2026 Team Preview: Deming Wildcats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The James Fetrow Era begins at Deming. Following last season's disappointing 1-10 record, the Wildcats officially tabbed Fetrow (he's been a Deming police officer for 20 years) as their new head coach in late June. So, he hasn't had a lot of time to get things together for the 2026 season. But Deming is making progress, as they showed last week during a four-team scrimmage at Capital High School in Santa Fe.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“When I accepted the job, I decided to change everything up,” Fetrow said. “The playbook, the staff, everything. I wanted these players to enjoy the game of football. It hasn't seemed that way in the past. Everybody has gotten an opportunity. The kids seem to be enjoying it. Our numbers are increasing. The community is excited. It's been a positive, so far.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826051' first='Richard' last='Holguin']</strong> is the new starting quarterback for Deming. Holguin is a dual threat with a good arm and good speed when he runs the football. Holguin was a backup QB in 2025. The backup quarterback is sophomore <strong>Noah Carlos</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Richard is very athletic and he's quick,” Fetrow said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>Landon McBurney</strong> should be the No. 1 running back when Deming hosts Organ Mountain in Thursday night's season opener. Junior <strong>Ethen De La Cruz</strong> and senior <strong>Hiram Nieto</strong> will be in the RB rotation as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>Jordan Milo</strong> heads into the new season as the No. 1 wide receiver. Sophomore <strong>Elijah Jasso</strong> will line up on the opposite side. The top slot receiver is sophomore <strong>Anthony Franco</strong>. The tight ends are juniors <strong>Xavior Acuna</strong> and <strong>Michael Ortiz</strong> and sophomore <strong>Robbie Sweetser</strong>. Deming could utilize some two tight end formations, Fetrow said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deming has one of the largest offensive lineman in the state: 6-foot-8, 290-pound senior OT <strong>Moses Barajas</strong>. He'll be joined on the O-Line by senior OT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1787537' first='Maximus' last='Quintero']</strong>, senior <strong>Alexander Gonzalez</strong> (last name changed from ‘Franco'), sophomore <strong>Brayden Lane</strong>, junior <strong>Damian Hernandez</strong> and massive junior OT <strong>Ethan Quintero</strong>. Junior <strong>Gabriel Camacho</strong> will be the starting center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1826051' first='Richard' last='Holguin'] (QB), Landon McBurney (RB), Jordan Milo (WR), Ethan Quintero (OL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-2, 230-pound senior DE <strong>Keon Wilderman</strong> anchors the Deming defensive line. <strong>Damian Hernandez</strong> will play nose tackle along with <strong>Gabriel Camacho</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Landon McBurney</strong> and <strong>Xavior Acuna</strong> will play inside linebacker. <strong>Hiram Nieto</strong> and <strong>Ethen De La Cruz</strong> are slated for OLB duty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the secondary, <strong>Robbie Sweetser</strong> will play strong safety. The free safety is junior <strong>Luciio Caballero</strong>. The two cornerbacks will be senior [player_tooltip player_id='1788848' first='Andrew' last='Lerma'] and junior <strong>Jaciel Romero</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: Keon Wilderman (DL), Damian Hernandez (DL), Landon McBurney (LB), Robbie Sweetser (LB).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 DEMING SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 20 ORGAN MOUNTAIN (Thur.) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 28 at Silver &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4 at Hot Springs &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 11 at Artesia* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 18 ROSWELL* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 25 at Mayfield* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 GODDARD (Sat., 2 p.m.)* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 9 Bye* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 16 CHAPARRAL* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 22 at Alamogordo (Thur.)* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 30 GADSDEN* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*District 5A-2 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2337535,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-17-at-19-23-38-5-Facebook.png?w=810" alt="" class="wp-image-2337535" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->