2018 San Luis Valley Football preview

By Stephen Jiron
SAN LUIS VALLEY— It was just a few weeks ago that formal practices began for prep football. Now the first allowable game date is mere days away. The season for America’s unofficial past time is back upon us and young men and women from all over the Valley are looking to improve on last year’s numbers and make a name for themselves and their teams.

1A- Southern Peaks
Centauri (last year 12-1)
Five years ago Centauri took an 11-1 record with them into the playoffs. Three weeks later they were on the road against Paonia for the championship. While they didn’t win they picked up a following and put themselves on 1A football’s radar.
Since 2013 the Falcons have made the playoffs in four of five years making it back to the big stage just last year. The Falons run a grounded offense spearheaded by Taj Cornum. Centauri usually audibled to the run using the same word all game and all season. Meaning defenses had time to learn the audible and prepare, yet still couldn’t stop the 5’9” 160 lb. Cornum from collecting 761 yards and eleven touchdowns on the year.
That said The aerial assault will see some renovation with the departure of the starting quarterback as well as his two most productive receivers — the Anderson twins Nate and Sam along with 2017 All-Valley Player of the year Brandon Buhr.
Despite the losses on offense the Falcons may be just fine. As the defense was a huge part of their run to the title game last year. Defensive force Bennie Chacon will return for his senior tour after leading the Falcons in tackles last year and picking up 7.5 sacks to boot.

Monte Vista (last year 7-4)
The 2017 Pirates levied a lot of the offensive weight on Jacob Chavez and Chavez responded with 18 touchdowns and 5.7 yards per carry. With the senior moving on it may be a next-man-up situation with the next most productive rusher Tyler Vigil taking the reins. Or the Pirates may choose to revisit Oct. 27, where Kaidon Wenta threw for 128 yards on five completions for two touchdowns, and decide if the airborne route is better fitting for the fall.
The Pirates will also see an overhaul defensively. From last year— seven of the top ten tacklers as well as the top three sackers and the interception leader for Monte Vista were seniors last year. Looking at their schedule in the 2018 season Monte Vista will face two 2A opponents as well as two teams that made the post season last year.

Center (last year no football)
The Vikings are back. A 6-4 record from the 2016 season was followed by low sign-up numbers for the 2017 season forcing Center to drop football for the year. Graduation, a year off and transfers have no doubt taken a toll on the roster. This fall it’s anyone’s guess what the Vikings will be capable of.
What is known is that Center will get a chance to see what they’re made of. Center plays in the Southern Peaks league, which is also home to Centauri and Monte Vista. Two teams that made post season in 2017. Monte Vista’s ride ended at the quarterfinals while Centauri went on to play in the championship. Both league games will be circled on Center’s calendar if they wish to compete for the 2018 playoffs.
A8- Mountain
Sargent (last year 7-4)
The Farmer’s 2017 campaign reached its conclusion at the State quarterfinals. Looking to 2018, the Farmers have lost two tines of the pitchfork with the loss of Ryan Davis and Trevor Milne, Sargent’s starting quarterback and running back.
But the offensive future seems to be in good hands. Leading receiver Eddie Gonzalez figures to pick up right where he left off in the receiving game while Frank Torrez will take over the running game. Having lost a lot of defensive contributors in the summer the Farmers will look to Torrez and last spring’s addition Jacob Deacon to keep the defense afloat. Torrez finished eighth on the Farmers in tackles behind last year’s seniors while Deacon led Sanford in tackles and sacks last year.

Del Norte (last year 6-3)
At the close of the 2016 season the Tigers had failed to capture a victory all season long. With nowhere to go but up in 2017, Del Norte pushed off the floor of the basement and engineered a winning record and a respectable season despite missing the playoffs.
Izeah Peterson and Carlos Parra measuring 6’1” and 6’3” respectively provided big targets for Keegan Medina. Though the Tigers ran a balanced offense at 48/52 the passing game produced twice as well going for over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. Though Carlos Parra has moved on expect Peterson and Medina to re-up alleviate pressure from the running game and Preston Terrell.
With a new school under construction the Tigers will take up residence at Rex Field playing all their home games in Adams State’s back yard.

Sanford (last year 2-7)
Sanford had a hard time getting off the ground in 2017. Picking up their lone two wins at the hands of Dove Creek and Sangre de Cristo. This year, as a primarily rushing team, youth is on their side since they will likely see the return of their thunder and lightning rushers Chase Holman and Dalton Gartrell.
Holman and Gartrell combined for 12 of Sanford’s 14 rushing touchdowns last year. Defensively Sanford suffered the loss of Jacob Deacon who will now be lending his services to Sargent. However senior Thad Jackson will look to step in and take the tackling title for Sanford in 2018, while Holman will continue to lock down the air with last year’s team leading three interceptions.
Sanford’s opened their season Friday night with a 46-18 blowout over McClave.
 
Sangre de Cristo (last year 1-8)
The Thunderbirds hope to rebound in 2018. A one-win season doesn’t typically carry a lot of positives but the Thunderbirds have plenty to be hopeful for. As their continued basketball success has proven, Sangre de Cristo lacks nothing in athleticism. Youth having been their bane last year. The Thunderbirds are hoping that experience will be their ally this year.
Little turnover in the roster namely the return of the likes of Manuel Lopez and Jake Slane means that plugging in a new head coach in Paul Gilleland may be what the T-Birds need to right the ship in the new season.

A6- South West
Sierra Grande (last year 6-3)
In 2017 the Panthers made the first round of the 6-Man State Tournament. The accomplishment came in no small part to the contributions from Arthur Rodriguez, Dakota Aragon and Raul Minchaca.
The current roster shows its own promise. This year Caleb Scharsch will likely step up and continue to produce in the running game since he posted a team leading 16 touchdowns last year. Although the passing game will likely have some new faces with the loss of heavy hitters Rodriguez, Minchaca and Aragon. The Panthers may lean on Ambrosio Mondragon to get the job done receiving as he is the highest producing reciever still on the team.