2026 Team Preview: West Las Vegas Dons

OVERVIEW   Last season was a mixed bag for West Last Vegas. They started 3-1 and beat rival Robertson for the first time in years, but the Dons lost their final four games, including a Class 3A first round home playoff contest to Ruidoso, and finished 4-7 overall. Fifth-year head coach Patrick Rodriguez is optimistic better days are ahead for the Dons.   “We've been building this for a while,” Rodriguez told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We have a good team. I knew the senior class would be small, but we've had some big boys walk through the door in June. They've worked hard. Last season we played a heckuva schedule and left some games short. We played decent ball at times. Our guys have moved on. They hit the ground running.”         OFFENSE   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1791395' first='Caydin' last='Encinias'] returns as WLV's dual threat quarterback after throwing for over 1,100 yards and rushing for over 440 yards in 2025. He has worked at receiver this summer as well, so he could possibly line up elsewhere from time to time. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2108830' first='Fiddel' last='Herrera'] mounted a serious challenge for the starting job, but it appears Encinias survived. Herera will still be on the field, though, as a tight end.   “It was good to create some competition,” Rodriguez said. “It made Caydin thrive. He rose to the top. Maybe he needed that. He has excelled. Perhaps playing receiver helped him see the game from that angle. He realizes now how many routes those guys run and how important that position is. Fiddel has a great arm., He went to bunch of camps this summer. I'm not counting him out. I'm sure he'll help us.”   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1791434' first='AJ' last='Trujillo'] returns at running back. He was the Dons' second leading rusher last season behind Encinias and earned All-District honors. Juniors  [player_tooltip player_id='2108813' first='DeAndre' last='DosAnjos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2109764' first='Santiago' last='Medrano'] are also back. One of them will likely end up playing slot receiver. Medrano, an elite wrestler, has grown several inches since the end of last season, Rodriguez said. Jeremiah    Ulibarri will play fullback. He is good at catching passes out of the backfield.   Trujillo was also WLV's leading receiver last season and could play some slot. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1791414' first='Johnathan' last='Vigil'] enjoyed a solid summer in 7x7 and other organized team activities. He also worked two jobs in the community, so his work ethic is elite. [player_tooltip player_id='2108830' first='Fiddel' last='Herrera'] will be the tight end and receiver. Junior Logan Salazar and promising freshman Anthony Martinez will contribute. Martinez has good speed.   All-District honoree RT [player_tooltip player_id='1827357' first='Lawrence' last='Trujillo'] returns to anchor the Dons' offensive line. Junior OT Kaiden Gonzales was a weight room warrior this summer and has gotten bigger and stronger. Senior Martin Cadina (260 pounds) will likely play center. Junior Bobby Ortiz will one of the guards. The opposite guard spot could be filled by promising sophomores Braydon Hunter or Kyle Sandoval. Both have great size.     Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1791395' first='Caydin' last='Encinias'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1791434' first='AJ' last='Trujillo'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1791414' first='Johnathan' last='Vigil'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1827357' first='Lawrence' last='Trujillo'] (OL).   DEFENSE   Like most Class 3A programs, West Las Vegas has numerous guys going both ways. [player_tooltip player_id='1791414' first='Johnathan' last='Vigil'] will play cornerback. Several contenders are battling for the opposite CB job. Logan Salazar could have the edge there. The safety jobs are up for grabs.   Promising freshman Zeek Abeyta is a contender for playing time at linebacker and defensive end.   “Zeek looks like a junior,” Rodriguez said. “He's tough. He's going to turn some heads. People are going to wonder where he came from. He could take a linebacker spot. This is his first year playing varsity and he's one of the best football players I've seen in a long time. He's aggressive. He could play some O-Line as well. We'll see what happens.”     [player_tooltip player_id='2108813' first='DeAndre' last='DosAnjos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2108830' first='Fiddel' last='Herrera'] will play defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='1827357' first='Lawrence' last='Trujillo'] will play defensive tackle. The nose tackle job is up for grabs. Kaiden Gonzales seems to have the edge there.   [player_tooltip player_id='2104242' first='Jeremiah' last='Ulibarri'] is one of the inside linebackers. [player_tooltip player_id='2109764' first='Santiago' last='Medrano'] joins him there.     Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2108813' first='DeAndre' last='DosAnjos'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='2108813' first='DeAndre' last='DosAnjos'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='2104242' first='Jeremiah' last='Ulibarri'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='2109764' first='Santiago' last='Medrano'] (LB).   2026 WEST LAS VEGAS SCHEDULE   Aug. 22 at Portales (Sat., 6 p.m.)                                Aug. 28 DEXTER (6 p.m.)          Sept. 4 at Gallup (6 p.m.)*                                Sept. 11 RATON (6 p.m.)                     Sept. 18 at Aztec (6 p.m.)*                    Sept. 25 KIRTLAND CENTRAL (6 p.m.)*                       Oct. 2 Bye                         Oct. 9 ST. MICHAEL'S (6 p.m.) *                  Oct. 16 at Pojoaque Valley (6 p.m.)*            Oct. 23 THOREAU (6 p.m.)*               Oct. 30 at Robertson*              *District 3A-1 Game   All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.

OVERVIEW