2025 Team Preview: Alamogordo Tigers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 ALAMOGORDO PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since moving to Class 6A in 2022, Alamogordo has reached the playoffs just once. The past two seasons, the Tigers have seen their season end by the end of October. In 2024, several close, frustrating losses kept the Tigers out of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We were three or four plays away from being 5-5 and probably in the playoffs,” Alamogordo head coach A.J. Cisco told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Instead, we finished 2-8. But, as we told our guys, we expect to do better. Simply, 2-8 is not acceptable. That‘s not who we are.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“That record came largely from our own mistakes. That's stuff we have to clean up. The coaches have to do better job preparing the players to handle pressure situations and make plays in the fourth quarter. This off-season, we've focused on learning how to make plays in big situations.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The good news for Alamogordo is many of the Tigers' key contributors are back and they're one year older and more experienced. The team speed should be improved as well, especially at the offensive skill positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600835' first='Nathanael' last='Best']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1268759' first='Diego' last='Ortega']</strong> (OL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606032' first='Tristan' last='Bowman']</strong> (WR)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alamogordo plays at a high tempo, and because they often struggled to run the football last season, that often proved to be a detriment against physically superior teams as the opponent got extra possessions. They also turned the ball over too many times, eight against Organ Mountain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We were young and made some dumb mistakes throughout the year,” Cisco said. “Mistakes at the wrong times by a bunch of young kids and first-year varsity guys. This year, we're going to line up and run the football and be physical.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior dual threat quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600835' first='Nathanael' last='Best']</strong> returns to lead the offense after rushing for over 1,100 yards in 2024. And he didn't become the full-time QB for Alamogordo until Week 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Nathanael is very athletic,” Cisco said. “But he struggled at times throwing the football. He has worked extremely hard to get better at that throughout the off-season. Right now, he looks like a brand new passer. He's one of the best athletes in Class 6A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“He has given us something we haven't had in my eight years here – somebody who's that athletic playing quarterback. He's probably one of the best athletes on the field whenever he takes a snap. I'm excited to see him have a big year.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speedy rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605059' first='Bryson' last='Bloom']</strong> (laser timed in 40 at 4.52), rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680009' first='Jayden' last='Valdez']</strong> and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606124' first='Nathanael' last='Cereceres']</strong> will divide the duties at running back. Both also play defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Bryson is big, strong and fast,” Cisco said. “Both Bryson and Jayden are going to play defense too. They are special athletes, so they're tough to keep off the field. Even Nathanael will play defense too. He's one of the best athletes in our school. He's just as fast as Bloom with a 37-inch vertical leap. He's already qualified for the state track meet in several events”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another fast guy, rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606032' first='Tristan' last='Bowman']</strong>, returns as one of the starters at wide receiver. Rising senior <strong>Aidan Vasquez</strong> has started in the secondary for two years but he'll see more time at WR in 2025. Rising junior <strong>Sam Strong </strong>and rising junior <strong>Drake D'arezzo</strong> add depth. Both have good speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We'll put some guys on the field that will run by you and are very athletic,” Cisco said. “We're better athletically and certainly faster at wide receiver this year.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-5, 305-pound rising senior left tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1268759' first='Diego' last='Ortega']</strong> anchors the Tigers offensive line. Last weekend he was offered by New Mexico Highlands at Junior Day. Ortega is one of four returning O-Line starters from a season ago. Guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679752' first='Jackson' last='Wolfe']</strong> and <strong>Dominic Padilla</strong> (moving from center) are back along with new rising senior center <strong>Jamis Alexander</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several candidates will battle for the open right tackle job. The two weeks of padded practices will go a long way towards deciding the winer, or at least the final two. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605059' first='Bryson' last='Bloom']</strong> (DB); <strong>Jesse Guilez</strong> (LB); <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672450' first='James' last='Garcia']</strong> (DL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ball-hawking safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605059' first='Bryson' last='Bloom']</strong> (see above) led Alamogordo with 70 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2024. He'll be joined in the secondary by two other running backs - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680009' first='Jayden' last='Valdez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606124' first='Nathanael' last='Cereceres']</strong> (will also line up at OLB). All three could be utilized in the hybrid safety role and roll down to the second level at times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At defensive line, Alamogordo loses talented bookend DEs in Ke'Maurion Morrall (NM Highlands signee) and Isaac Lara. Several players will battle to replace them. In the interior, 280-pound rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672450' first='James' last='Garcia']</strong> returns at defensive tackle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1268759' first='Diego' last='Ortega']</strong> could see action at DT as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior<strong> Jesse Guilez</strong> missed most of the 2024 season with a collarbone &nbsp;injury but he's healthy now and he'll likely start at inside linebacker. