2025 Team Preview: Albuquerque Bulldogs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Albuquerque Bulldogs Preview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Albuquerque High Bulldogs haven't qualified for the state high school football playoffs in nearly three decades. The past several years have seen AHS typically post records of 5-5 or 4-6. Last season, the Bulldogs lost two games by a total of four points: 20-17 to Cibola in OT and 21-20 to West Mesa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third-year Albuquerque High head coach Desmond Anaya wants to change the narrative surrounding the Bulldogs program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Going through this offseason, we really want to break the streak (of not making the playoffs),” Anaya told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “That's been a huge motivating factor. We definitely want to make that jump. We talk all the time about team goals and our No. 1 team goal is breaking the streak. We just have to get everybody on the same page. Our kids have responded well.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two quarterbacks are competing for the starting quarterback job: rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748645' first='Andre' last='Martin']</strong> (attempted 48 passes in 2024 as the backup QB; accurate passer and strong arm) and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1272753' first='Julian' last='Madera Lopez']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's a neck-and-neck battle between those two guys right now,” Anaya said. “Both guys have great things about their games that they bring to the table. They're very different. Andre is more of a pocket passer and Julian is more of a dual threat guy. Moving forward, we're going to try to figure out the best way to utilize them both. But you still need a starter, so we'll let the battle play out.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266534' first='Alberto' last='Landeros']</strong> is the Bulldogs' top returning rusher from a season ago. Anaya described him as a ‘home run hitter.' He rushed for 635 yards and 5 TD on 78 carries last season, averaging over 8 yards per attempt. Landeros is a power lifter during the offseason and has greatly improved his strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Alberto looks better than ever,” Anaya said. “I'm expecting him to have a big year, especially with our O-line returning so many guys.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679973' first='Kevin' last='Green-Yescas']</strong> and rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748661' first='Kylon' last='Clark']</strong> are battling for the No. 2 RB job. Clark is a starting cornerback for the Bulldogs and that's where he spent most of his time for the varsity in 2024. He played RB for the JV team the past two years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Kevin is an impressive athlete. He has some serious potential that we want to unlock this year,” Anaya said. “Kylon has been vocal about wanting to run the ball a little more this year. When he does run it, he's smooth and has good vision. He's very important for our defense, though.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Bulldog receivers had double digit receptions in2024 and both return this season. Rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613618' first='Juan' last='Carlos Landeros']</strong> (cousin to Alberto) and rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266538' first='Gabriel' last='Fernandez']</strong> both had 14 catches last season in a run-dominated offense. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679978' first='Roman' last='Viscarra']</strong> should have a bigger role as a receiver in 2025. Rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684448' first='Brayden' last='Velarde']</strong> is a promising newcomer to the WR corps. With his catch-and-run abilities, Velarde will be an outside receiver. Rising senior <strong>Israel Rodriguez</strong> adds depth as a blocking tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three returning starters, all rising seniors, are back to power the offensive line: OG <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853057' first='Jayden' last='Munoz']</strong>, OG <strong>Demarkus Johnson</strong> and 6-foot-2 LT <strong>Ulysses Roquillo</strong>. Munoz is a weight room warrior and an elite power lifter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our offensive line communicates well,” Anaya said. “Jayden, in particular, is a very good communicator. That communication is going to be critical up front.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>David Iguado</strong> takes over at right tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-2, 200-pound defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672465' first='Jesse' last='Lujan']</strong> will one of the anchors for the D-Line after registering 43 tackles in 2024.&nbsp; Physically, he has next level talent. He's also an elite track and field athlete in the javelin. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-3 rising sophomore DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684452' first='Nijion' last='Bokor']</strong> is promising newcomer to the defensive line. Bokor, also a power lifter and track athlete, and Lujan give the Bulldogs a pair of talented defensive ends. Several candidates are battling for the nose tackle job in Albuquerque High's 3-4 scheme. One of them is rising senior <strong>Munopa Muvevi</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Nijion hasn't finished growing. He's still a puppy,” Anaya said. “If he keeps on the trajectory he's on, big things are in his future.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's second-leading tackler, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748657' first='Julian' last='Cisneros']</strong> (64 tackles) headlines the linebacker corps. He's started there the last two years so he brings plenty of experience to the position. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266542' first='Sergio' last='Cisneros']</strong> (no relation to Julian) is the leading contender at WILL linebacker even though he underwent shoulder surgery following the 2024 season and is expected to be cleared by July. <strong>Israel Rodriguez</strong> (see above) starts at OLB. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior speedster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266545' first='Amin' last='Cooper']</strong> returns to the secondary at cornerback. He runs 100 meters in under 10.8 seconds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748661' first='Kylon' last='Clark']</strong> (see above) should be the other cornerback. Rising senior <strong>James Montano</strong> will rotate in as the third CB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679978' first='Roman' last='Viscarra']</strong> will be the strong safety in addition to seeing action at WR. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672473' first='Romeo' last='Ellis']</strong> (40 tackles in 2024) returns at free safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Albuquerque High Football Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 at Cibola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 at Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4 ALAMOGORDO (Thur.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 at Santa Fe*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 ATRISCO HERITAGE*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 LOS LUNAS*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 at West Mesa*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 at Eldorado*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 24 at Sandia*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 LA CUEVA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/PK108HZYFO">https://t.co/PK108HZYFO</a> 30 knockdowns, 24 in district play, 2 sacks allowed in 10 games. C/O 26' <a href="https://twitter.com/BulldogCityFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BulldogCityFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDezAnaya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDezAnaya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a></p>&mdash; Jayden “jay” Muñoz (@jaymunoz73) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaymunoz73/status/1863104493778321717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had a lot of fun being out in portales visiting ENMU for their junior day. It was very nice to check out their campus, weight room, and stadium. It was a pleasure to meet <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKelleyLee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKelleyLee</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/coachmccraw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachmccraw</a>. <a href="https://t.co/hGze271XD7">pic.twitter.com/hGze271XD7</a></p>&mdash; Jayden “jay” Muñoz (@jaymunoz73) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaymunoz73/status/1913418607658148248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->