2025 Team Preview: Cibola Cougars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 CIBOLA PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If it seems like things haven't been the same for Cibola since prolific quarterback Aden Chavez graduated after the 2022 season, you're probably right. Over the past two years, the Cougars are a dismal 2-18 as their offense has struggled to score points. Cibola was blanked in the final FIVE games last season, putting incredible pressure on a respectable defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enter David Howes. The former Rio Rancho head coach and New Mexico assistant served as Cibola's defensive coordinator in 2024. He took over as head coach a couple of months ago. His mission is simple: Get Cibola, his alma mater, back on track.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm encouraged by the improvement in attendance and our numbers are improving slowly,” Howes told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “My number one goal has been to recruit kids out of the hallways and getting them out (onto the football field). Last season was a growing year for me understanding the challenges and getting acclimated to high school football in APS. It was the first time I had dealt with APS since 2003.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Cibola's biggest obstacles to climbing back up the ladder is their district. District 6A-1 includes Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Volcano Vista and Farmington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have challenges when it comes to the district we're in and our student population,” Howes said. “We have challenges outside of our control. But what we can control is lining up correctly, the tempo at which we move and adhering to the basic fundamentals of football.” &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>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1684435' first='Terry' last='Maes'] III</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748730' first='Emmanuel' last='Apodaca']</strong> (RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672439' first='Danny' last='Triplett'] </strong>(WR).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As you would expect, Cibola's offense will likely undergo some significant changes in Howes' first season as head coach. He acknowledges the Cougars' offense suffered through serious issues in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The lack of discipline and too many penalties led to the lack of production on offense,” Howes said. “Some of those problems resulted from attendance and kids showing up and being there to learn and having the motivation to get better every day. Sometimes, we looked like two different teams during the game. We have to close the gap (between the offense and defense). When we finally put the pieces together, it will be a lot better.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Promising rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684435' first='Terry' last='Maes'] III</strong> could be the future of Cibola football at the quarterback position. He possesses good size (6-2, 180 pounds) and a strong throwing arm. But he'll have to earn the starting job against several other candidates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Terry has really good size and very good strength,” Howes said. “I'm impressed with what he has done in the offseason, so far. He's very strong in the weight room for a freshman, he throws the ball well and he's very composed. We have a couple of rising seniors that will be competing and pushing for the job as well. I'm going to let the competition go farther into the summer before I narrow the candidates.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748730' first='Emmanuel' last='Apodaca']</strong> could have an edge at running back based on his experience, but he'll face competition as well. Rising junior scatback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679743' first='Johnny' last='Gallegos']</strong> could be one of contenders along with rising seniors <strong>Damien Suarez </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum']</strong>, both of whom have been defensive standouts for the Cougars in the past. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have some young guys that will push Apodaca,” Howes said. “That comes with having 2-8 and 0-10 seasons. You have to compete for jobs. That's where we're at right now. Every job is open.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Experienced rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672439' first='Danny' last='Triplett']</strong> leads the Cougars wide receiver corps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Danny is going to be the guy,” Howes said. “He has the most experience. He had some decent catches last year when they got him the ball. I look forward to him have a breakout year.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cibola's offensive line will likely rely on a promising group of youngsters that has good size, work ethic and talent. Among the contenders to earn starting job are rising sophomores <strong>Zander Salisbury, [player_tooltip player_id='1684440' first='Isaac' last='Branch']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684443' first='Devon' last='Love']</strong>. Rising juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679737' first='Joshua' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>Isaiah Nolte</strong> will also compete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“All those guys are bigger in terms of height and weight than what we've had,” Howes said. “Based on what I've seen so far, the difference between last year and this year is night and day. Our guys just need to develop.”</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='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum']</strong> (LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601052' first='Andrew' last='Lueras']</strong> (LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267176' first='Jalil' last='Dixon']</strong> (DB).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum']</strong> is the undisputed leader of Cibola's underrated defense, a unit that deserved a better fate in 2024. After making 123 tackles with 19.0 TFL and 6.0 sacks as a sophomore in 2023, Baum suffered a midway through last season, but still made 54 tackles and 5.0 TFL in four games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“His numbers are off the charts,”: Howes said. “He should definitely be getting a lot more attention than what he has been getting. He has decent speed and a very good football IQ. Hayes is high level. I don't think there's a better linebacker in the state better than Hayes. He wreaks havoc. He's one of the better defensive players I've coached.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baum is one of several returning starters on defense for Cibola. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601052' first='Andrew' last='Lueras']</strong> (82 tackles in 2024) joins Baum on the second level, while DE/OLB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672443' first='Ryan' last='Gunn']</strong> (52 tackles, 6.0 TFL) is excellent on the edge. Six-foot-4 rising junior DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679747' first='Isaac' last='Behrens']</strong> showed promise last season with 29 tackles and 5 QB hurries. LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748766' first='Isaac' last='Brito']</strong>, a baseball standout for the Cougars, returns after making 49 tackles in 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior CB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267176' first='Jalil' last='Dixon']</strong> has next level talent, and he visited several schools in April for camps and Junior Days, including Eastern New Mexico, NMMI and Hardin-Simmons in Texas. Rising senior <strong>Anthony Maldonado</strong> will likely start at the CB spots opposite Dixon. Rising senior safety <strong>Julio Gutierrez</strong> also returns to the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Promising rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1748810' first='Mack' last='Cash']</strong> returns after missing all of last season with a knee injury. He could be a breakthrough player for the Cougars. Rising senior <strong>Jacob Newman</strong> showed flashes last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Cibola Football Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 at Sandia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 5 ELDORADO</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 11 CARLSBAD (Thur., 7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 at Clovis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 RIO RANCHO*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 at Cleveland*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 FARMINGTON*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 24 at Piedra Vista*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 VOLCANO VISTA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-1 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WEEK 1-5 HIGHLIGHTS <br>53 TKL, 36 Solo, 5 TFL, 1 INT<br>LB | SS | TE<br>1 missed game due to injury <br>Blessed ✝️<a href="https://twitter.com/coachhowe1856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachhowe1856</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidHowes5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidHowes5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDmontoya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDmontoya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CipSena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CipSena</a> <a href="https://t.co/aNX2qGwSlv">https://t.co/aNX2qGwSlv</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum'] (@The__Baum) <a href="https://twitter.com/The__Baum/status/1837984030966358028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Off-season work with <a href="https://twitter.com/Logan_1_Bruere?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Logan_1_Bruere</a> <a href="https://t.co/6YV3hU1p3Z">pic.twitter.com/6YV3hU1p3Z</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1684435' first='Terry' last='Maes'] III (@TerryIii97448) <a href="https://twitter.com/TerryIii97448/status/1878576070691098755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 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/s7Um7keh4a">https://t.co/s7Um7keh4a</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1267176' first='Jalil' last='Dixon'] (@Jalil_Dixon_6) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jalil_Dixon_6/status/1916657177319571558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->