2024 Look Ahead: Dexter Demons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Impressive performances at the recent 7-on-7 tournaments hosted by NMMI and Eastern New Mexico the last two Fridays have suddenly thrust the Dexter Demons into the spotlight as one of the most intriguing teams in the entire state for 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dexter finished 9-3 last season and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 3A playoffs. This year, they're aiming higher and should be considered legitimate title contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In December, Dexter appeared destined to compete in Class 2A for at least the next realignment cycle (2024-25) but they quickly petitioned to move to Class 3A, and the request was granted by the NMMA. Dexter will compete in the new seven-team District 3A-3 along with Cobre, Hatch Valley, Hot Springs, NMMI, Ruidoso and Socorro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're going to have a big senior class and at schools like Dexter, that's important if you want to be good and be a contender,” Demons head coach Sonny Duran told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “That's where we're at right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our biggest thing coming into this season, knowing the senior class we're going to have, is the leadership part of it. Hopefully, our seniors will take a grasp of this team and make it theirs. The grit and discipline come after that.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Demons showed in Roswell (#1 seed for bracket playoffs) and Portales (reached championship game), their offensive skill position talent is elite. Quarterback <strong>C.J. Granados</strong> is a dynamic 6-foot-2 sophomore with a powerful throwing arm. He got extensive experience last season as a freshman when he split snaps with a senior, so he already has a year of experience under his belt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“C.J. is definitely more developed than most young quarterbacks his age,” Duran said. “He got his feet wet when we moved him up after his eighth grade season in 2022. He got a few snaps of experience. Last season, C.J. started seeing more reps in the second half of the year. I noticed a little difference in our offense when C.J. was the quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“His arm talent is exceptional. We haven't had that luxury here in Dexter to have a gunslinger like that. His mechanics as far as reaction time have really improved. He just needs to get better at anticipating windows and reading defenses a little faster. His reps are no longer going to be split. He will get all the first team reps.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119136' first='Julian' last='Manzanares']</strong> returns after rushing for over 1,100 yards and 23 TD last season, giving Dexter one of the top offensive backfields in Class 3A. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119120' first='Kaesn' last='George']</strong> should get some carries as well in addition to lining up at slot receiver. Manzanares and George combined for over 1,500 yards rushing and about 60 receptions in 2023. Both have next level aspirations. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're going to move George around in our offense,” Duran said. “He's like an Army Swiss knife. He will get some touches out of the backfield. We're going to emphasize that. I like to move guys around and give them the ball in space. Manzanares will be our primary back in the backfield most of the time. He'll get the ball between the tackles and sometimes outside the tackles. Those guys are two studs that show up every day and lead by example.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If a third running back gets involved in the offense, senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613197' first='Omar' last='Loya']</strong> will likely be the guy. Loya is another player who could line up at running back or as a wide receiver. Senior <strong>Isaac Ramirez</strong> is another possibility to get the ball as a receiver<strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='613153' first='Diego' last='Munoz']</strong> is the tight end and will be targeted in the middle of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dexter offensive line returns four starters from 2023. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599998' first='Hector' last='Ramirez']</strong> switches to center after playing tackle last season. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594780' first='Tayon' last='Rajah']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594754' first='Jose' last='Aguirre']</strong> (6-2, 255) will be the tackles, while the two guards are expected to be juniors <strong>Erick Campos</strong> (6-0, 260) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594773' first='Angel' last='Jimenez']</strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, junior DE/OLB <strong>Wyatt Sena</strong> is back after a sensational sophomore campaign in which he registered 21 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 17 QB hurries. In short, he wreaked a lot of havoc in opposing backfields and behind the line of scrimmage. He'll likely line up more at OLB in 2024 as Dexter looks to lock down the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Munoz will play the OLB spot opposite Sena in Dexter's 3-4 scheme. The two inside LB spots will be held down by junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137901' first='Garet' last='Gonzalez']</strong>, apromising linebacker and rusher after totaling 9 TFL and 4 sacks in 2023, and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155314' first='Rigo' last='Regalado']</strong>, who is &nbsp;emerging as a talented defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jason Richards</strong> will play both ways and &nbsp;compete for one of the starting OT jobs in addition to playing DL. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155310' first='Fernando' last='Prieto']</strong> also enjoyed an impressive freshman campaign and will return as a DL starter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599998' first='Hector' last='Ramirez']</strong> will be another DL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manzanares and Loya are the safeties while Isaac Ramirez and George are the cornerbacks as all four will play both ways. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 DEXTER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 JAL (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 at West Las Vegas (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 at Grants (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 POJOAQUE VALLEY ( 6p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 COBRE (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 RUIDOSO (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 at NMMI ( 7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 at Socorro (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 18 at Hot Springs (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 HATCH VALLEY (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DDemonFootball/status/1814463779436147170","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/DDemonFootball/status/1814463779436147170 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/juicemanzanares/status/1726635843325182267","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/juicemanzanares/status/1726635843325182267 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/1725201844174274971","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/cj_granados10/status/1725201844174274971 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/1811975326123327511","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/cj_granados10/status/1811975326123327511 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GeorgeKaesn/status/1812131413308637333","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/GeorgeKaesn/status/1812131413308637333 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->