2026 Team Preview: Piedra Vista Panthers

OVERVIEW   After two years in Class 6A, where they were one of the smallest schools in terms of student population, Piedra Vista returns to Class 5A. Since finishing 11-2 and reaching the Class 5A state championship game in 2022, the Panthers are 14-20 overall with one playoff victory.   “We're now able to play school more our size,” said Piedra Vista head coach Jared Howell, who has been with the Panthers program since 2000. “Now, we're top three or top five in 5A. We look forward to moving to 5A. We're familiar with many of the teams like Cibola, Los Lunas, Artesia and Roswell. They all play great football.”        The 2026 schedule contains a Week 3 road trip to Utah to face Salt Lake City (UT) Olympus. Last year, the Panthers traveled to Canyon, TX for a non-district game.     OFFENSE   The Panthers had a rash of injuries at the quarterback position in 2025. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2104394' first='Reuban' last='Marquez'] began last season as the starter but was injured midway through the season and didn't return. Marquez is the presumptive starter in Piedra Vista's run-dominated attack.   “Reuban is a dynamic player,” Howell said. “He can run and he throws the ball well. He's a problem for defenses. When he got injured last season, we lost some of that.”   Rising sophomore Brett Turman, last season's JV QB for the Panthers, is being groomed to serve as the backup. He'll get plenty of reps in 7-on-7 and the 10 padded practices heading into pre-season camp. If Turman isn't the backup, [player_tooltip player_id='1556720' first='Amasi' last='Griego'] could be the guy.   Rising senior fullback Kael Farley leads the ground game. Farley weighs about 200 pounds and is tough to tackle because of his strength. [player_tooltip player_id='1556720' first='Amasi' last='Griego'], rising senior Ethan Costa and promising 190-pound rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2252706' first='Thayden' last='Santangelo'] will get some carries as well.   Two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='1606021' first='AJ' last='Cockrell'] will be a swiss army knife type of player as he's capable of playing a variety of offensive positions. One of his primary spots is outside receiver. Joshua Zepeda will be the other outside receiver.   Six-foot-2, 260-pound rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2246657' first='Brian' last='Wager'] and rising senior Archie Rawson will anchor the offensive line as returning starters. Wager played right tackle last season but could move to left tackle. Rawson is the center. The other three spots are up for grabs among some young but physically imposing linemen.   “We have decent size on the O-Line,” Howell said. “If they gell together, it will be encouraging. We have some pretty decent sized guys. Some of them are probably a year away.”        Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2104394' first='Reuban' last='Marquez'] (QB), Kael Farley (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1606021' first='AJ' last='Cockrell'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='2246657' first='Brian' last='Wager'] (OL).     DEFENSE   The strength of Piedra Vista's defense should be an experienced secondary, which returns all four starters from 2025. They include rising seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2246656' first='Xane' last='LeFebre'] (team-high 9 passes defended) and Santiago Aranda, rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2252711' first='Caiden' last='Fortney'] (3 INT in 2025) and A.J. Cockrell.   Cockrell is the top returning tackler with 63 to go along with his team-high five interceptions.   Ethan Costa will play a hybrid OLB/safety role. The two inside linebackers will be rising junior Hunter Montano and one of several contenders currently competing for the spot. Both outside linebacker spots are up for grabs. Kael Farley is expected to compete for one of the LB spots.   Isaiah Locklear Blea might be the most unique nose tackle in New Mexico. Listed at just 5-foot-4, 135 pounds, Blea, a rising senior, more than holds his own against much bigger interior offensive linemen. But Blea, a powerlifter and wrestler, is incredibly strong with a bulldog mindset.   “He's fun to watch,” Powell said. “He's a fireplug. He's very strong. He's great in the weight room. He's quick. He runs on our 4x100 relay team. I've had success with kids like him at nose guard. We put him there and he holds his own.”   Rising senior Brady Sandoval will be one of the defensive ends.           Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2246656' first='Xane' last='LeFebre'] (DB), [player_tooltip player_id='2252711' first='Caiden' last='Fortney'] (DB), Isaiah Locklear Blea (DL), Hunter Montano (LB).   2026 PIEDRA VISTA SCHEDULE   Aug. 21 at Farmington         Aug. 28 DURANGO (CO)          Sept. 4 at Salt Lake City (UT) Olympus         Sept. 11 at Los Alamos*          Sept. 18 at Miyamura*         Sept. 25 SANTA FE*         Oct. 2 Bye         Oct. 9 at Capital*        Oct. 16 LOS LUNAS*        Oct. 22 at Highland*         Oct. 30 CIBOLA*       * District 5A-1 Game   All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Junior Year Highlights 🎥 WR/DB—ATH | Class of 2027 5'11” 180 lbs Playmaker. Route runner. Competitor. Looking for opportunities to compete at the next level.<a href="https://x.com/Hudl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hudl</a> <a href="https://x.com/MaxPreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaxPreps</a> <a href="https://x.com/ncsa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ncsa</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Football?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Football</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Recruiting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Recruiting</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ClassOf2027?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClassOf2027</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DB</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ATH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATH</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NewMexicoFootball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewMexicoFootball</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/FootballHighlights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FootballHighlights</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/RecruitMe?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RecruitMe</a> <a href="https://t.co/e9GWBqr8AY">pic.twitter.com/e9GWBqr8AY</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1606021' first='AJ' last='Cockrell'] (@AjCockrell01) <a href="https://x.com/AjCockrell01/status/2051688934368006637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2026</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Junior Highlights 2025/2026 Season <a href="https://t.co/jXAVblAJS3">https://t.co/jXAVblAJS3</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1556720' first='Amasi' last='Griego'] (@amasi_griego223) <a href="https://x.com/amasi_griego223/status/2059723439859277884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2026</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Took the chip this weekend in 7v7's 🥇🏆— Highlights from the Bloomfield 7v7 Tournament this weekend. Grateful for the opportunity to compete and continue improving. <a href="https://x.com/coaches?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coaches</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/RecruitMe?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RecruitMe</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ClassOf2027?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClassOf2027</a> <a href="https://t.co/RdG4EEyrFa">pic.twitter.com/RdG4EEyrFa</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1606021' first='AJ' last='Cockrell'] (@AjCockrell01) <a href="https://x.com/AjCockrell01/status/2064057068735340779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2026</a></blockquote>

OVERVIEW