2025 Team Preview: Carlsbad Cavemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Carlsbad Cavemen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlsbad hasn't made the Class 6A playoffs since 2022, but with new football facilities under construction, there's reason for optimism within the Cavemen program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're getting some new facilities (fieldhouse, weight room, etc.) and it's definitely been a learning curve as far when we can work out,” Carlsbad head coach Cale Sanders told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Everything is beginning to feel more normal. We're getting into a routine. We've changed some things on how we train and our way of thinking.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlsbad missed out on the postseason with a 4-6 record. Two heartbreaking shootoutr losses stick out: 47-44 vs. Lovington and 41-40 in overtime to Organ Mountain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Last season wasn't what we wanted,” Sanders said. ”We dropped two games we shouldn't have lost. That completely changed our playoff prospects. We made an improvement from the year before (2-8 in 2023), but we still underperformed. That's been a motivating factor for some of our guys. We were competitive against some of the major teams, which has given our guys some confidence. But it's hard to teach winning without actually winning.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Former Cavemen QB [player_tooltip player_id='1119650' first='Kason' last='Perez'] signed with NMMI after throwing for almost 3,500 yards and 37 TD in two seasons as the starter. His departure has opened the door to a wide-open competition between several candidates that Sanders said may not be resolved until shortly before the season opener against Artesia in the Eddy County War.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's definitely a situation where we have guys with different skill sets,”Sanders said. “Some are completely opposite of Kason. We're going to have to adapt and change to what our quarterback can and can't do.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Risng senior <strong>Eloy Lopez</strong> (last season's backup QB), rising junior <strong>Marley Munoz, </strong>rising sophomore <strong>Elijah Banks</strong> and rising junior <strong>Anthony Hernandez</strong> are four the top contenders for the starting QB job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“They're all different, they all have their own quirks and pluses and minuses, so it's going to be quite a battle,” Sanders said. “It's been fun, actually. Sometimes competition brings out the best in people. Regardless of who earns the job, it might not be a full time gig. Having two quarterbacks could be a positive. There's a lot of stuff we can do.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605005' first='Brock' last='Wright']</strong> returns after leading the Cavemen in rushing last season with 613 yards and 7 TD on 124 carries, by far the most on the team. Wright, who possesses good size, is also a baseball standout. Wright didn't join the Cavemen football program until late in preseason camp last August and didn't hit his stride until the middle of the season. Rising junior <strong>Steve Larez</strong> brings speed and shiftiness to the RB position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlsbad's top four receivers in 204 were all juniors: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137066' first='Robert' last='Castaneda']</strong>, <strong>Eloy Lopez</strong>, <strong>Richard Hernandez</strong> and <strong>Eaven Leos</strong>. Castaneda led the way with 48 receptions for 711 yards and 12 TD. Their experience should be a major positive for Carlsbad's passing attack, especially with a new QB ready to take the reins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's nice because we don't have to teach as much,” Sanders said. “I have guys that understand what we're doing. We can fine tune the little stuff rather than having to teach concepts. They all get it. They'll all be another year older and wiser. Robert has the ‘it' factor. He can do stuff that most kids can't do. He's one of the fastest players we have. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He plays like he has something to prove.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along the offensive line, four of five starters return. Rising junior center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679946' first='Casten' last='Sanders']</strong> will anchor the unit. <strong>Jeremy ‘Cowboy' Vargas</strong> will play guard. Vargas won the state powerlifting title in the 308-pound class. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748638' first='Daniel' last='Acosta']</strong> will be one of the offensive tackles with rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679951' first='Jeramiah' last='Carrasco']</strong> lining up at tackle on the opposite side. He missed most of district play last season with an injury but he's healthy now. Rising junior <strong>Triston Munoz</strong> will likely be the new starter at guard but he saw significant action as a backup in 2024. &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>Rising junior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1248663' first='Colton' last='McKibben']</strong>'s rise up the national recruiting rankings has been meteroric, to say the least. But it's easy to see why -McKibben has great size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), good strength (3^rd in 220-pound class at the state powerlifting meet; deadlifts 500+ pounds), excellent speed (one of the fastest players on the team) and impressive production his first two years with the varsity (95 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks in 2024). Arizona State, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and New Mexico are just five of his latest offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Colton never stops amazing me with the stuff he does,” Sanders said. “He is the ultimate competitor. His will to win is probably greater than his will to breath. He always gets the job done. He's freaky. He looks the part. He does everything right. He deserves all the looks he's getting. He has stayed humble. He understands he has a long ways to go as far as football knowledge. And he's still young.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672814' first='Simon' last='Rubio']</strong> will see action at outside linebacker. Rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825979' first='Trey' last='Barta']</strong> is a promising newcome at LB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the secondary, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672492' first='Rio' last='Sanchez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672495' first='Reenson' last='Akwiembi']</strong> return. Sanchez is going into his third year as a starter at cornerback. Akwiembi, who won the 181-pound class at the state powerlifting meet, will be a rover. The coaches plan to move him around and line him up at corberback, safety or outside linebacker. <strong>Ty Young</strong> returns at safety. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155255' first='Lennon' last='Ananins']</strong> could fill one of the remaining DB spots. He's also the Cavemen's placekicker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line will be anchored by rising sophomore nose tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684458' first='Sean' last='Cruz']</strong>, who finished third in the 308-pound class at the state powerlifting meet. Six-foot-3 <strong>Isaiah Almodovar</strong> joins him after gaining experience with the varsity last season. Rising junior <strong>Ivan Solorzano</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679956' first='Isaiah' last='Gaitan']</strong> and <strong>Zayland Pesante</strong> are three possible contributors at defensive end. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Carlsbad Football Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 ARTESIA (Eddy County War)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 GODDARD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 5 at Lovington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 11 at Cibola (Thur.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 CENTENNIAL*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 CLOVIS*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 at Organ Mountain (Sat., 1 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 at Alamogordo*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 24 LAS CRUCES*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 at Hobbs*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-3 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sophomore Season Stats:<br>95 Tackles<br>11.5 TFL's<br>2.5 Sacks<br>1 INT<a href="https://t.co/ZEmT4cxLZb">https://t.co/ZEmT4cxLZb</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1248663' first='Colton' last='McKibben'] (@COLTONMCKIBBEN9) <a href="https://twitter.com/COLTONMCKIBBEN9/status/1868496518069866591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First in the state, and 2nd in the 5a division as a team for our first ever powerlifting team! <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_NMAA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/iT33QUqLDj">pic.twitter.com/iT33QUqLDj</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1672495' first='Reenson' last='Akwiembi'] (@TheReensonA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheReensonA/status/1910058957260960225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Got to kick up in Albuquerque with kicking work here's a 50,55 yard field goals <a href="https://twitter.com/KickingWorld?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KickingWorld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CSKRECRUITING?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSKRECRUITING</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Carsonmohr38?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Carsonmohr38</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tony_mccoy3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tony_mccoy3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_TSanchez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_TSanchez</a> <a href="https://t.co/A4heiaqAWX">pic.twitter.com/A4heiaqAWX</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155255' first='Lennon' last='Ananins'] (@Leny14375372) <a href="https://twitter.com/Leny14375372/status/1909273901894451451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->