Class 3A/2A/8-Man/6-Man football preview: Will St. Michael's and Texico three-peat?

A preview of the 2025 prep football season for Classes 3A and 2A, plus 8-Man and 6-Man:

Class 3A

St. Michael’s beat Dexter 28-26 in a tense state final last November, and these two are back among the serious challengers in 2025.

The Horsemen (13-0 last fall and riding a 20-game winning streak) and longtime coach Joey Fernandez may even have a bit of a fresh coat of paint after graduating two of their top three running backs. Senior Isaiah Dominguez does return, and St. Mike’s will have experience at quarterback with dual-threat senior Kamal Stith.

But Fernandez said this year’s offense will include more “finesse” than opponents are accustomed to seeing from the Horsemen.

“We might throw the ball a little more,” he said.

The Horsemen defense was a beast last season, yielding only seven points a game, on average, while winning games by an average of five touchdowns.

Two of the standouts from that defense, linebacker Pete Johnson and end Ryan Hunt, both are important two-way athletes for St. Michael’s.

The Horsemen’s district remains the most competitive of 3A’s three leagues, and it qualified all five teams to last year’s postseason..

“We know we have a target on our back. Everyone circles us on their schedule,” Fernandez said. “It could be a special group if we stay away from injuries and we keep progressing.”

Their big rival, Robertson, changed coaches, with offensive coordinator Lucas Sanchez taking over the Cardinals. Robertson certainly will be one of those interesting groups to follow and it has two giant personnel holes to fill.

The Cardinals graduated senior dual-threat QB Jesse James Gonzalez, one of 3A’s elite athletes, and George Smith, now a sophomore, transferred to Sandia. As a freshman, Smith was second on the team in rushing and led the team in receiving, and he scored 21 touchdowns for the Cardinals.

West Las Vegas was ravaged by graduation at the skill positions. The Dons lost their QB, their four leading running backs and their top three receivers. So West Las Vegas, like Robertson, will need newcomers to emerge.

Hope Christian brings back one of 3A’s best QBs in senior Roman Montoya, who was a superb passer with 23 touchdowns and just two interceptions, and he also was quietly effective as a rusher.

Darrien Williams, who caught four TD passes, seems likely to be Montoya’s favorite target.

The Huskies, who return four starting offensive linemen, likely will have many players going both ways, so staying healthy will be a priority.

Players to watch on the defense including senior linebacker Styles Vigil and giant, 320-pound nose tackle Eglesias Eneza.

Meanwhile, Dexter and New Mexico Military Institute both were among the final four teams in last year’s playoffs. NMMI has solid early buzz; the Colts lost in the semifinals to St. Mike’s, while Dexter edged Robertson in the other semifinal.

For the Demons, they’ve got their quarterback returning, junior CJ Granados, and the three-year starter threw for 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns, while rushing for almost 500 yards with seven scores a season ago. Senior Garet Gonzalez (825 yards, nine TDs) returns at running back.

This will be a predominantly junior- and senior-led roster. And the Demons will be reloading with a good chunk of starters having graduated.

“This is one of the best classes we’ve had here,” Dexter coach Sonny Duran said.

The Demons feasted on offense last year with excellent overall team speed.

Duran said a strong player like Gonzalez is an example of how the offense will present a different look, with more physicality and power running between the tackles. In general, there will be less attacking the perimeter, he noted.

The defense graduated its leading tackler and interceptor.

NMMI is reloading, coach John O’Mera said, but the Colts still seem likely to factor heavily into the chase for the top of the District 3 standings, along with Dexter.

NMMI, one of the most run-dominant teams in 3A with its veer option — the Colts only completed, on average, about four passes a game — graduated most of their leading ball carriers.

Senior Miguel Garcia is someone expected to get his chance to shine. And he will benefit running behind a big, and veteran, offensive line.

Socorro, like Robertson, changed coaches, with former Gadsden assistant Derek Smith now running the Warriors. Socorro also saw a couple of their top athletes transfer, both to Albuquerque schools. The Warriors do return some of their best receivers, but they’re going to have to reload on the ground with their two leading yardage gainers having graduated.

Class 2A

Texico is one of three New Mexico schools — Melrose and St. Michael’s are the other two — who are chasing a three-peat.

The Wolverines and rival Eunice loom as probably the two favorites to begin this year; the Cardinals were the only 2A team on Texico’s schedule last season to present a serious challenge.

Texico’s best player from last year, star tailback Alex Fuentes, has graduated. But Texico graduated only five seniors total, and coach Bob Gilbreath said the Wolverines have a strong senior class returning.

