2024 Look Ahead: Grants Pirates

After consecutive 1-9 seasons, Grants returned to the Class 4A playoffs in 2023 under first-year head coach Steve Brown, but were eliminated by Albuquerque Academy in a first-round loss at home, finishing 6-5.   Certainly an encouraging start to his tenure with the Pirates, but Brown says the Pirates must now focus on taking the next step in the process of building the program.      “The next step in the process is a deep playoff run,” Brown told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We're fortunate in that we have a lot of players back from last year. We were loaded with sophomores last year. Now they'll all be juniors. Frankly, we're expecting big things from our guys this year based on what we saw from them last year and what we're seeing from them this summer. We think we could be pretty salty.”   Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='853019' first='DJ' last='Chavez'] returns after throwing for over 1,000 yards in 2023. However, Chavez is currently locked in a tight battle with junior [player_tooltip player_id='854297' first='Tristin' last='Fernandez'] for the starting QB job. Fernandez did not play football in 2023 as he decided to focus on basketball. But he did play quarterback for the Pirates as a freshmen in 2022.   “They're battling every day in practice. It's neck-and-neck,” Brown said. “We could do a plug and play with those two guys right now at quarterback. We could have success with either one of them. At some point, one will rise to the top and they'll be our starter. But, right now, it doesn't matter who wins the job. They're both pretty good. We're excited about the opportunities they'll give us.”   Fernandez competed at the Prep Redzone Combine in April at Grants High School and earned accolades from the coaches for his performance.   “Tristin is a great athlete,” Brown said. “When he decided to come back to football this year, we welcomed him with open arms. Bringing a player like Tristin back into the program is going to push the guys around him to get better.”   Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='613060' first='Andres' last='Lazos'] returns to power the Pirates' running game after rushing for 1,273 yards and 12 TD in 10 games last season. Lazos is listed at just 5-foot-5, 130 pounds, but he runs with power and speed. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1248676' first='Joseph' last='Clawson'] is expected to be the backup RB. Eighth-grader [player_tooltip player_id='1720592' first='Julian' last='Fernandez'], younger brother of Tristin, will compete for the No. 2 job along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137886' first='Brandon' last='Wheeler']. The younger Fernandez is just 13 years old but mature physically well beyond his young age. Most likely, he will play JV this season. But he's definitely somebody to watch in the future.   “Andres is a dawg,” Brown said. “He's not very big but he was a dominant force out of the backfield for us last year. He's pretty good.”   Last year's top two receivers – juniors [player_tooltip player_id='854308' first='Isaiah' last='Ortega'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1137878' first='Cardenio' last='Chavez'] – are back after combining for 44 receptions and 841 yards and 10 TD as sophomores in 2023. Ortega has gained about 25 pounds and improved his speed, Brown said. He's been dominant during 7-on-7 season.     “We're looking for big things out of both of them,” Brown said. “I would those two guys up against any other wide receiver duo in the stat, simply because of their work ethic. They don't have the size you see at some of the bigger schools, but those guys have been working non-stop since last season ended. They are going to make our passing game a real threat.”   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='615512' first='Noah' last='Lundstrom'] is competing to be the No. 3 WR for the Pirates after serving mainly as an all-state safety last season. Lundstrom combines good size (6-0) with strength and speed. Senior Brian Marez could get some targets as well after also playing mostly on defense last season. Speedy junior [player_tooltip player_id='1248673' first='Isaiah' last='Aldaz'] will also get a look at WR. Athletic brothers [player_tooltip player_id='1594702' first='Boudy' last='Melonas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1751781' first='Coudy' last='Melonas'] have joined the football program for the first time. They have shown promise in summer workouts.        Senior center Ryan Tortalita headlines the group of returning offensive linemen for the Pirates. In fact, four of five starters from a year ago are back. Tortalita is entering his third season as Grant's starting center. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1248718' first='Christian' last='Martinez'] returns at guard. [player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'] will be the other guard. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1248679' first='Juaquine' last='Rivera'] started at tackle in 2023 and will likely return to that role. The opposite tackle job is up for grabs.         Defensively, Grants loses leading tackler Larry Meador, who signed with New Mexico Highlands as a linebacker. However, the second leading tackler, junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='1137886' first='Brandon' last='Wheeler'], is back. Wheeler had a 74 tackles and 5.0 TFL. [player_tooltip player_id='1248676' first='Joseph' last='Clawson'] will likely return to LB as well. [player_tooltip player_id='854297' first='Tristin' last='Fernandez'] is the favorite to replace Meador at MLB.        Six-foot-2, 320-pound junior Chris Archuleta will anchor the defensive line for the Pirates. [player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'] will hold down one of the other DL spots. Rivera will start at one of the DE spots. The opposite DE spot is wide open with three or four candidates battling for the job. Senior Clemente Garcia could have the edge there.   [player_tooltip player_id='1137878' first='Cardenio' last='Chavez']  returns at cornerback. Aldaz could join him there. Lundstrom and Lazos are back at safety. The Melonas brothers have shown promise at cornerback and safety, and could play either position.   Grants faces Miyamura, St. Pius X and Dexter in non-district play.   2024 Grants Football Schedule:   Aug. 23 MIYAMURA (7 p.m.)   Aug. 29 at St. Pius X (Thur., 7 p.m.)   Sept. 6 DEXTER (6 p.m.)   Sept. 13 at Espanola Valley (7 p.m.)*   Sept. 20 at Kirtland Central (7 p.m.)*   Sept. 27 AZTEC (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 4 Bye   Oct. 11 TAOS (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 19 MORIARTY (Sat., 2 p.m.)*   Oct. 25 at Bernalillo (7 p.m.)*   Nov. 1 BLOOMFIELD (7 p.m.)*   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/wheelerb26/status/1774278118993211702 </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/Gary_Chavezz/status/1795299856245997894 </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/GHSCoachBrown/status/1807972652411187414 </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/GHSCoachBrown/status/1787653512610062563 </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/GHSCoachBrown/status/1785884889075880292 </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/Gary_Chavezz/status/1779351868575273350 </div></figure>

After consecutive 1-9 seasons, Grants returned to the Class 4A playoffs in 2023 under first-year head coach Steve Brown, but were eliminated by Albuquerque Academy in a first-round loss at home, finishing 6-5.