2026 Team Preview: Farmington Scorpions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farmington suffered through a 1-9 campaign in 2025, and things aren't going to get any easier for the Scorpions this season against a difficult non-district schedule and a challenging District 6A-1 slate featuring Cleveland, La Cueva, Rio Rancho, Sandia and others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our players are beginning to understand we'll be OK,” Farmington head coach Jeff Dalton told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We're ready for anything. We want to get to where we can compete with everybody. We have to play those teams.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dalton believes Farmington was a better team last season than its record suggests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We had opportunities to win some games in the fourth quarter,” Dalton said. “Some games got away from us. Our kids learned a lot about themselves as far as they have nothing to be afraid of. Everybody we face is well coached. There are no easy weeks, ever, We just have to get used to that. Regardless of what we tell our guys, they have to experience it and get their feet to trust the water.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-2, 185-pound senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680067' first='Rock' last='Kalcich']</strong> returns as the Scorpions' starting &nbsp;quarterback. He's been the No. 1 QB for Farmington since midway through the 2024 campaign. The backup QB will be junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon']</strong>, who will play H-Back until he's called upon to be the QB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Rock has been our guy for 2-1/2 years,” Dalton said. “He's really developed into a senior leader. Canton is ready to play quarterback too. After him, we get pretty young. We're developing some sophomores and freshmen that are going to have to grow up pretty quick.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's leading rusher, senior <strong>Talon Stowell</strong>, is also back. The aforementioned <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon'] </strong>will get some touches as well. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826025' first='Gunther' last='Bowen']</strong> hopes to have a bigger role in the ground game. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1787344' first='Justin' last='Degroat']</strong> is battling for a spot in the RB rotation in addition to playing linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Running back might be one of our most experienced positions,” said Dalton, who explained Farmington is transitioning from the Air Raid to a ‘more balanced' system. “In fact, our entire offensive backfield is experienced. Even Rock had some carries. We began to run an option game with Rock and Talon. We'll still run some Air Raid concepts, but we've just added a more dynamic run game.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon']</strong> will likely line up in the slot. Six-foot-1 junior <strong>Juan Cardenas</strong> has emerged as a promising receiver. He saw limited action with the varsity last season but is ‘really coming along,' Dalton said. He'll play the slot opposite Cahoon. The outside receiver spots will see a rotation among several players, including seniors <strong>Delrio Tippeconnie</strong> and <strong>Colter Davis</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along the offensive line, 6-foot-1, 295-pound retuning senior center <strong>Asa Fishburn</strong> will be the anchor.&nbsp; The other four spots are up for grabs as we head into game week. Six-foot-3, 230 pound sophomore <strong>Bo Kalcich</strong>, Rock's younger brother, is expected to earn a starting role. He started several games as a freshman in 2025. Senior <strong>Jacob Allcorn</strong> has some O-Line experience as well. &nbsp;&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='1680067' first='Rock' last='Kalcich'] (QB), Talon Stowell (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon'] (RB/WR), &nbsp;Asa Fishburn (OL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Allcorn</strong> returns on the defensive line. <strong>Asa Fishburn</strong> will see action at nose tackle. Senior <strong>Aiden Lee</strong> will be part of the DL rotation along with senior &nbsp;<strong>Luckasey Collom </strong>and <strong>Bo Kalcich</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior <strong>Julian Estrada</strong>, the top returning tackler, will anchor the second level at hybrid linebacker. He'll line up at different spot both on the inside and outside. He might even play some DE or safety. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826025' first='Gunther' last='Bowen']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1787344' first='Justin' last='Degroat']</strong> will play ILB. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Free safety <strong>Colter Davis</strong> returns to lead the secondary. Senior CB <strong>Quentin Begay</strong> is also back. The opposite CB will likely feature a rotation. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1826019' first='Canton' last='Cahoon']</strong> will play there in crunch time. Junior<strong> Trevor Marcum </strong>and <strong>Juan Cardenas</strong> are competing for the free safety spot. <strong>Talon Stowell</strong> is extremely versatile and can play any spot in the defensive back seven.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: Julian Estrada (LB), Colter Davis (DB), Jacob Allcorn (DL), Quentin Begay (DB).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 FARMINGTON SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 21 PIEDRA VISTA &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 Bloomfield &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4 at Durango (CO) &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 CLEVELAND* &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 Bye &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 Rio Rancho* &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 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH* &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 WEST MESA* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 15 at La Cueva (Thur.) * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 23 SANDIA* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 29 at Atrisco Heritage (Thur.)* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*District 6A-1 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/AsaFishburn/status/2025359479567724568","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/AsaFishburn/status/2025359479567724568 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->