2024 Look Ahead: Goddard Rockets

Consecutive 6-5 seasons in 2022 and 2023 led Goddard to look toward its crosstown rival for its new head coach: Broyles Award winning Roswell defensive coordinator Arturo Bolanos took the reins of the Rockets program in January.   Bolanos, a Goddard alum, has big plans for the Rockets.   “Being a head coach has been everything I expected it to be,” Bolanos told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “(Roswell HC) Jeff (Lynn) gave me a lot of head coaching responsibilities with the defense, so coming here is just a bigger version of it. Now I'm concerned about everything, the offense and the defense.”   His message to the Goddard players during the offseason has been simple and direct: Embrace the change.   “I told the players my vision and how things are going to be,” Bolanos said. “The first thing we looked at is where each player would be. Every player is going to have a home offensively or defensively, although some might have to play both sides depending on our numbers.   One key change Bolanos has already made: Goddard is competing in 7-on-7 for the first time in years.   “The kids were excited to hear that,” Bolanos said. “I feel 7-on-7 teaches kids how to compete. Everything we've done so far, they've embraced it. I couldn't have asked for a better start. The players have bought in to what we're doing. The pace is a lot faster. That took some time. But overall the players have been great.”   Goddard is looking for a new quarterback. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1749078' first='Isaiah' last='Montoya'] has taken the majority of the reps this spring and will be a serious contender for the job along with rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1604684' first='Ryan' last='Romero'] and several other contenders.   “Isiah has a great build,” Bolanos said. “He loves the weight room. He's extremely coachable and very smart. He's a great kid. You know he's going to give everything he has. Isaiah is a guy we want to have the ball in his hands at the snap. Right now, he's young. But he's getting better every day.”   The Rockets must replace [player_tooltip player_id='274787' first='Jonathan' last='Silva'] at running back. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1751685' first='Zak' last='Arellano'], rising senior Nathan Reed and rising senior Xavier Perez are all competing for the No. 1 job.   Under former head coach Chris White, Goddard had a run-dominated offense. Bolanos, though, wants Goddard to be more balanced between the run and pass, so the wide receivers will likely have a greater role to play.   “That's one reason we're competing in 7-on-7. You have to be able to throw the ball,” Bolanos said. “In that sense, we're looking to be balanced.”   Six-foot-3, 180-pound rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1248678' first='Josiah' last='Castillo'] has the edge in the battle to become Goddard's top receiving target. Behind him, numerous players are competing to get on the field. Castillo competed at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants last month and showcased good speed and excellent hands and athleticism.      “Josiah is big, strong and very physical,” Bolanos said. “He loves getting the ball thrown in his direction. Right now, Josiah will probably be our main threat.”   Along the offensive front, 6-foot-4 rising seniors Maddox Chavez and Beau Roach will be the anchors. Roach returns to the Rockets after not playing football in 2023. Numerous contenders are battling for the other three OL spots, including rising senior interior lineman Jake Chavez. He played some at center a season ago.   Defensively, rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137457' first='Taylen' last='Payne'] and Reed are expected to be major contributors at linebacker. Payne also competed at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants. He has received numerous invitations to college camps and is one of the Fastest Stock Risers in the 2026 class. Tristen Torres will likely lead the secondary. Alberto Chavez returns at safety while Gary Roybal and Christian Andrade are back as well.   Rising senior defensive tackle Daniel Moreno, renowned for his toughness, strength and high motor, will anchor the line. Bruce Loya saw action at DE in 2023. Younger players will likely fill in at the other spots. One of them is expected to be rising junior Freddy Nasrallah.        2024 GODDARD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE   Aug. 23 PORTALES (7 p.m.)   Aug. 29 CARLSBAD (Thur.)(7 p.m.)   Sept. 6 at Valley (7 p.m.)   Sept. 13 SANTA TERESA (7 p.m.)*   Sept. 20 LOVINGTON (7 p.m.)*   Sept. 27 at Gadsden (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 4 at Deming (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 11 Bye   Oct. 18 MAYFIELD (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 25 ARTESIA (7 p.m.)*   Nov. 1 at Roswell* (Wool Bowl)   * District 5A-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/Josiah_Casti11o/status/1777067790567891062 </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/PayneTaylen/status/1779601166520721825 </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/PayneTaylen/status/1787636836833386985 </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/DanielM0ren/status/1769157364995801470 </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/Nathan67192156/status/1759221626103795765 </div></figure>

Consecutive 6-5 seasons in 2022 and 2023 led Goddard to look toward its crosstown rival for its new head coach: Broyles Award winning Roswell defensive coordinator Arturo Bolanos took the reins of the Rockets program in January.