PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: BELEN EAGLES
Coach: Greg Henington (3rd year; 20-4) Last season: 12-1; lost to Artesia in 5A championship game Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense Key players: Diego Casillas, sr. (6-0, 210, RB/ LB); Phillip Barajas, sr. (6-0, 190, LB/FB); Alexes Aguilar, sr. (6-4, 225, DE/ TE); Luke Aragon, jr. (5-8, 170, QB); Michael Spragg, sr. (6-3, 260, OT/ DT); Ambrose Molina, jr. (5-11, 290, OT/ NG); Matthew Soderberg, sr. (6-0, 215, C/LB); Noah Glasier, sr. (6-0, 210, G/ DT); Chris Chavez, sr. (5-11, 185, CB/slot); Adrian Miller, sr. (6-2, 195, S/WR).
Outlook: What a truly fascinating team the Eagles should be this year. Belen graduated nearly 20 seniors off that special 2017 group, but it does return Casillas, who is arguably the top running back in the state as he comes off a 2,679yard, 33-touchdown junior season. Here’s the thing: In front of him, the entire offensive line graduated. Can he produce similar numbers behind a new gang? “I think this line understands what a privilege it is to block for a guy like Diego,” Henington said. Aragon has his head coach’s endorsement as a throwing QB, and Belen may need this aspect of the offense to be sharp to take some of the heat off Casillas, who also doubles as an excellent linebacker. Henington has good depth at the skill positions, including at running back, so there’s that. On the defensive side, Aguilar returns up front, but the rest of the D-line is a work in progress. Up the road, Los Lunas stands as a huge obstacle as Belen looks to repeat as District 5-5A champion and find that magic that defined last season.
2018 schedule (x-denotes District 5-5A game)
Aug. 25, at Del Norte (M), 1 p.m. Aug. 31, Farmington, 7 p.m. Sept. 7, at Artesia, 7 p.m. Sept. 14, at Highland (M), 7 p.m. Sept. 21, at Piedra Vista, 7 p.m. Sept. 28, Roswell, 7 p.m. Oct. 5, Deming, 7 p.m. Oct. 12, IDLE x-Oct. 19, Valley, 7 p.m. x-Oct. 26, at Valencia, 7 p.m. x-Nov. 2, Los Lunas, 7 p.m. Circle the date: This schedule is jampacked with potential candidates, and it’s a tough first half with visits to 5A powers Piedra Vista and Artesia. Gotta pick the Week 3 visit to Bulldog Bowl as the Eagles return to the stadium where they were roughed up 48-14 in the state final last December.