2022 Team Preview: Silver Fighting Colts
Silver 2022 Preview Head Coach: Jerome Ortiz Mascot: Fighting Colts Twitter: @SCSunNews Colors: Silver & Navy 2021 Record: 7-5 (Class 4A Quarterfinals) Overview: On the strength of more than 1,600 rushing yards by underrated running back…
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Continue ReadingSilver 2022 Preview
Head Coach: Jerome Ortiz
Mascot: Fighting Colts
Twitter: @SCSunNews
Colors: Silver & Navy
2021 Record: 7-5 (Class 4A Quarterfinals)
Overview: On the strength of more than 1,600 rushing yards by underrated running back Aidan Granado, Silver posted its first winning record since 2014 last season by going 7-5 and reaching the Class 4A quarterfinals in Jerome Ortiz’s debut season as the Colts head coach. Granado is back for his senior campaign, and Ortiz has now had a complete off-season to implement his system. Presumptive starting quarterback Emiliano Jimenez returns to the roster after missing last season. Jimenez possesses a strong arm, which should allow Silver to throw the ball more this season. Adan Jaquez will be the backup QB.
Even with Jimenez at QB, handing the ball off to Granado and letting him work behind an experienced offensive line will remain a large part of Silver’s playbook. He could be the best kept secret in New Mexico high school football. Senior Ricky Vasquez and senior Mason Lockett will share the backup RB duties. Six-foot-3 junior Julian Richard, another player who missed the 2021 season, headlines the wide receiver corps. Senior Ezekiel Morales will line up on the opposite side. A good-sized offensive line returns four seniors to the starting lineup, including Jacob Vigil, Andrew Velasquez and Dace Begay. Junior Ezekial Holland and freshman Luke Stailey are two more likely starters.
Defensively, Granado is one of the leaders of Silver’s stop troops from his linebacker spot. Owen Hooper, Walter Woodward and Lockett are the three other linebackers, giving the Colts a talented foursome on the second level. Diego Lucero and Anthony Rico will be the cornerbacks. Richard gives Silver a tall safety along with Ezekiel Torres. DE Rueben Holguin and DT Nick Chavez anchor the D-Line.
Schedule: Silver was moved to a new district with Grants, St. Pius X and Valencia, resulting in much shorter road trips than the past two seasons. While Silver is located in the southwestern portion of the state, the Colts have four games against Four Corner schools. They also travel to Santa Fe and face Bloomfield at a yet undetermined neutral location.
Aug. 19 KIRTLAND CENTRAL
Aug. 26 MIYAMURA
Sept. 2 at Cobre
Sept. 9 at Santa Fe
Sept. 17 AZTEC
Sept. 23 DEMING
Sept. 30 Bye
Oct. 7 vs. Bloomfield (Neutral)
Oct. 14 GRANTS*
Oct. 21 St. PIUS X*
Oct. 28 at Valencia*
* District Game
Top Storyline: Are the pieces in place for Silver to contend for the Class 4A state championship?
Final Thoughts: The Colts have one of the top running backs in the state, even though nobody east of the Gila Mountains has heard of him, a senior-dominated offensive line and a potentially suffocating defense. Silver has steadily progressed from three wins (2017) to four (2018) to six (2019) to seven (2021). If Silver continues that trend upward, they should be right in the thick of the 4A title chase when November gets here.
Coach’s Comments: “I was hired late before the season last year, so we were putting in plays the first day of practice. We didn’t get the chance to set the tone last summer. Luckily, we hit it just right and had a pretty good season. This year, it’s a lot different. We’ve hit the ground running. We have all our plays ready and the kids know the plays. We should be one of the top teams in 4A. We have a lot of returners. We didn’t lose very much. We have one of the best running backs in Aidan Granado and the quarterback we didn’t have last year is back. He’s pretty solid. I don’t think our quarterbacks will struggle this year. We’re trying to bring Silver football back to life.” – Silver coach Jerome Ortiz.