2025 Team Preview: Farmington Scorpions

OVERVIEW   A year after going on the road and winning a Class 6A playoff game, Farmington fell to 4-6 overall last season and failed to reach the post-season, essentially dropping a playoff play-in game against rival Piedra Vista in the final weekend of the regular season.   “Last year was tough, but our guys have responded very well,” Farmington head coach Jeff Dalton told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Our players are well aware they were just a few plays away from having three more wins. So, we're revisiting details and the fine line between winning and losing in Class 6A.”        OFFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1680067' first='Rock' last='Kalcich'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1787344' first='Justin' last='Degroat'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1674190' first='Tyler' last='Mitchell'] (OL).   This season will mark the third straight year the Scorpions will have a different starting quarterback. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1680067' first='Rock' last='Kalcich'] is the early leader in the race for the job, but he faces multiple contenders. Kalcich was the backup QB in 2024 and has been rising in the Farmington program for several years.   “Rock has been a program guy,” Dalton said. “He knows the system. He is doing a good job. He actually started our game against Piedra Vista last year. Rock is a good game manager and a very smart quarterback. He's the most versatile quarterback we've had in a few years. He can run and he's very athletic. He reads defenses well and has a good pocket presence. He was our better passer last season.”   Rising senior Danny Hagstrom will also get a look at QB.   Farmington's only two rushers with 100+ yards last season have graduated, so the Scorpions will be relying on new talent in 2025. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1787344' first='Justin' last='Degroat'], a respected team leader, should be one of the primary ball carriers along with rising senior and defensive standout [player_tooltip player_id='853018' first='Santiago' last='Gonzales'] and rising junior Talon Stowell, the top rusher on the JV team in 2024.   The passing game will also have a new look. The Scorpions' top seven receivers in 2024 have graduated. In fact, nobody with more than two receptions a season ago is back. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1654801' first='Adam' last='Wiese'], who missed the 2024 season, will get an opportunity to become the No. 1 WR at one of the outside spots. Wiese has excellent hands and runs crisp routes.   Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon'] is a promising up-and-comer at slot receiver. He possesses good speed and competes in track during the spring. He's also going to compete at QB.   “Canton is one of our good, young players that we're going to build some things around,” Dalton said.   Farmington returns four of five starters along the offensive line. The group is led by 6-foot-4, 250-pound rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1674190' first='Tyler' last='Mitchell'], who enters his third season with the varsity. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1749334' first='Asa' last='Fishburn'] is back after starting every game last season at center. Also returning is rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1749339' first='Kameran' last='Jones'], a three-year starter. The only O-Line spot where the Scorpions are expected to have a new starter is right tackle.         “All the offensive linemen are back. That's the one place we didn't lose many guys,” Dalton said. “We've been young on the O-Line. Now we've got some juniors and seniors.”      DEFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='853018' first='Santiago' last='Gonzales'] (LB), James Rogers (LB), Danny Hagstrom (LB/S)   Farmington's top two tacklers return in 2025 to lead the Scorpions defense: LB [player_tooltip player_id='853018' first='Santiago' last='Gonzales'] (team-leading 89 tackles + 2 forced fumbles in 2024) and LB [player_tooltip player_id='1672757' first='James' last='Rogers'] (75 tackles). Both are rising seniors.   In addition to possibly getting snaps at QB, Danny Hagstrom will also be a key piece on the Scorpions defense. Hagstrom is a ball hawk as seen by his 54 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles last season. Hagstrom will line up at strong safety and the hybrid LB spot.   “We definitely have some very good depth at linebacker,” Dalton said. “We have some very good players there.”   The secondary other than Hagstrom should be new, meaning the Scorpions will have two new cornerbacks and a new free safety. The competition for some spots is, according to Dalton, “wide open.”  [player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon'] (see above) will get a look at cornerback. Rising junior Daniel Austin, an excellent track athlete, should get an opportunity at cornerback with his impressive physical skills. Rising junior Colter Davis saw action at free safety in 2024 and should make a bigger impact this season.           The top returner on the defensive line is rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1749417' first='Wyatt' last='Boognl'] (28 tackles, 5.0 TFL in 2024). He'll be joined by rising senior Mason Bond, who was limited by injuries last season. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826025' first='Gunther' last='Bowen'] is an intriguing and versatile player who could contribute on both sides of the ball. He saw action on the D-Line last season as a freshman. He can also play LB and RB.                 2025 Farmington Football Schedule:   Aug. 22 at Clovis        Aug. 29 DURANGO (CO)      Sept. 5 LOS LUNAS       Sept. 12 at Falcon (CO)       Sept. 19 LA CUEVA       Sept. 26 Bye       Oct. 3 CLEVELAND*       Oct. 10 VOLCANO VISTA*       Oct. 17 at Cibola*      Oct. 24 at Rio Rancho*        Oct. 31 at Piedra Vista*       * District 6A-1 Game

OVERVIEW