DEL NORTE FOOTBALL AT A GLANCE
(Another in a continuing series of previews heading to Opening Day.) Coach: Bruce Binkley (6th year; 21-29-1) Last season: 5-4-1; lost to Alamogordo in Class 5A first round Returning starters: 2 offense, 3 defense
Key players: Chase Latimore, sr. (6-0, 255, G); Marcus Florez, sr. (6-1, 230, DE); Devon Bentacu, soph. (5-9, 152, RB); Roderick Blackwell, sr. (6-1, 250, OG); Gilbert Orneles, sr. (6-0, 228, LB/TE); Christian Mejia, jr. (5-10, 151, QB/DB).
Outlook: The youthful Knights almost have to be luckier than last season’s squad, which had two coin-flip games called at halftime (they went 0-1-1 in those contests) and another canceled — all because of lightning. That 2016 team swept to a District 2-5A title but drew a No. 9 seed and lost a first-round road playoff game. Del Norte also lost a slew of key seniors from that team, including standout running back/linebacker Avery See. Binkley admits he’s not sure what to expect from a 2017 team with little varsity experience. But there are positives. Latimore, Florez and Blackwell anchor stout lines, speedy running back Bentacu has recovered from a broken collar bone, and a veteran coaching staff returns intact. Can the Knights mature in time to compete for another 2-5A crown? “People think we’ll be down because we lost all those seniors,” Latimore said. “I think we’re going to surprise people.”
2017 SCHEDULE (x-District 2-5A games)
Aug. 24, at West Mesa (C), 7 p.m. Sept. 1, Farmington (M), 7 p.m. Sept. 8, Los Lunas (M), 7 p.m. Sept. 15, Manzano (M), 7 p.m. Sept. 21, at Albuquerque High (M), 7 p.m. Sept. 28, Rio Grande (M), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 6, at Los Alamos, 7 p.m. x-Oct. 14, Capital (M), 1 p.m. x-Oct. 21, Albuquerque Academy (M), 1 p.m. Oct. 27, OPEN x-Nov. 3, at Española Valley, 7 p.m. (C: Community; M: Milne)
Circle the date: Del Norte’s Oct. 14 game against Capital figures to loom large in District 2-5A but a Sept. 1 meeting with Farmington might say more about the Knights’ potential. The Knights and Scorpions tied in a lightningshortened game last year and both reached the playoffs.