2024 Look Ahead: Robertson Cardinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robertson has a history of success few New Mexico schools can match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since 2015, the Cardinals have appeared in SIX state championship games and have amassed an impressive record of 93-20 over the last nine full seasons, winning 10 or more games eight times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simply, Robertson knows how to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going into the 2024 season, the expectations for the Cardinals are no different, both inside and outside the program. Would anybody be surprised if Robertson reaches the Class 3A state championship game for the third time in the last four years? No.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Robertson faced arch-rival St. Michael's in the 3A title game for the second time in three years but lost a close, hard-fought game to the Horsemen at Ivan Head Stadium in Santa Fe. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The message to the players has been to stay on course,” long-time Robertson head coach Leroy Gonzalez told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “The law of averages says we're not going to win every game, but our goal is to win the last game of the year. If we do that, we're holding aloft the blue trophy. But there are a lot of good teams out there. It takes a special year to win a title.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615560' first='Jesse' last='James Gonzales']</strong> has been a significant player on the Robertson varsity since he was a freshman. After two years at running back, he switched to QB last season and promptly demonstrated his elite dual threat skills by throwing and running for nearly 3,000 total yards. His TD-pass-to-interception ratio was 4-to-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“His brother (Matthew Gonzales) was a heckuva quarterback for us, but I think Jesse has a stronger arm,” Gonzalez said. “So, we can do a few more things offensively. Jesse has his own niche in the offense. He's been around the program for a long time. His family (older brothers) has been involved with Robertson for years. Jesse knows the ins and outs of the program.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594850' first='Paul' last='Duran']</strong> will be the No. 1 running back with senior <strong>Connor Ebell</strong>, who missed most of last season due to a severe knee injury, being utilized predominantly in short-yardage situations. Gonzales, Duran and Ebell give the Cardinals an extremely dynamic offensive backfield. Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613284' first='George' last='Smith']</strong>, who started on Robertson's varsity basketball team as an 8^th-grader, is a promising newcomer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615590' first='Nathaniel' last='Gonzalez']</strong> returns as the No. 1 wide receiver after a splendid 2023 season. Six-foot-3 Mateo Contreras graduated and has joined New Mexico as a walk-on. His cousin, 6-foot-5 sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155256' first='Nathan' last='Gonzales']</strong>, will contend for the No. 2 WR role along with playing outside linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior RT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594765' first='Isaiah' last='Medina']</strong> anchors the offensive line with senior C <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594748' first='Tony' last='Rubin']</strong> also returning. Senior <strong>Dominic Mascarenas</strong> was a backup offensive linemen last season but hopes to become a full time starter in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119084' first='Orlando' last='Romero']</strong>, a state champion power lifter (275-pound class) in March will be the nose tackle. Sophomore <strong>David Lautalo</strong> is a promising defensive end prospect &nbsp;and should make an impact in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Ortiz</strong> will be one of the cornerbacks. The two safeties are [player_tooltip player_id='615590' first='Nathaniel' last='Gonzalez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='615560' first='Jesse' last='James Gonzales'], both two-way standouts. Duran is an outside linebacker along with Ebell, who was an All-State performer at LB in 2022 before missing most of last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 ROBERTSON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 SOCORRO (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 31 at Cobre (Sat., 1 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 at Santa Rosa (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 RUIDOSO (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 RATON (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 TULAROSA (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 POJOAQUE VALLEY (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 at West Las Vegas (6 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 19 at Hope Christian (Sat., 11 a.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 1 ST. MICHAEL'S (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 3A-2 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1789333806648074371","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/_NMAA/status/1789333806648074371 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->