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748704' first='Akaden' last='James']</strong> will join him at ILB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672453' first='Keaton' last='Orona']</strong>, who missed all of last season with an injury suffered in pre-season camp, will see action at OLB. He has next level talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Alamogordo Football Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 at Deming</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 ROSWELL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4 at Albuquerque High (Thur.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 at Piedra Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 ORGAN MOUNTAIN*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 at Hobbs*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 2 at Centennial* (Thur.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 CARLSBAD*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 LAS CRUCES*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 24 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 at Clovis*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-3 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my junior year highlights<br>Alamogordo high school<br>Quarterback and Receiver <br>HT:6'2<br>WT:175<br>2nd team all district <br>Offensive new comer of the year<a href="https://twitter.com/AlamoFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlamoFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDrefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDrefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottSing82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottSing82</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RockPerkins52?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RockPerkins52</a> <a href="https://t.co/qAauX6YILJ">pic.twitter.com/qAauX6YILJ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1600835' first='Nathanael' last='Best'] (@NathanBest65684) <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanBest65684/status/1882822938388476057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sophomore season highlights!<br><br>10 Games played <br><br>70 tackles/55 solo tackles/2 forced fumbles/ 2 PBU<br><br>19 rushes/193 yards /2 TD<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/_BrettyB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_BrettyB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/D7JsFFDoEk">https://t.co/D7JsFFDoEk</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1605059' first='Bryson' last='Bloom'] (@BrysonBloom) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrysonBloom/status/1852910870743179310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my Junior year highlights <br>Alamogordo high school<br>Offensive tackle <br>HT:6'4 <br>WT:300 <br>2nd team all district <br>2nd team all state<a href="https://t.co/pBpFpp9Ez3">https://t.co/pBpFpp9Ez3</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AlamoFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlamoFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDrefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDrefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1268759' first='Diego' last='Ortega'] (@DiegoOrtega7726) <a href="https://twitter.com/DiegoOrtega7726/status/1877044850274566427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had a blast at the <a href="https://twitter.com/NMHUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMHUFootball</a> junior day camp with <a href="https://twitter.com/DiegoOrtega7726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DiegoOrtega7726</a> , gotta thank <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTaufaasau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTaufaasau</a> and his coaching staff for the opportunity and putting on the camp<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDrefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDrefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottSing82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottSing82</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronCisco4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AaronCisco4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKyleShoot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKyleShoot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RockPerkins52?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RockPerkins52</a> <a href="https://t.co/uKGiSAG8Dk">pic.twitter.com/uKGiSAG8Dk</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1600835' first='Nathanael' last='Best'] (@NathanBest65684) <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanBest65684/status/1916997093845307857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here are some punts and kicks from today, getting ready for Kohl's kicking camp! <br><br>1st punt 4.59<br>2nd punt 4.52<br>Field goals 40yd middle <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottSing82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottSing82</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronCisco4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AaronCisco4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KohlsKicking?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KohlsKicking</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/1WQKmFrpf9">pic.twitter.com/1WQKmFrpf9</a></p>&mdash; Aidan Vasquez (@AidanVasquez6) <a href="https://twitter.com/AidanVasquez6/status/1914125614484771170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->