2025 Team Preview: Gadsden Panthers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 GADSDEN PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few teams in New Mexico have experienced a greater turnaround in fortunes over the past three seasons than Gadsden. After struggling to compete for years (or decades) against some of the largest schools in southern New Mexico, Gadsden's move to Class 5A in 2022 has proven immensely helpful to the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers have earned a berth in the Class 5A playoffs in each of the past three years. They won on a 1^st round playoff game on the road at Los Alamos in 2022 and last season advanced to the 5A semifinals at eventual champion Roswell. Gadsden battled the Coyotes for more than three quarters before Roswell pulled away late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The semifinal loss has left everybody in our program really hungry,” Gadsden head coach Dino Facio Jr. told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We've seen the benefits of winning and what comes with that. Kids show up and people want to be a part of our program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The campus is excited. It puts more pressure on the players and coaches to perform. People want to see winners. We have to put out a product people are proud of. That's what you want. We want the expectation of being a good football team every year.”&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gadsden loses some of its top talent from last season to graduation but many major contributors are returning as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1751388' first='Ethan' last='Morales']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1357130' first='Juan' last='Rios']</strong> (RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155087' first='Anthony' last='Palomares']</strong> (WR).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of Gadsden's quarterbacks last season were seniors, including Sul Ross State signee Kelly Stevens, so there will be a new face calling signals in 2025. The early leader in the competition for the starting job is rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751388' first='Ethan' last='Morales']</strong>, who was the No. 3 QB in 2024. He saw action early last season when Steven was injured in the season opener, playing three quarters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Ethan has done a fantastic job for us during the off-season,” Facio said. “We've been able to open up the playbook a little bit more with his progression through the off-season. He has come a long ways. He has an opportunity to showcase his talents. He's been around some pretty good quarterbacks. If he gets the nod coming out of fall camp, we are confident in his abilities.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of rising sophomores (2028) are competing with Morales for the starting job: <strong>Matthew Rubio</strong> and <strong>Ayden Cardenas</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gadsden must also replace highly productive running back Alfredo Andrade, who rushed for over 1,600 yards and 20 TD on a workhorse 231 carries in 2024. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1357130' first='Juan' last='Rios']</strong> was the Panthers' second leading rusher last season with over 600 yards and 6 TD. He'll ascend to the No. 1 RB job. Rising junior <strong>Amando Ramirez</strong>&nbsp; is expected to be the backup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Juan was basically our second horse in the backfield last season,” Facio said. “Alfredo took a majority of the snaps but when Juan got his opportunities, he made the most of them. I'm glad he wasn't a senior in 2024. I knew we would be getting him back. Amando arrived late last year but he has star potential. He's one to watch.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive skill position where Gadsden does return its top performer in 2024 is wide receiver. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155087' first='Anthony' last='Palomares']</strong> led the Panthers with 46 receptions last season as a sophomore. Palomares has been a camp warrior during the offseason and certainly possesses next level talent. Behind him &nbsp;are several young, inexperienced receivers. Among them are rising junior<strong> Michael</strong> <strong>Hernadez</strong> and rising sophomore <strong>Jacob Herrera</strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Anthony is very mature for his age,” Facio said. “You think he's a lot older than what he is. We're very excited to have him back.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gadsden offensive line returns rising senior center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751391' first='Jacob' last='Escobedo-Aguirre']</strong> and rising senior tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751393' first='Luis' last='Loya']</strong>. Rising sophomore <strong>Rudy Orduno</strong> played both guard spots last season as a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The offensive line is another position that's going to see some different faces,” Facio said. “But we feel confident with the pieces we've got coming back. Hopefully, we can plug in some young buck like we did a year ago.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</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='854198' first='Alexander' last='Lopez']</strong> (DE), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751399' first='Rocky' last='Rodriguez']</strong> (LB), <strong>Giovanni Tarin</strong> (DB).     </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854198' first='Alexander' last='Lopez']</strong> has established himself as one of the top defensive ends in the state. The 6-foot-2 Lopez was a Class 5A First-Team All-State selection last season after making 95 tackles, 9.0 TFL and 4.0 sacks for the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He enters his senior season with 186 career tackles and 15.0 TFL, putting him withing striking distance of the coveted 300-career tackle plateau. Facio accurately described Lopez as a ‘stud' and ‘definitely a next level talent.'