2026 Team Preview: Dexter Demons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After consecutive heartbreaking losses to St. Michael's in the Class 3A state championship game, Dexter moves to Class 2A. But they've been placed in a rugged district with Eunice, Jal, Loving and Texico. The Demons are 31-6 over the past three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We had another good year (in 2025), but we fell one drive short in the state championship game,” Dexter head coach Sonny Duran told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We have a big senior class this year. Those guys have taken the reins and told the younger guys they have to show up for workouts. We have something to build upon. The standard we've set here is we have to win. We have the talent.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duran described Dexter's move from 3A to 2A as ‘bittersweet.'</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I would love to get St. Michael's one time at least,” Duran said. “The competitor in me wanted to stay in 3A. But going to 2A, we get to renew some old rivalries we haven't played in a long time like Eunice and Texico. We're not looking past anybody. Nobody is going to lay down for us. We have to go earn everything.” &nbsp;&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>Dynamic senior <strong>C.J. Granados</strong> is back for his FOURTH season as the Demons' starting quarterback. He's been the No. 1 QB since he was a freshman in 2023. Last season, he threw for over 1,200 yards and 14 TD while rushing for a career high 637 yards and 16 TD. Granados was the Offensive MVP at the Prep Redzone Exposure Series camp in late May. Senior <strong>Joshua Gonzalez</strong> will be the backup QB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“C.J.'s command and his presence have really developed over the past few years,” Duran said. “For this season, he's added some good weight. He worked super hard this spring and summer to get ready. He's gone to camps. He's watched a lot of film. He's going to be a physical runner for us this season, and we're going to let him throw the ball more too. We want to be more balanced on offense.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dexter lost a 1,200-yard rusher to graduation, so the running back position will look different in 2026. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155314' first='Rigo' last='Regalado']</strong> (500+ rushing yards in 2025), senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155274' first='Alexis' last='Castro']</strong> and Gonzalez should get the majority of the carries in Dexter's triple option attack. The fullback will be athletic senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155310' first='Fernando' last='Prieto'] Jr.</strong>, who is also a defensive standout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>Kevin Armendariz</strong> had a solid summer in 7x7 and the recent scrimmage, so he should be Dexter's top receiver. Armendariz runs crips routes, knows how to get open and has soft hands, Duran said. Junior <strong>Manny Calderon</strong> will be targeted in the passing game as well. The aforementioned running backs will be heavily involved in the passing game too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Demons return just one starter on the offensive line: senior RT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104231' first='Maurice' last='Bogle']</strong>. He'll be the anchor. Seniors <strong>Hunter Wilkinson</strong> (guard) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1794629' first='Jorge' last='Solis'] Jr.</strong> (center) are set to join him, giving the Demons at least three senior starters on the O-Line. Two more expected starters are sophomores <strong>Angel Robles</strong> and <strong>Joel Corpus</strong>. They'll line up on the left side of the O-Line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: &nbsp;C.J. Granados (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1155314' first='Rigo' last='Regalado'] (RB), Kevin Armendariz (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='2104231' first='Maurice' last='Bogle'] (OL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two mainstays on the Dexter defense are LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155314' first='Rigo' last='Regalado']</strong> and DL/LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155310' first='Fernando' last='Prieto'] Jr. </strong>Regalado led the Demons in tackles (85) and TFL (17.0) last season, while Prieto was second with 73 tackles and 15.0 TFL. Manny Calderon will be the third LB for Dexter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2114845' first='Felipe' last='Rangel']</strong> will be one of the defensive tackles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the secondary, <strong>C.J. Granados</strong> and <strong>Joshua Gonzalez</strong> will play safety. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155274' first='Alexis' last='Castro']</strong> will play somewhere in the secondary. When Dexter wants to give Granados a break, <strong>Easton Mireles</strong> and <strong>Kevin Armendariz</strong> will be on the field. They'll rotate in as cornerbacks. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1155314' first='Rigo' last='Regalado'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1155310' first='Fernando' last='Prieto'] Jr. (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='2114845' first='Felipe' last='Rangel'] (DL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 DEXTER SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 21 HOZHO ACADEMY &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;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 28 at West Las Vegas (6 p.m.) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4 RUIDOSO &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>Sept. 11 at Santa Rosa &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 VALENCIA &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 NMMI &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. 2 TEXICO* &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 at Jal* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 23 LOVING* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 30 at Eunice* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*District 2A-4 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/2060879115797061826","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/2060879115797061826 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/2009360598971338833","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/2009360598971338833 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->