2025 Team Preview: Manzano Monarchs

OVERVIEW   Manzano raised eyebrows throughout the New Mexico high football community when they chose to move to Class 4A for the 2024-25 cycle. However, the move paid dividends last season when, following years of struggle, the Monarchs earned a berth in the 4A playoffs and finished 5-6 overall. The previous four full seasons (2019, 2021-23), Manzano was a lowly 7-33 overall. Even in most of their losses, Manzano was more competitive. The Monarchs' final four losses were by a combined 23 points.   “The important thing about last season is the success and positivity around the program grew,” Manzano head coach Stephen Johnston told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “The expectation from players, coaches and our community was we were going to win each week. That's what I wanted everybody in our program to feel. It wasn't because we were playing lesser opponents. They might have been in a different class, but they were still quality opponents.”   This summer, Johnston's message to his team has been unambiguous: FINISH. Manzano lost two games by three points, one by nine and one by eight (to Espanola Valley in the 1st round of the 4A playoffs) in October and November.   “We have to finish,” Johnston said. “We did a very good job starting games last season. We usually played well early and had great momentum. But we didn't finish. We had some games where we played a great first half but not as great in the second half. So, our message all spring and summer is we have to finish drives, finish series, finish plays. Our players realize there are some things they can do individually to help us finish better. It's still a work in progress.”                   OFFENSE   Top 3 Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1137898' first='Bodi' last='True'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='854302' first='Justin' last='Duran'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1137881' first='Aiden' last='Erickson'] (WR)     Johnston has already settled on a starting quarterback for 2025: 6-foot-1, 205-pound rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1137898' first='Bodi' last='True']. In addition to serving as the backup QB, True played mainly outside linebacker and defensive end for the Monarchs in 2024, finishing with 29 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks and 6 QB hurries.   “Bodi will be our quarterback,” Johnston said. “He plays very physical as he showed last year on defense. Bodi is very athletic, he's smart, makes good decisions and he has some speed. If I was going to label him right now, I would say he's more of a dual threat guy. We're not afraid to run our quarterback if we have to.”   Rising senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='854302' first='Justin' last='Duran'] is back after leading the Monarchs in rushing last season with 546 yards and 9 TD on 104 carries. Johnston envisions Duran possibility becoming a workhorse RB for the Monarchs. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826189' first='Nehemiah' last='Morris'] is expected to be the No. 2 RB.       “We'll have some other guys rotate in and get a few snaps, but Justin is predominantly going to get the ball,” Johnston said. “He's going to be our guy in the backfield. Nehemiah is young and he's raw. But he has good speed and athleticism. He'll play some defense too. When we want to give Justin a break, we're confident Nehemiah can handle the load.”   Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1137881' first='Aiden' last='Erickson'], whose father is Manzano's offensive coordinator, is back after making 57 receptions for 906 yards and 9 TD in 2024. Two of his older brothers – Andrew and Austin – played receiver for the UNM Lobos. Austin Erickson is currently Manzano's WR coach. Besides likely being the Monarchs' No. 1 receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='1137881' first='Aiden' last='Erickson'] will also be utilized on jet sweeps and other specially designed run plays.   Six-foot-1 rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1613352' first='Broden' last='Price'] impressed as a freshman in 2024 with 27 receptions, second most on the Monarchs. Johnston said the Manzano coaches will find ways to Price the ball more in 2025. The H-Back/TE will be 6-foot-4, 220-pound rising junior Vincent Varela, who had 18 receptions last season. Varela's size, athleticism and strength has already attracted attention from college coaches. Rising senior outside WR Santiago Clement will contribute as well catching the football.   Manzano returns two starters on the offensive line: rising junior guard/center [player_tooltip player_id='1790878' first='Urijah' last='Tafoya'] and 6-foot-6, 280-pound rising senior left tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1266485' first='Landon' last='Casalino']. Casalino, expected to be the anchor, impressed on the camp circuit in June. Rising senior Elias Tafoya will likely compete for one of the three open jobs. Most of the other candidates are rising sophomores, including [player_tooltip player_id='1826198' first='John' last='Acosta'], who saw action as a freshman in 2024.           DEFENSE   Top 3 Players: Vincent Varela (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1266485' first='Landon' last='Casalino'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1826189' first='Nehemiah' last='Morris'] (LB).   