2024 Look Ahead: West Las Vegas Dons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just nine quarterbacks in the history of New Mexico high school football have thrown for more than 8,000 yards in their careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Las Vegas senior QB <strong>C.J. Perea</strong> could join that illustrious group in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perea, who was recently offered by Ottawa University in Kansas, has been one of the top passing quarterbacks in the state for three years. He started for the Dons as a freshman in 2021 when he passed for 2,229 yards and 24 TD, both career highs. Over three years, Perea has thrown for 6,165 yards and 62 TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If West Las Vegas hopes to break the St. Michael's-Robertson stranglehold atop its district, Perea must have another tremendous season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We just have to get C.J. dialed in,” West Las Vegas head coach [player_tooltip player_id='837201' first='Patrick' last='Rodriguez'] told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We have some good receivers, guys that are go-to kids. We want C.J. to get the ball out and get it to his athletes and let them get the yardage. He did a great job in 7-on-7 throwing to his check downs. C.J. can whip it. He has a very strong arm. Power doesn't always have to be in a deep ball. He has done everything we've asked.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to playing QB, Perea will also play defensive end this season. He's incredibly strong, deadlifting over 500 pounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“C.J. is a tough, really strong kid,” Rodriguez said. “I want to bring that out in him. He needs that mentality to go to the next level. He never ceases to amaze me. He is a very talented edge defender. He needs to play both ways and contribute to the defensive side of the ball. It will open doors for him. He has started to do that with powerlifting and track.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Las Vegas earned the No. 4 seed for the Class 3A playoffs last November but ended the season on a disappointing note with double-digit losses to fierce rival Robertson in the regular season finale and to NMMI at home in the quarterfinals. The Dons finished 7-4, a record that includes a hard-fought 7-6 road win at St. Michael's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I've told our players that we have to learn how to finish,” Rodriguez said. “We played very good football for most of last season. Now we're trying to get over the hump. I don't think some of our guys were comfortable being in the driver's seat. They're not used to it. For us, finishing is everything. Last season we left something on the table.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perea will be supported by a solid ground game featuring a three-headed monster at running back: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613150' first='Jonathon' last='Gonzales']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615662' first='Ethan' last='Tafoya']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837201' first='Patrick' last='Rodriguez'] Jr. </strong>(head coach's son). All three had roughly the same number of yards and carries last season. Gonzales underwent shoulder surgery after last season but was close to being cleared by doctors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Jonathon is a special talent,” Rodriguez said. “If he heals from this, he's going to do some big things for us. Tafoya has grown three or four inches and he's gotten faster and more explosive from playing basketball this summer. Patrick has gained about 20 pounds. He's an animal. He's great at catching the ball. We're going to work with all three of those guys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with Perea slinging the ball around the field, West Las Vegas actually ran the 56 percent of the time last season, which plays into the head coach's upbringing in triple option and veer offenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Being able to run the ball should put us over the top in this district,” Rodriguez said. “In that 3A state championship game, St. Michael's and Robertson are running the ball. That's what wins football games, in my mind. For us this year, if C.J. hits his number and we make our run game work, I feel we can make a run at the district title.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four of WLV's five receivers last season with double digits receptions are back. &nbsp;The group is led by senior <strong>DeShaun Kensey</strong>. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119118' first='Daniel' last='Bustamante']</strong> caught 13 passes last season, 11 for TD, which has to be some type of record. Junior <strong>DeVaughn Kensey</strong> has blazing speed. Tafoya and Rodriguez Jr. are excellent catching the ball out of the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854300' first='Carlo' last='Lucero']</strong>, <strong>Nick Silvas</strong>, <strong>Jose Sandoval </strong>and <strong>Devon Sandoval</strong> will anchor the offensive line. Newcomer <strong>David Mellow</strong> is 6-foot-4, 300+ pounds and is expected to earn a starting spot at some point this season. Right now, Rodriguez has about 18 offensive linemen on the 2024 roster, so he has plenty of bodies to pick from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Gonzales returns at DE after being one of the Dons' top tacklers in 2023. Perea will play the DE spot opposite him. Rodriguez Jr. played cornerback last season but has been moved to LB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837205' first='Marcus' last='Tapia']</strong>, a state champion power lifter, has also been moved to LB after playing safety in 2023. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119106' first='Cruz' last='Martinez']</strong>, an elite wrestler, will play LB alongside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854300' first='Carlo' last='Lucero'] </strong>(Mike LB). <strong>Elizardo Esquibel</strong> and Silvas will contribute at DL. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The secondary will be led by Tafoya, who has shown a nose for the football during 7x7 season. DeVaughn Kensey brings his elite speed to CB.       </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 WEST LAS VEGAS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 at Hatch Valley (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 DEXTER (6 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 at Ruidoso (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 at Portales (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 SANTA ROSA (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 TEXICO (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 ROBERTSON (6 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 19 at St. Michael's (Sat., 1 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 26 at Hope Christian (Sat., 11 a.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 1 POJOAQUE VALLEY (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 3A-2 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Westlasvegasfb/status/1815580467745427933","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/Westlasvegasfb/status/1815580467745427933 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CoachCarlos62/status/1815599481905381698","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/CoachCarlos62/status/1815599481905381698 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CoachCarlos62/status/1814911812879429987","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/CoachCarlos62/status/1814911812879429987 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->