'] should quickly ascend the depth chart after seeing varsity action as a freshman in 2023. Rising junior Teddy Hunt should be in the mix as well.       Dotson expects four or five running backs will eventually compete for carries, which should lead to improved depth.   The new look offensive line features brothers Isaac Alderman (6-3, 260 pounds), a rising sophomore and the Eagles' lone returning starter, and Matthew Alderman (6-4, 240) at the tackle spots. Matthew was a JV standout in 2023. The interior OL will have three new starters. Rising senior Antonio Marquez brings experience.      Defensively, Eldorado returns nine of 11 starters and will be more experienced. The unit will be led by 2025 First-Team All District DE [player_tooltip player_id='1118048' first='Kevin' last='Cuomo'], a weight room warrior and arguably the strongest player in the state following his impressive Class 5A title-winning performance at the state powerlifting championships in April. Cuomo is also very athletic.   “Kevin can dunk a dodge ball and he's gotten quicker because of his strength,” Dotson said. “Hopefully, he's physical this year. He wants to play college football.”      Linebacker Jonathan Gomez returns along with defensive back Daniel Saavedra. Quinones should play DB too. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1672561' first='Finn' last='Dolinski'] is a promising defensive tackle. DL [player_tooltip player_id='1672564' first='Fred' last='Tafoya'] is another young defender who benefitted from varsity action in 2023.   In its six losses last season, Eldorado surrendered an average of 49 points per game, 38+ points five times. They allowed 70 points to Atrisco Heritage and 74 to rival La Cueva.   “We didn't play well on defense last year, but our guys got experience,” Dotson said. “Hopefully, we'll be better this year. We've had defensive coordinators come and go, and it's been tough putting in new systems.”   Eldorado's non-conference slate includes a road trip to Organ Mountain and home games against Cibola and Volcano Vista before the Eagles dive into District 6A-2 play. The district opener is Week 3 against Los Lunas.                2024 ELDORADO FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:   Aug. 24 at Organ Mountain (Sat., 1 p.m.)   Aug. 30 Bye   Sept. 6 CIBOLA (7 p.m.)   Sept. 14 LOS LUNAS (Sat., 11 a.m.)*   Sept. 21 VOLCANO VISTA (Sat., 11 a.m.)   Sept. 27 SANTA FE*   Oct. 4 at La Cueva*   Oct. 11 SANDIA*   Oct. 17 at Albuquerque High (Thur., 7 p.m.)*   Oct. 24 at West Mesa (Thur., 7 p.m.)*   Nov. 2 at Atrisco Heritage (Sat., 11 a.m.)*   * District 6A-2 Game   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KevingCuomo/status/1793852619716207011 </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/25DanielQ/status/1779263394673217892 </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/GioEvans3/status/1794480796050309407 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Daniel-Quinones1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1252539" /></figure>

Eldorado head coach Charlie Dotson has rarely experienced two straight seasons without making the playoffs in his long and distinguished coaching career.