Bennett Wahlen is a solid duel-threat QB, and was all-state last season, and he enters his senior season. Jett Curtis will provide an additional threat, having rushed for nine scores a season ago. Two of Texico’s better receivers, Maverick Hawkins and Luke Thompson, also are back.

“I think we’ll be more multidimensional,” Gilbreath said.

Eunice lost a close game to Texico in the 2A semis, and the Cardinals surely will be a major threat to end Texico’s run.

“The calendar changes, but the expectations don’t,” Eunice coach Greg Jackson said. “I’m optimistic that they’ll perform really well.”

It starts for Eunice with senior quarterback Elijah Melancon, who had one of the great 2024 seasons of any QB in any New Mexico class. He threw for over 3,300 yards and 43 touchdowns, and he rushed for nearly 600 yards and five additional TDs. He is a four-year veteran for the Cards.

“Kind of the engine to the whole machine,” Jackson said.

Dyson Lord, a senior receiver, is the other top skill position athlete returning; he averaged 21 yards a catch last year and scored 11 touchdowns.

Senior Greyson Meek will be key in the run game for Eunice.

Also from this district, Loving, a 6 seed, reached the state semifinals last season as a five-loss team. Senior Tristen Onsurez gives the Falcons one of the state’s most effective dual-threat quarterbacks. He threw 14 touchdown passes, and also rushed for over 1,000 yards with 15 scores. Tailback Bobby Parraz, another terrific contributor in the run game, had 10 TDs last year out of the backfield.

Santa Rosa was a state finalist last November, but the Lions were outmatched in the final by Texico. But the Lions most definitely are going to be a factor once more, especially with senior running back Josh Cordova coming off a 1,500-yard, 24-TD showing and ready to post more large numbers.

“I see nothing but big things for him,” Santa Rosa coach David Chavez said. “He’s got the experience, and he’s even a little bigger and stronger, with the same speed.”

David Chavez the player added 650 yards and seven touchdowns for the Lions, who have a pair of solid two-way linemen in Jose Gallegos and Andrew Urban. Chavez plays middle linebacker and was the team’s leading tackler.

“As long as we stay healthy,” coach Chavez said, “we’ll be in the mix. This is one of the best senior groups we’ve had in a long time.”

From that district, Legacy Academy from Albuquerque’s West Side started 9-0 last season, its first in the 2A division. The Silverbacks dropped their regular season finale to Santa Rosa, then were beaten as a 3 seed in the state quarterfinals by Loving.

Legacy Academy changed coaches in the offseason, with assistant coach Joey Romero taking over.

“I would say, those last two losses were really big learning lessons for us,” Romero said. “We’re a good team, but we have a lot more we need to prove.”

Senior quarterback Lorenzo Sedillo-Urban tossed 30 touchdowns, with just four interceptions, and will spearhead the Silverbacks attack. He also added 11 rushing TDs.

Senior wide receiver Bryant Scales, an athletic 6-1 target, caught 10 touchdowns as a junior. Legacy also is expected to get a boost from Jay Lee, an all-state receiver while at Socorro who transferred in after a huge 2024 season with the Warriors, with nearly 1,200 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.

The defense returns leading tackler Xander Chavez, a junior middle linebacker, and senior end, sack specialist Zach Perea.

Raton in this league nearly reached the state semis, losing a 14-12 decision to Santa Rosa in the quarterfinals.

8-Man/6-Man

Melrose is chasing a third straight championship in 8-Man football, as the Buffaloes whipped Mesilla Valley in last year’s final.

Senior Jaxon Odom, who rushed for 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns, returns for Melrose, and he also is the top returning ball catcher. The Buffaloes have to find new standouts at quarterback, and also graduated their No. 1 and No. 2 receivers.

Melrose has won 24 games in a row, dating to late August 2023.

Menaul was a playoff team last season, falling to Escalante in the first round. The Panthers ought to be competitive again this fall, led by new quarterback Luke Boatman, a junior who is moving from receiver.

Senior tailback Carlos Cummins leads the ground attack, having rushed for almost 600 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Senior Nick Brock will be a target to watch in the pass game.

“Right now, we have a good solid core,” Menaul coach Procopio Padilla said. “We’re gonna have some tough athletes to play against.”

The Panthers’ district favorite is likely the Fort Sumner/House co-op.

In 6-Man, Logan is out to defend its 2024 title. The Longhorns beat Grady in last year’s championship game.

Senior Aydin Kotara had a monster season at QB for Logan, throwing for 37 touchdowns while being picked off only three times. But the Longhorns have to replace one of 6-Man’s top overall athletes in tailback Haden Judd, who graduated.