Manzano was very balanced on defense last season with nine players making 20+ tackles. But the top four tacklers have graduated. Vincent Varela will play both ways and should anchor the defensive line after making 32 tackles, 14.0 TFL, 15 QB hurries and 5.0 sacks last season as a defensive end.   [player_tooltip player_id='1266485' first='Landon' last='Casalino'] could play both ways as well, but the Manzano coaches may choose to keep him exclusively on the  O-Line. If he does play defense, Casalino will be the nose tackle. Elias Tafoya will likely line up at defensive end opposite Varela.   The linebacker corps in Manzano's 3-4 scheme will be largely new. [player_tooltip player_id='1826189' first='Nehemiah' last='Morris'] (see above) is one of several sophomores and juniors who could fill those spots. [player_tooltip player_id='854302' first='Justin' last='Duran'] could play there as well. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1791017' first='William' last='Vautier'] will compete at OLB along with rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826208' first='Logan' last='Angelino']. It could be linebacker-by-committee for the Monarchs as numerous players are expected to get an opportunity to play.   Same in the secondary? Rising senior Brandon Inmon should be one of three or four rotating cornerbacks for the Monarchs. Rising juniors Jared Carter and Jose Gomez will get reps at cornerback as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1137881' first='Aiden' last='Erickson'] should be one of the safeties along with promising rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826205' first='Nick' last='Barela'].                 2025 Manzano Football Schedule:   Aug. 21 at Highland (Thur., 7 p.m.)            Aug. 29 at Rio Grande (7 p.m.)             Sept. 5 DEL NORTE (7 p.m.)             Sept. 13 HOPE CHRISTIAN (Sat., 11 a.m.)            Sept. 19 at Portales (7 p.m.)*               Sept. 26 at Chaparral (7 p.m.)*               Oct. 3 Bye             Oct. 11 ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY (Sat., 11 a.m.)*           Oct. 18 VALENCIA (Sat., 11 a.m.)*           Oct. 25 SILVER (Sat., 3 p.m.)*             Nov. 1 at St. Pius X (Sat., 11 a.m.)*         * District 4A-2 Game   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔥 Wrapping up our 2nd week in pads and the energy is electric! Proud of the grit, focus, and brotherhood these guys are building every rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MonarchMentality?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MonarchMentality</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ubuntu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ubuntu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PurpleAndGrey?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PurpleAndGrey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManzanoFootball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManzanoFootball</a> 🏈💪 <a href="https://t.co/SH1bAZQQSW">pic.twitter.com/SH1bAZQQSW</a>— MonarchFootball (@ManzanoFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManzanoFB/status/1945863664327655899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">💪 Weight room. 🧠 Mental toughness. 🏈 Field work. Manzano Football is stacking days and building something special.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GrindSeason?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GrindSeason</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MTXE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MTXE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MonarchMentality?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MonarchMentality</a> <a href="https://t.co/vuEEWO30az">pic.twitter.com/vuEEWO30az</a>— MonarchFootball (@ManzanoFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManzanoFB/status/1937918128584888804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here's my junior year highlights! <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRuss_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRuss_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ManzanoFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManzanoFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/XuHupxTuX6">https://t.co/XuHupxTuX6</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1266485' first='Landon' last='Casalino'] (@Landon_Casalino) <a href="https://twitter.com/Landon_Casalino/status/1856023872845521114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My sophomore season stats: 1st team all district 35 Total Tackles 15 QB Hurries 18 TFL's 6 sacks 1 FF Blocked punt 1 defensive Td 18 Rec for 135 yards, 1 Td Here are my highlights: <a href="https://t.co/5oiFbNcFLV">https://t.co/5oiFbNcFLV</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1272795' first='Vincent' last='Varela Jr.'] (@VinnyVarela84) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinnyVarela84/status/1934747321901961337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mid season <a href="https://t.co/A26mKfSeOB">pic.twitter.com/A26mKfSeOB</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1613352' first='Broden' last='Price'] (@Broden_19Wr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Broden_19Wr/status/1838638434300076058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2024</a></blockquote>

OVERVIEW