</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751396' first='Santiago' last='Segura']</strong> joins Lopez on the defensive line. He started as a junior in 2024. <strong>Antonio Castillo</strong> saw occasional action at DE last season and the same thing could happen in 2025. The nose tackle spot is up for grabs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underrated OLB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751399' first='Rocky' last='Rodriguez']</strong> is Gadsden's second-leading returning tackler behind Lopez. Facio said he's the ‘heart and soul' of the Panthers defense even with the presence of Lopez on the defensive line. Rising senior <strong>Aiden Santaella</strong> is expected to earn a starting job at LB after appearing in 3 games in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We had a lot of good defensive players a season ago but Rocky may have been our best players,” Facio said. “Rocky will be the focal point of our defense this year. It's great to have him back.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The secondary lost multiple starters but several who are expected to battle for starting jobs gained valuable experience in 2024. Rising junior <strong>Giovanni Tarin</strong> and rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751402' first='Troy' last='Vargas']</strong> will be the leaders. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751404' first='Damian' last='Chacon']</strong> missed all of last season with an ACL injury (except for brief appearances in the playoff games) suffered late in the 2023-24 basketball season but he's back. He's also the Panthers long snapper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Gadsden Football Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 CHAPARRAL (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 VALENCIA (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 5 at Clint (TX)(7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 at Mayfield (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 ARTESIA (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 at Goddard (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 ROSWELL (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 at Lovington (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 24 at Santa Teresa (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 DEMING (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 5A-2 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2024 Sophomore full season highlights <br>46 rec<br>500 receiving yrd <br>4 receiving TD<br> Avg 10.3 yd per catch<a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GadsdenPanthers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachFacio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachFacio</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ryanrl04?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ryanrl04</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmprepcosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmprepcosports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Prep1USA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Prep1USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_TSanchez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_TSanchez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/247recruiting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@247recruiting</a> <a href="https://t.co/dLUM0DCRy7">https://t.co/dLUM0DCRy7</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155087' first='Anthony' last='Palomares'] (@Anthony__013) <a href="https://twitter.com/Anthony__013/status/1864061532004339943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Family Football Dinner. Thank you to our Parent Association, Players, Parents, and coaches for making it a great night! 🏈Panther Pride! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailGadsden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailGadsden</a> <a href="https://t.co/6r23KAXvwm">pic.twitter.com/6r23KAXvwm</a></p>&mdash; Gadsden Football (@GadsdenPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1939025258855702953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2024 Sophomore full season highlights <br>46 rec<br>500 receiving yrd <br>4 receiving TD<br> Avg 10.3 yd per catch<a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GadsdenPanthers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachFacio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachFacio</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ryanrl04?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ryanrl04</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmprepcosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmprepcosports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Prep1USA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Prep1USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_TSanchez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_TSanchez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/247recruiting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@247recruiting</a> <a href="https://t.co/dLUM0DCRy7">https://t.co/dLUM0DCRy7</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155087' first='Anthony' last='Palomares'] (@Anthony__013) <a href="https://twitter.com/Anthony__013/status/1864061532004339943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Updated! A look back at the work we dug up a few years ago. Here is every helmet ever used by our program. <br>Gadsden Panther Football History! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailGadsden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailGadsden</a> <a href="https://t.co/yuuteslLNS">pic.twitter.com/yuuteslLNS</a></p>&mdash; Gadsden Football (@GadsdenPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1878204100686328124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to our New Mexico Class 5A ALL-STATE Selections <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailGadsden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailGadsden</a> <a href="https://t.co/0rh4ESpphm">pic.twitter.com/0rh4ESpphm</a></p>&mdash; Gadsden Football (@GadsdenPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1871043626202960185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Junior Season Highlights <br>95 total tackles<br>31 SOLO<br>9 TFLS<br>1 Interception<br>5 SACKS<a href="https://t.co/JFwNRlX5Aw">https://t.co/JFwNRlX5Aw</a><a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GadsdenPanthers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854198' first='Alexander' last='Lopez'] (@Alexlopez2026) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alexlopez2026/status/1863403328022974639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->