SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Kudos to the four Santa Fe football schools.
It’s early in the season, but when wins and losses total 9-3, it’s a good sign.
No matter who played who, it’s a rewarding look.
To start with Andrew Martinez’ Santa Fe High team, it has won all three of its outings, opening with an impressive win over Robertson at Ivan Head Stadium, adding a victory at Moriarty, then stunning previously undefeated Siringo Road neighbor St. Michael’s, 19-7, at home.
The Demons have risen to 15th place in the state in 6A as they prepare for Friday night‘s visit to Capital, twelve-ranked in 5A and at 2-1, and when they meet up. it will be a reunion of sorts for Capital’s first-year head coach Joaquin (Wax) Garcia and Martinez, who is in his fifth season with Santa Fe High.
Once upon a time, both stood on the St. Michael’s sideline as assistant coaches under long-time head coach Joey Fernandez. Now, it will be Garcia on the sidelines of the home team and Martinez across the way on the visitors sideline.
Both have already played Fernandez’ Horsemen, Garcia and the Jaguars
visiting the Christian Brothers Athletic Complex and getting routed, 60-8, and Martinez, on his home field, turning back St. Michael’s and dropping it to 2-1.
Now Santa Fe Indian School is also 2-1, and it plays in District 2-3A that includes the Horsemen, so in long-time coach Bill Moon’s initial campaign there, they will hook up on Oct. 8 at the Braves sparkling-new turf field.
So if they all can keep up their winning ways, it could be a season in which St. Michael’s and Santa Fe High can gain their respective state tournaments, Capital is too young and inexperienced to get that far, and Indian School’s schedule mixes in too many question marks.
The Braves should bring back a Friday night triumph at win-less Wingate, then follow with a tough test versus visiting Espanola McCurdy, perhaps a standoff with win-less at Espanola Valley’s homecoming game, then comes district rivals St. Michael’s, Raton and West Las Vegas, the last two on the road.
Moon and his assistant Kevin Hauck have done a stellar job, winning its opener against visiting Cuba with a big second half, hit the road for unbeaten Pojoaque Valley and it was either an unpleasant trip there or the Elks were just too dominating in its huge victory.
Then came visiting Laguna-Acoma and Indian School came up with a rushing attack and stout defense to win this one, 20-14, in the final minutes.
Capital has only two seniors, but opened with an impressive 55-20 romp at Grants, then came the 60-8 setback at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex, and it turned into a nightmare as Garcia stood on the unfamiliar visitors sideline. Now it welcomes Santa Fe High and it will have to move the ball versus an aggressive Demons defense mixed in with a well-balanced offense.
But its realistic to figure that there will be pre-game greetings and hugs for Garcia and Martinez, same as when Fernandez and Martinez lined up at Ivan Head Stadium this season. Moon and Fernandez never coached together, but this will probably still bring on greetings and hand shakes.
Following the encounter with Santa Fe High, 5A Capital is home to Belen, then travels to Albuquerque Rio Grande in a win-able contest, takes on visiting Piedra Vista, travels to Miyamura and Farmington, and is home to Los Alamos in the regular-season finale. If the Jaguars can split these last six games, it would be a satisfying sight.
As for St. Michael’s, ranked fourth in 3A, the loss to Santa Fe High also brought a probable conclusion to senior quarterback Lucas Coriz after he suffered a damaging knee injury on the first play versus the Demons. So Fernandez will have a new starting quarterback for Friday night‘s contest at Los Alamos, a game the Horsemen should still win.
Then they play host to Socorro, hit the road for Cathedral High in El Paso, Texas, and wind down in district play with a game at Indian School, a visit from West Las Vegas, the usual key tilt at Robertson, and home to Raton. Without Coriz, it could be a tough road, but St. Michael’s does have an experienced team with depth and a good running game that was contained by Santa Fe High.
The Demons, who have scored 61 points and allowed 20, are in District 5-6A, and after the Capital game, will take on Albuquerque schools Eldorado, Manzano, Sandia, La Cueva, Albuquerque High, and then travel to Clovis. It’s far from a power district, and Santa Fe High can probably fare well against Manzano, Sandia, La Cueva and Albuquerque High, with the road game at Clovis not being an easy one.
Among the players that have excelled from these four neighboring schools, Indian School has gotten behind the rushing and defense of sophomore Taylor Torvivo as well as versatile senior Fenyx Morningdove. Starting junior quarterback Andre Ortiz also plays wide receiver and corner back.
Capital has relied on versatile junior quarterback Julian Munoz and two-way star sophomore Francisco Diaz who carries the ball and plays linebacker. Junior Anthony Anaya III is a quality defensive back and goes at free safety, strong safety, and corner back.
Garcia’s assistants are Jonathan Toya, Mario Laano, James Pearlman, John and Nick Salazar, Robert Yardman, and Raul Garcia.
St. Michael’s has been led by running backs Daymon Lujan, Marcus Leyba, Devon Abeyta, and Isaiah Salazar, but without Coriz, will probably call on talented senior Devin Flores to handle the quarterbacking, although he’s no doubt the top receiver on the roster. The tri-captains are Coriz, senior Jordan Bernal, senior Diego Armendariz, and Lujan.
Santa Fe High has a dynamic pair of offensive weapons in senior Luc Jaramillo, the 4-year starter at quarterback, and senior running back Martell Mora, also in his fourth season. Jaramillo handles the option and Mora is a hard-charging, swift rusher. And can’t forget sophomore Alex Mora, Martell’s brother, who ran for a touchdown in the win over St. Michael’s.
Meanwhile, records are records, and to be above .500 at this time, is a welcome sight for the four Santa Fe high schools.
