2024 Look Ahead: Silver Fighting Colts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Has any team in New Mexico flown under the radar the past three seasons more than the Silver Fightin' Colts?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From 2021-23, Silver compiled an overall record of 27-10, reaching the quarterfinals (2021), state championship game (2022) and semifinals (2023) in the Class 4A playoffs during that impressive three-year stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simply, the Colts have built a solid program there in southwest New Mexico. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver looks to keep its winning ways going in 2024 with a revamped roster and a new seven-team district (4A-2) that includes Portales, Albuquerque Academy, Manzano, St. Pius X, Valencia and Chaparral.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“For the first time, people are noticing that we have a program,” Silver head coach Jerome Ortiz told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “It took us a while to build it. We've been blessed with a lot of athletes the last few years. Now we have a lot of kids coming out for football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's a good problem to have. The caliber of the discipline of the kids we're getting now is night and day compared to several years ago. They are showing up ready to go. We're not having to baby them or beg them to get on the field. We've put in a lot of work to make this program relevant again.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western New Mexico quarterback signee Adan Jaquez had a large role in Silver's success the past three years. In 2023, he threw for over 2,000 yards, rushed for over 600 yards and accounted for 40 TD. But he's graduated and taken his football talents down the street to the WNMU campus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who replaces him? Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1709925' first='Josiah' last='Madrid']</strong> (nickname is Smoky) is the frontrunner to win the QB job. He was Jacquez's backup in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Josiah is very athletic,” Ortiz said. “He has a totally different build from Jacquez. He's been our most consistent QB we have right now. He's smart, he's working hard and he wants the job.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His primary competition is senior <strong>Mehki Grant</strong>, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606164' first='Urijah' last='Arrey']</strong> and baseball standout <strong>Alex Reyes Jr.</strong>, who is playing football for the first time since middle school but has a rocket for an arm. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It could end up being a quarterback by committee this year,” Ortiz said. “They're all young, have talent and we're going to go with who has the hot hand. I can't say we'll have the same starter every game. That's the goal but it may not happen that way.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver will also have a new stable of running backs. Senior <strong>Angel Chacon</strong> is battling to become the No. 1 RB and is considered the frontrunner to win the job. Arrey, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155313' first='Izaiden' last='Baca'], [player_tooltip player_id='853014' first='Michael' last='Jimenez'], </strong>junior<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1137463' first='David' last='Palomarez'] </strong>and senior<strong> Junior Casaus </strong>are in the mix as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm looking for one guy to emerge, but we run so many sets and plays, there will be a lot of running backs out there,” Ortiz said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastern New Mexico signee Julian Richard graduated after catching 46 passes last season. <strong>David Jimenez</strong> (older brother to Michael), sophomore <strong>Danian Flores </strong>and Grant are a promising trio. <strong>Noah Marquez</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751718' first='Milo' last='Brines']</strong> are involved in the competition as well. Ortiz has also recruited a pair of promising (and tall) newcomers off the Silver basketball team: <strong>Chad Aguirre</strong> (6-4) and <strong>Angel Maciel</strong> (6-3).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-2, 275-pound junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266547' first='Luke' last='Stailey']</strong>, a two-year starter, anchors the offensive line for the Colts. The left tackle is <strong>AJ Britton</strong>. Senior center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259400' first='Josiah' last='Campos']</strong>, RG <strong>Ryan Trewern</strong> and promising freshman <strong>Jason Chadwick</strong> round out what should be a solid offensive line for the Colts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Offensive line may be our most stacked position,” Ortiz said. “I'm very excited about who we have there.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Baca, Jimenez and Arrey will be the linebackers. The fourth spot on the second level is up for grabs. Casaus, Grant, and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259029' first='Joseph' last='Verdugo']</strong> are contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returners on the defensive line include Palomarez and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137462' first='Luke' last='Sandoval']</strong>. <strong>Christian Maynes</strong> and <strong>Eric Cohn</strong> round out the potential D-Line starters. Aguirre and Maciel are in the mix as two-way players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Basketball standout <strong>Michael Amador</strong> joins the Colts and will help anchor the secondary along with Brines at safety. <strong>Noah Marquez</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1790985' first='Jose' last='Medina']</strong> should contribute as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think our defense will be very good this year,” Ortiz said. “I could compare this defense to the one we had in 2022 when we went to the state championship game.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 SILVER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 at Santa Teresa (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 GALLUP (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 DEMING (Battle of 180)(7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 at Cobre (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 at Valencia (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 at St. Pius X (Thur., 7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 PORTALES ( 7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 at Chaparral (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 18 ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY ( 7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 MANZANO (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 1 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CoachOrtizCOLTS/status/1797787330922836332","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/CoachOrtizCOLTS/status/1797787330922836332 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->