2026 Team Preview: Texico Wolverines

OVERVIEW   Texico is a school filed with winners. Over the past two years, the Wolverines have won back-to-back Class 2A state championships in both football and boys basketball. And there's a significant crossover between the two sports, so there are plentiful athletes attending THS with multiple medals around  their necks.   “Our kids are very enthusiastic and they're chomping at the bit when football starts,” Texico head coach Bob Gilbreath told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Last year, every player on the varsity boys basketball team played football.”   Texico is an impressive 41-9 over the past four seasons. They've clearly been the top team in Class 2A during that span. They've won the last two state championship games by a combined 92-7. This season, the Wolverines' non-district schedule features FOUR games against West Texas schools.   “We're going to be well seasoned by the time we get through those games,” Gilbreath said. “I set the schedule this way for a reason. I want us to be battle tested when district play starts. It will force us to get better and get tougher and be physical. I told our kids all that matters is how we play in November. We have to get to November playing our best football. Our overall record is irrelevant.”               OFFENSE   When Texico's senior starting QB suffered an injury in Week 1 last season, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] stepped in and proceeded to have a remarkable sophomore season, throwing for over 1,000 yards and 16 TD AND rushing for just over 1,900 yards and 22 TD. He joined the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club. Will he remain at QB for the upcoming season? Perhaps.     “I learned some lessons last season with my starter going down early,” Gilbreath said. “We've developed a two quarterback system. Our second quarterback is usually a Wildcat type guy. That's what [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] became. He was better suited to be a running back than quarterback. We played him at quarterback out of necessity. He did a great job.”   Six-foot-1 junior QB Austin Haakma led the Texico JV team to an undefeated record in 2025. Gilbreath believes he's ready to move up to the varsity, so the Wolverines will likely utilize a two QB system in 2026.   “Between Austin and Cross, we have two quarterbacks,” Gilbreath said. “Cross will be the primary running back at times and he'll be the QB when we want to go Wildcat. It's unique.”   Figg is versatile enough to play inside receiver as well.   “Cross is very smart and can play a lot of positions,” Gilbreath said. “He knows how to run routes and how to throw routes and how to run the ball. He's an ace in the hole.”   Joining Figg at running back will be 6-foot-2 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1791448' first='Jaheim' last='Moses']. He'll also play slot receiver. Some of his runs come off jet sweeps. He'll line up in the backfield when Texico lines up two running backs in the backfield.   Dynamic senior [player_tooltip player_id='1604779' first='Jett' last='Curtis'] (an elite hoops player; career 1,000-point scorer) and 6-foot-3 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1827263' first='Nathan' last='Autrey'] headline the WR corps. Curtis has impressive speed and elite athleticism. He's able to shift into a higher gear when he wants, Gilbreath said. Six-foot-3 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1827269' first='Dexter' last='Chapman'], also an elite defensive end, will be the tight end and H-Back.   Six-foot-2, 280-pound senior center [player_tooltip player_id='2104335' first='Jacob' last='DeMarco'], who has been offered by nearby Eastern New Mexico, anchors the offensive line. He's also the lone returning O-Line starter for the Wolverines. Junior Wyatte Ragsdale will be the left tackle with junior Kaison Powell expected to compete for a job. The guards will be senior Marcos Montoya and sophomore Elyjuh Ricketson. Neither one is blessed with great height, but they're tenacious, tough and scrappy. Gilbreath described them as ‘Bulldoggish.' [player_tooltip player_id='1827269' first='Dexter' last='Chapman'] could fill one of the tackle spots from time to time in addition to playing TE.                      Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] (QB/RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1791448' first='Jaheim' last='Moses'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1604779' first='Jett' last='Curtis'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='2104335' first='Jacob' last='DeMarco'] (OL).   DEFENSE   [player_tooltip player_id='1827269' first='Dexter' last='Chapman'] is one of the elite – and most athletic – defensive ends in the state. He has FBS or FCS level talent. [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] will play OLB. The opposite OLB spot will be filled by sophomore Aidan Sartain. Senior Mickey New and junior Cason Peabody are penciled in as the starters at inside linebacker in Texico's 3-4 scheme.         The secondary is filled with tremendous athletes. Austin Haakma will play safety. The cornerbacks will be [player_tooltip player_id='1791448' first='Jaheim' last='Moses'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1604779' first='Jett' last='Curtis'].   Joining Chapman along the defensive line will be Wyatte Ragsdale, Marcos Montoya and Elyjuh Ricketson. Essentially, except for DeMarco, the offensive line will play defensive line.        Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1827269' first='Dexter' last='Chapman'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] (LB), Austin Haakma (DB), Mickey New (LB).   2026 TEXICO SCHEDULE   Aug. 21 SANTA ROSA                                 Aug. 28 at Sudan (TX)           Sept. 4 FARWELL (TX)*                                Sept. 11 at Ropes (TX)                      Sept. 18 at Legacy Academy                    Sept. 25 STRATFORD (TX)                       Oct. 2 at Dexter*                          Oct. 9 JAL*                  Oct. 16 at Loving*            Oct. 23 EUNICE*               Oct. 30 Bye              *District 2A-4 Game   All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Dexter99Chapman/status/2088645326022291502 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cross_Figg/status/2079763886040084764 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacobDeMar3559/status/2060793539617825033 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacobDeMar3559/status/2069901675834286125 </div></figure>

OVERVIEW