2025 Team Preview: West Las Vegas Dons
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<p><strong>2025 WEST LAS VEGAS DONS PREVIEW</strong></p>
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<p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p>
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<p>The post-C.J. Perea Era officially begins as Patrick Rodriguez enters his third season as West Las Vegas head coach. The Dons have been remarkably consistent over the past eight seasons (excluding 2020), winning six to eight games annually since 2016. Last season, West Las Vegas went 6-6 and lost to crosstown rival Robertson in the quarterfinals.</p>
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<p>“We really focused during the offseason on keeping the same routine,” Rodriguez told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Going into Year 3, I like what we're doing and results we're getting. We're learning how to finish and how to commit to starting what you finish. We've stayed the course. It seems to have worked because we had a lot of guys show up for football workouts.” </p>
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<p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Top 3 Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1791395' first='Caydin' last='Encinias']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853064' first='Devaughn' last='Kensey']</strong> (RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791434' first='AJ' last='Trujillo']</strong> (WR) </p>
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<p>Who succeeds Perea at QB? Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791395' first='Caydin' last='Encinias']</strong> has been tasked with the responsibility. He's physically smaller than Perea but extremely fast. He's been the JV QB for the past two seasons, so he's very familiar with the Dons offense. Six-foot-1 sophomore <strong>Fidel Herrera</strong>, who possesses a cannon throwing arm, will be the backup in addition to playing several other positions.</p>
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<p>“Caydon plays into my run-option (scheme),” Rodriguez said. “But he also throws it very well. He likes throwing the ball. But his legs are very good, too. He does very well. We have the style of offense (that fits his skills). We're going to run the ball a lot but Caydin is very athletic. He's a dual threat type of quarterback. He threw the ball very well all summer. He'll get it done.”</p>
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<p>The Dons lost their top four rushers to graduation. So, to help boost the ground game, Rodriguez has moved center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854300' first='Carlo' last='Lucero']</strong> to fullback and speedy senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853064' first='Devaughn' last='Kensey']</strong> from wide receiver to running back. Senior <strong>Andres Sena</strong> should get some carries as well.</p>
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<p>“Carlo is a team leader,” Rodriguez said. “He runs very hard. He's played a lot of years at center. But he has something special. He has a motor in him. So, we're going to put him at fullback. We want speed back there, so we're moving Devaughn to running back and the slot. Devaughn is a big, strong kid. I have to use him. Between Carlo and Devaughn, we'll have two seniors back there leading us.”</p>
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<p>With Kensey shifting to running back, West Las Vegas' top six receivers from 2024 have either graduated or moved to a different position. Transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791434' first='AJ' last='Trujillo']</strong> looks ready to take over as the No. 1 WR after playing mostly defense in 2024. <strong>Andres Sena</strong> will play WR when he's not in the backfield. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791414' first='Johnathan' last='Vigil'] </strong>replaces Kensey at ‘X' receiver. <strong>Fidel Herrera</strong> will be the ‘Y' receiver when he's not the QB.</p>
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<p>“We don't have to teach A.J. how to catch the ball,” Rodriguiez said. “He understands the game. He makes plays. He just plays hard. [player_tooltip player_id='1791414' first='Johnathan' last='Vigil'] isn't just a possession receiver. He's shown more than that. He has the ability to break tackles. He doesn't drop the ball.” </p>
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<p>The West Las Vegas offensive line returns two seniors on the left side: LT <strong>Devon Sandavol</strong> and LG <strong>Elizardo Esquibel</strong>. Rodriguez hopes their experience will boost the Dons' ground game in addition to protecting the QB. The new center will likely be junior <strong>Jermiah Ulibarri</strong>. Senior <strong>Jose Sandoval</strong> looks to anchor the right side at guard, but he'll have to hold off sophomore <strong>Sebastian Garcia</strong> for the job. The right tackle will be sophomore <strong>Lawrence Trujillo</strong>. </p>
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<p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Top 3 Players: EJ Pacheco </strong>(LB), <strong>Andres Sena </strong>(CB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854300' first='Carlo' last='Lucero']</strong> (LB)</p>
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<p>West Las Vegas returns three experienced cornerbacks in <strong>Andres Sena</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853064' first='Devaughn' last='Kensey'] </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1791414' first='Johnathan' last='Vigil']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791395' first='Caydin' last='Encinias']</strong> and senior <strong>Jeremiah Ortega</strong> will play safety.</p>
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<p>Senior DE <strong>EJ Pacheco</strong> will anchor the defensive line. <strong>Devon Sandoval</strong> will also play DE. The interior DL will be filled by <strong>Jermiah Ulibarri</strong> and others. <strong>Lawrence Trujillo</strong> should fill one spot.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791434' first='AJ' last='Trujillo']</strong> headlines the LB corps. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854300' first='Carlo' last='Lucero']</strong> will be the middle linebacker (MIKE). Senior <strong>Edward Lopez</strong> will see significant action as well. <strong>Fidel Herrera</strong> could be the SAM linebacker.</p>
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<p><strong>2025 West Las Vegas Football Schedule:</strong></p>
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<p>Aug. 22 HATCH VALLEY (6 p.m.) </p>
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<p>Aug. 29 at Dexter (6 p.m.) </p>
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<p>Sept. 4 RUIDOSO (5 p.m.) </p>
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<p>Sept. 12 PORTALES (7 p.m.) </p>
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<p>Sept. 19 at Santa Rosa (7 p.m.) </p>
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<p>Sept. 26 at Texico (7 p.m.) </p>
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<p>Oct. 3 Bye </p>
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<p>Oct. 10 at Robertson (7 p.m.)* </p>
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<p>Oct. 17 ST. MICHAEL's (7 p.m.)* </p>
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<p>Oct. 24 HOPE CHRISTIAN (7 p.m.)* </p>
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<p>Oct. 31 at Pojoaque Valley (7 p.m.)* </p>
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<p>* District 3A-2 Game</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations Patrick Rodriguez Jr on signing to continue your football career at New Mexico Highlands University!! <br><br>It was truly an honor to have you apart of our football program. We're all so proud of you and wish you nothing but success in your next chapter. <a href="https://t.co/KaQekKeU2o">pic.twitter.com/KaQekKeU2o</a></p>— Westlasvegasfootball (@Westlasvegasfb) <a href="https://twitter.com/Westlasvegasfb/status/1888067873408684320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations CJ Perea on signing to continue your football and powerlifting career at the University of Ottawa in Kansas! <br><br>It was truly an honor to have you apart of our football program. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/collegefootball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#collegefootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classof2025?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#classof2025</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/knowyourrole?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#knowyourrole</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/donstrong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#donstrong</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/westlasvegasdons?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#westlasvegasdons</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nmfootball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nmfootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/eVcupbuZf8">pic.twitter.com/eVcupbuZf8</a></p>— Westlasvegasfootball (@Westlasvegasfb) <a href="https://twitter.com/Westlasvegasfb/status/1887335464962826545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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2025 WEST LAS VEGAS DONS PREVIEW
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