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At last, the St. Michael’s football team has a game to play

By Arnie Leshin 
As the frustration mounted, St. Michael’s football team finally gets to take the field in an actual game when its hits the road Friday for the afternoon tilt up at Taos.
The 19th year as head coach for Joey Fernandez at his alma mater, and it’s by far the longest wait he’s had to start a season. There was game one scheduled at Raton, and it was canceled when the Horsemen listed a player who tested positive via the coronavirus pandemic. Then the next slated game was a home one versus Socorro, but that, too, was cancelled because St. Michael’s had to hybrid, quarantine for 10 days.
But after this wait, the Taos game is on, with a scheduled kickoff time of 1 o’clock. Riding on the St. Michael’s bus is usually an hour and 45 minutes, but it matters little, for the team can hardy wait to get there.
Last season the Horsemen had a rather young squad, while this team has more experience and more depth. The veteran is starting quarterback Lucas Coriz, a junior back for his third year and now close to 6-feet-3 and 230 pounds.
“Of all the quarterbacks I’ve had,” Fernandez said, “he has the strongest arm, and we’re hoping for a big season from him.”
Coriz is also the kicker and might even become the punter, but junior wide out Devin Flores has back his point-after-touchdowns spot, where last season he converted 14 of 18.
There’s two transfers, one is Marcus Leyba from Capital, and he goes 5-10, 161, and can go at quarterback, wide out and cornerback. The other is 6-4, 198-pound senior Robbi Chianbse, who played football in New Jersey before coming to Santa Fe and checking in at Desert Academy, except with no football program there, he sat out the season.
“He’s got good hands, good speed, and good size,” said Fernandez.
Teamed with Coriz in the backfield are returnees Lucas Montoya, who also plays inside linebacker, and Darren Newman. The wide receivers are senior Jake Rockwood. Flores, Chianbse and Leyba, and Rockwood also plays outside linebacker. Montoya hits the scales at190 and stands 5-11. Rockwood goes at 5-10, 145, and is versatile, can also play cornerback.
On defense, St. Michael’s will be counting on 6-1, 260 senior Santiago Martinez, who can go at tackle or linebacker. Fernandez said Martinez has even taken off some weight and is quicker now. Then there’s Jordan Bernal at tackle along with Diego Omendatas, Devin Abeyta, and Damon Lujan, who also goes at linebacker.
“It’s been a tough two weeks,” Fernandez said, “but now we have a game to play. Taos probably plays the same-type football, aggressive on defense and mixing it up on offense.”
Fernandez has had the program in five state championship games and has won state in 2003, 2007 and 2012. He has accumulated an overall record of 154-64. He is also the head track and field coach and sports the winningest record of Santa Fe coaches.

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