ST. PIUS AT A GLANCE
KEY PLAYERS: Roman Garcia, sr. (6-0, 190, OT); Ryan McGaha, sr., (5-9, 165, WR/S); Carson Stock, sr. (5-9, 210, G/DT); Matt Lobato, sr. (6-1, 170, WR/S); Donovan Wyatt, jr. (6-2, 195, RB/DE); Jacob McCoy, jr. (6-1, 170, WR/OLB); Nick Slatton, jr. (6-1, 170, OLB); Diego Pavia, soph. (5-9, 150, QB/CB); Derek Rivera, soph. (5-10, 160, QB/RB/ OLB/S); Justin Rivera, sr. (5-11, 190, LB/RB).
OUTLOOK: Ideally, this is not how you’d want to start a football season as a defending state champion: with a first-time head coach and a sophomore quarterback replacing one of the most dynamic, productive playmakers in school history. Derek Rivera and Diego Pavia (whose brother Roel is a former starting QB for Albuquerque High and whose other brother Javier currently plays for AHS) are battling to start at QB — the better thrower will likely emerge as the No. 1 choice — and much of the Sartans’ offensive success will hinge on the productivity of the winner. Both sides of the ball lost several key playmakers; can St. Pius find replacements to help keep it at a playoff-caliber level under a first-time head coach? Montoya is a St. Pius alum who was the special teams coach most recently under the now-retired San Juan Mendoza. The Sartans have one of Class 5A’s top receivers in senior Ryan McGaha, who set school records in receptions and touchdowns last season. But that was with Ortiz pitching. The offense, with a new QB, will be a little less complex, but it’s the defense that most concerns Montoya, particularly the linebacker position. Belen and not the Sartans likely open the year as the favorite in District 5-5A. CIRCLE THE DATE: That visit to Belen could be for a district title, but we prefer to highlight the visit by Alamogordo; the Tigers were the only team to defeat the Sartans last season.