2024 Look Ahead: Hope Christian Huskies

The Hope Christian Huskies fell just a few points short of toppling higher-seeded Socorro on the road in last season's first round of the Class 3A playoffs and reaching the quarterfinals.   However, with many of its top players returning in 2024, Hope Christian is hopeful of making a deeper run in the playoffs this year. But in order to accomplish that, the Huskies knew they had to get after it during their summer strength and conditioning program. Six Huskies players made the trip to Grants in April for the Prep Redzone Combine.   “Our focus during the off-season has been to get bigger, faster and stronger,” Hope Christian head coach Fernando Salinas told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “The weight room had to be our friend. That was our biggest thing. When we went back and watched film from last season, we weren't as physical as other teams. That's definitely been our main focus.”   Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1137124' first='RJ' last='Montoya'] is one of the Huskies' key returners after throwing for over 1,300 yards in his first season as the Huskies' starting signal-caller. Montoya was impressive at the Prep Redzone Combine in April and was rated by the coaches as one of the top QBs there. Right now, he's facing competition from junior [player_tooltip player_id='1248715' first='Noah' last='Carter'] for the starting job. Carter is coming off an ACL injury.   “RJ was a new quarterback last season and we had to get him acclimated to the position,” Salinas said. “He's a strong athlete. He does well. He's very smart. He has put in a lot of hard work. But Noah Carer is definitely pushing him a little bit. RJ throws the ball very well and he can run, so he gives us a dual threat presence.”   Carter will return to running back and linebacker, the two positions he played last season, if he doesn't win the QB job.   Leading rusher Elijah Saiz graduated, handing the baton to senior [player_tooltip player_id='615452' first='Mason' last='Hohsfield'], who missed the second half of last season with a knee injury.   “We have to keep Mason healthy,” Salinas said. “He should handle most of the work load.”   Hope Christian's top receiver from last season, senior [player_tooltip player_id='613163' first='Breylon' last='Williams'], also returns, even though he persevered through most of last season with an ankle injury.  Williams ran track in the spring and has gotten faster. He should be able to stretch the field and challenge opposing defenses vertically.   The No. 2 WR behind Williams will likely be senior Tristan Ellis. After him, the Huskies will be relying upon several young, untested receivers. One of them should be freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1613629' first='Ethan' last='Carter'], who saw varsity action as an 8th-grader in 2023. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1248687' first='Styles' last='Vigil'] suffered an arm injury during 7x7but hopes to return in time for the start of district play.       Three starters return for Hope Christian on the offensive line:  senior [player_tooltip player_id='1258947' first='Chaney' last='Cecil'], sophomore Zachary Bullock (started at OT as a freshman in 2023) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1248664' first='Cooper' last='Cecil'].   The Huskies defense will be keyed by sophomore safety [player_tooltip player_id='1605990' first='Darrien' last='Williams'], Breyon's younger brother. [player_tooltip player_id='1258947' first='Chaney' last='Cecil'] will also play DL in addition to OL. Most of Hope Christian's starters on offense will also play defense. [player_tooltip player_id='613163' first='Breylon' last='Williams'] and Montoya will be the cornerbacks.   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137835' first='Krew' last='Ward'] averaged about 10 tackles per game from his LB spot and he should spearhead the second level of the Huskies' defense. Vigil will play OLB when he returns from his injury.   2024 HOPE CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE   Aug. 24 at Del Norte (Sat., 11 a.m.)   Aug. 31 LEGACY ACADEMY (Sat., 11 a.m.)   Sept. 7 at Albuquerque Academy (Sat., 11 a.m.)   Sept. 14 at Manzano (Sat., 11 a.m.)   Sept. 20 at Estancia (7 p.m.)   Sept. 28 SANTA FE INDIAN (Sat., 5 p.m.)   Oct. 5 at St. Michael's (Sat., 1 p.m.)*   Oct. 11 at Pojoaque Valley (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 19 ROBERTSON (Sat, 11 a.m.)*   Oct. 26 WEST LAS VEGAS (Sat., 11 a.m.)*   * District 3A-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/RJ_Montoya_/status/1722028179706019987 </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/RJ_Montoya_/status/1815100076181934315 </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/ArturoCafeSeven/status/1802063523083850226 </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/ArturoCafeSeven/status/1779366530964410585 </div></figure>

The Hope Christian Huskies fell just a few points short of toppling higher-seeded Socorro on the road in last season's first round of the Class 3A playoffs and reaching the quarterfinals.