Fall storylines
Capsule previews of local soccer teams; plus, Cleveland football looks for redemption
EDITOR’S NOTE: Today, Rio West continues to preview the 2017 high school football season for the eight high school programs in the area. The series concludes next week with a look at defending Class 6A state champion Rio Rancho.
RIO RANCHO — The scar on Angelo Trujillo’s right knee is a reminder.
A reminder of what the Cleveland Storm football team missed when its 2016 season ended with a sobering, mercy-rule home loss in the state semifinals to Las Cruces.
But it also is a reminder that the ACL injury that knocked Trujillo out of last year’s playoffs has been repaired, and that the Cleveland senior quarterback — one of the best at his position in New Mexico — is back and ready to pick up where he left off before his injury.
“I feel great,” Trujillo said. “Right now, I’m actually ahead of schedule.”
The December surgery to repair his knee gave way to some fierce rehab, and now Trujillo says he is ready to lead the Storm into the 2017 season and help Cleveland make another deep playoff run.
“I think we have a really good chance of winning this year,” Trujillo said.
And why wouldn’t every Storm player feel similarly? This is coach Heath Ridenour’s sixth season, and Cleveland is 46-13 through his first five.
The Storm had a 9-1 regular season a year ago, then a resounding quarterfinal victory over Mayfield. Then Las Cruces came in and roughed up Cleveland in a big way, 45-7 in the semifinals. It was one of the worst losses in the Storm’s short history.
And even though Cleveland was far from at full strength as the season ended — the disabled list was not limited to Trujillo — the Bulldawgs inspired a lifting-shirt slogan for Cleveland athletes, with the final score printed on the shirt.
“It hurt pretty bad,” said senior outside linebacker Dominic Thompson. “It’s kind of a driving factor (for us).”
In Week 3 of this regular season, Cleveland will visit Las Cruces, which is generally considered Class 6A’s preseason favorite. The schedule also includes La Cueva and Centennial, plus a first-ever visit from Artesia. The opener is at home against Oñate, on Aug. 25.
Is Cleveland on that short list of challengers once more?
Thompson described the Storm’s interest level this way during this offseason:
“Laser focus,” he said. “We’re all focused on getting a state championship.”
The offense returns Trujillo but did graduate many key skill-position athletes, both in the backfield and at receiver.
One of 6A’s more interesting newcomers figures to be senior running back Isaac Torres. Last year, Niko Papadopoulos and Shawn Nieto combined for nearly 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns.
But Ridenour sounded a note of confidence as he talked about the introduction of Torres.
“He’s the fastest running back we’ve had since Romell Jordan,” Ridenour said. “I don’t feel like we’ll miss anything.”
Plus, Trujillo said, Torres will be a key part of the passing game, as will lanky and athletic wideout Justin Ainsworth, plus speedy Randy Nieto and the athletic Jacob Esquibel, both in the slot.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Trujillo said, “and we have a lot of speed.”
Most of the returning starters on defense are in the secondary, led by corners Jared Silva and Chris Thomas, and safeties Jesse Gonzales and Caleb Kester. Ridenour said he is very big on the Storm’s inside linebackers, Dion Hunter and Jake Reed. Hunter, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior, should be in line for some Division I offers, Ridenour said.
“Their ceiling and potential is very high,” Ridenour said. Thompson will play outside linebacker for Cleveland, and led the team in interceptions this summer during passing league competitions.
The 245-pound Jason Zhang, a senior, is one of the keys on the interior of the D-line.
“I believe these kids are motivated to do big things,” said Ridenour, who coached Cleveland to a state title two years ago. “We feel like we’ll have a chance to push deep into the playoffs.”