2025 Team Preview: Eldorado Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 ELDORADO PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things are looking up for Eldorado football. The Eagles snapped a two-year non-playoff stretch by earning the No. 8 seed – and the right to host a first round home game – in 2024.&nbsp; The numbers are up with around 75 players currently in the program. As a result, the optimism surrounding Eldorado is probably the highest it has been in a while.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“These are exciting times for Eldorado football,” Eagles head coach Charlie Dotson told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Our numbers are pretty good right now. Our freshmen team went undefeated (7-0) last year. We finally made it through Covid. We're excited for the future.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado won seven games in 2024, finishing third in District 6A-2 behind La Cueva and Los Lunas. The Eagles last won a playoff game in 2018. Returning to the playoffs was a big deal, Dotson said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“There is no reason why Eldorado High School shouldn't be in the playoffs,” Dotson said. “I've been the head coach here for 18 years. We've made the playoffs about 14 or 15 of those years. The two years prior to last season were tough. Our numbers were down. But I think we're rejuvenated.&nbsp; Brighter days are ahead for Eldorado.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead'] </strong>(WR)<strong>; [player_tooltip player_id='1605043' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana'] </strong>(RB)<strong>; [player_tooltip player_id='1406446' first='Isaic' last='Alderman'] (OL)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just over a year ago, Dotson hired former Taos head coach Art Abreu as offensive coordinator. It turned out to be a good decision as Abreu brought a fresh ideas and fresh energy to the Eldorado offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Art has been a great asset for our program,” Dotson said. “Not just the offense, but the entire team with his enthusiasm, love of the game and how he relates to kids. Our kids are excited when they get done with the workouts. They're enjoying the work a little bit more.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1248671' first='Giovanni' last='Evans']</strong> took the majority of the snaps last season at quarterback for the Eagles. However, he was injured in the middle stages of the season&nbsp; and missed three or four games. In his place, Dotson decided to start 6-foot-2 freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613357' first='Stellar' last='Kendrick']</strong>. Two other quarterbacks also saw action. Result? Evans, Kendrick (a rising sophomore) &nbsp;and others (rising senior <strong>Ty Fasthorse</strong>, etc.) are battling for the starting QB job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Stellar is not a prototypical type quarterback, but he has some running ability and fearlessness,” said Dotson, who hasn't ruled out utilizing multiple quarterbacks. “We're looking for a quarterback that will step up and be a leader.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Answers may not come until July when Eldorado plans to hold its 10 practices allowed by the NMMA. Some of those sessions will be held at Western Colorado's team camp July 17-19 in Gunnison, CO. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top task for Eldorado's QB this season is simple: get the ball to dynamic rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead']</strong>. He emerged last season as an exciting kick returner along with running back and receiver. Morehead could even get a look at quarterback. Morehead is exceptionally fast and currently enjoying an excellent track season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have what we think is a pretty special athlete in [player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead'],” Dotson said. “We may design some packages for him at quarterback. We have to get him the ball in space. He's tough to tackle. He could end up playing three or four different positions.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605043' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana']</strong> and promising 6-foot-2 rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613434' first='Nolan' last='Romero-Williams']</strong> will spark the Eagles' running game. They'll be together for at least the next two years. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Isaiah was very good last season. He runs very hard,” Dotson said. “He's not the fastest and he's not the biggest, but he runs as hard as anybody we've had here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680003' first='Colby' last='Bateson']</strong> and rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748685' first='Teddy' last='Hunter']</strong> return as starters at wide receiver. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brothers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672549' first='Matheu' last='Alderman']</strong> (6-5, 270), a rising senior, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1406446' first='Isaic' last='Alderman']</strong> (6-3, 295), a rising junior, anchor the offensive line as bookend tackles. Rising seniors <strong>Elijah Dixon</strong> and <strong>Andrew Sweetman</strong> will likely start at the two guard spots. Rising sophomore <strong>Max Wiseman</strong> is set to be the center.             </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='1672561' first='Finn' last='Dolinski']</strong> (DL); <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672564' first='Fred' last='Tafoya'] </strong>(DL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672553' first='Orlando' last='Cascante']</strong> (DB).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado returns just three starters on defense: DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672561' first='Finn' last='Dolinski']</strong>, DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672564' first='Fred' last='Tafoya']</strong> and S <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672553' first='Orlando' last='Cascante']</strong> (80 tackles, 5 passes defended in 2024). Beyond that trio, Eldorado will rely on a considerable number of rising sophomores to fill spots. Thus, there are plenty of ongoing position battles that promise to last into preseason camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have a lot of question marks on defense as to who we play,” Dotson said. “Some of them could be guys off last season's undefeated freshman team. We could start five to seven sophomores. We're going to very young on defense. Some of our guys are going to make the leap from freshman team to varsity.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>Diego Hernandez</strong> is expected to compete for one of the starting job at LB. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Eldorado Football Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 ORGAN MOUNTAIN</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 5 at Cibola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 at Los Lunas*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 at Volcano Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 at Santa Fe*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 &nbsp;LA CUEVA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 at Sandia*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 23 WEST MESA (Thur.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 ATRISCO HERITAGE* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-2 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had a great time at <a href="https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ENMUFootball</a> Junior Day! Huge thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKelleyLee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKelleyLee</a> for the invite!<a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/t9i4eTRPQK">pic.twitter.com/t9i4eTRPQK</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1248671' first='Giovanni' last='Evans'] (@GioEvans3) <a href="https://twitter.com/GioEvans3/status/1913768955174588673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my highlight - <a href="https://t.co/OmJo84s8Ge">https://t.co/OmJo84s8Ge</a> freshman year varsity highlights</p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1613357' first='Stellar' last='Kendrick'] (@Stellar19641151) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stellar19641151/status/1884834219894919239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->