2024 Look Ahead: Socorro Warriors

After posting an undefeated regular season record and earning the No. 1 seed for the Class 3A playoffs in 2022, the Socorro Warriors followed up with another solid season in 2023, finishing 9-3 and reaching the 3A quarterfinals.   Then again, outstanding seasons have become the norm in Socorro as the Warriors are 50-10 in the last five full seasons (excluding Covid-shorted spring campaign in 2021) with a 3A state championship game appearance in 2019.   However, many of the players on those teams have graduated or otherwise moved on, creating a void that must be filled quickly for Socorro to maintain its high level of success.   “Our program has lost so many good ballplayers over the last three or four years,” Socorro head coach Damien Ocampo told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We have a lot of new faces. For us, it's all hands on deck and we need everybody working hard. It's been a challenge for sure. We're in a position where it's not a full rebuild but we need some young guys to step up, for sure. We only return a couple of starters on each side of the ball.”   But Socorro has been in this spot before. Last season, the Warriors returned only a couple of starters from 2022's 12-1 team, but still managed to win 9 games. So, relying on inexperienced players is nothing new in Socorro.   “I think a lot of teams wrote us off prior to last season,” Ocampo said. “They didn't think we were going to be any good. But we won nine games. If you had told me that before the start of last season, I would have taken that record for sure.   “The kids battled the whole year. They want to win. This year, it's not much different. We have some young guys that really have to step up. We may be starting two or three freshmen. If the guys buy in and grow together, we have a great chance to be pretty tough by district play.”   Based on the raw numbers, speedy senior quarterback  [player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo'] (son of the head coach) was one of the best signal callers in the state last season. He's an elite dual threat QB, throwing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for over 1,100 yards in 12 games last season, joining the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club. He accounted for 33 TD and posted 5 games with 100+ rushing yards.   “Isaiah is a leader and he's probably the hardest working player I've had in the program,” Ocampo said. “I'm probably a lot harder on my son than any other player in the program. He does all the right things and he works his tail off. He's one of those quarterbacks that's a little bit of a throwback. He wants to be in the mix all the time. He doesn't care about the accolades. He just wants to win. He's a special kid.”   Senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1119374' first='Cenyon' last='Scarborough'] returns after rushing for close to 400 yards and 3 TD last season. Scarborough will also play middle linebacker on defense.   “We're expecting a lot out of Scarborough, offensively and defensively” Ocampo said. “As our middle linebacker, a lot of the defensive calls go through him. He's a tough player.”   Scarborough will be joined at running back by several young ball carriers, Ocampo said, meaning he will likely rotate with other ball carriers in a running-back-by-committee approach.   Socorro's wide receiver corps has the potential to be very good with talented junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137096' first='Jay' last='Lee'] (60 receptions for 944 yards and 13 TD) headlining the group.   “We're expecting big things from Jay,” Ocampo said. “Behind him are some very talented young receivers that are going to very good down the line. We're excited about them.”   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137110' first='Jake' last='Angel'] and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1155331' first='Jojo' last='Barba'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1272788' first='Nazario' last='Silva'] are among the group of promising young receivers that will be counted on this season to help spark the passing attack. Silva and Barba will play both sides of the ball.   Senior center Gabriel Giron will anchor the offensive line.   “Gabriel is one of the best players in the state at what he does,” Ocampo said. “He is outstanding.”   Giron will be joined on the O-Line by senior Ian Gonzales and 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior [player_tooltip player_id='1137847' first='David' last='Gutierrez'], who could also play tight end. Gutierrez is an elite wrestler. Jeremiah Garza will play TE and DE.   Gutierrez and Garza lead the defensive line. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1604777' first='Dakota' last='Johnson'] is a promising young talent. Johnson is fast, strong and tough, and should make a significant impact this season.     Silva will play linebacker after starting as a freshman in 2023. Scarborough will also play LB. The other two LB spots are up for grabs. The secondary is led by [player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo'] at safety, Angel and Lee at safety and/or cornerback. Barba will join them at cornerback.   2024 SOCORRO FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:   Aug. 23 at Robertson (7 p.m.)   Aug. 30 at Thoreau (7 p.m.)   Sept. 6 at Cuba (7 p.m.)   Sept. 13 ESTANCIA (7 p.m.)   Sept. 20 HOT SPRINGS (7 p.m.)*   Sept. 27 HATCH VALLEY (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 4 Bye   Oct. 11 DEXTER (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 18 at Cobre (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 25 at Ruidoso (7 p.m.)*   Nov. 1 at NMMI (7 p.m.)*   * District 3A-3 Game

After posting an undefeated regular season record and earning the No. 1 seed for the Class 3A playoffs in 2022, the Socorro Warriors followed up with another solid season in 2023, finishing 9-3 and reaching the 3A quarterfinals.