PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: ATRISCO HERITAGE ACADEMY JAGUARS
Coach: Patrick Johnson (7th year; 38-27)
Last season: 7-4; lost to Clovis in 6A first round
Returning starters: 4
offense, 7 defense
Key players: Jordan Marquez, sr. (6-0, 180, RB); Antonio Gonzalez, sr. (5-5, 185, RB); Angel Fernandez, sr. (6-0, 225,
G/DT); Zach Carmignani, jr. (6-4, 180, WR); D.J. Ornelas, sr. (6-3, 220, TE); Julio Borroel, jr. (5-8, 150, CB); Carlos Salazar, jr. (6-4, 180, QB); Brandon Quigley, sr. (5-9, 170, OLB); Leo Gonzales, jr. (5-9, 180, MLB); Christian Gutierrez, sr. (6-3, 270, NG); Damion Lopez, sr. (5-10, 185, LB/G).
Outlook: The Jags have a strong duo in the backfield with Marquez (the speedster who has added some bulk in the offseason, allowing him to run wide or between the tackles) and the fullback Gonzalez, and the two of them put up solid numbers in that run-dominant Atrisco Heritage offense last season. However, Salazar is the best throwing QB the Jaguars have had in many years, and they expect to be more vertical than usual. To that end, Ornelas (converted from tackle to tight end) and Carmignani provide solid targets when the Jags decide to throw. Fernandez is the only returning starter along the O-Line, and that’s an area to watch. The defense, sparked by Gutierrez in the middle of the line, Gonzales as the middle backer and Borroel in the secondary, is further along than the offense, Johnson said. And he has tried to get more speed on defense in anticipation of some of the athletic and fast offenses the Jags will face in their new district (1-6A).
2018 schedule (x-denotes District 1-6A game)
Aug. 25, Mayfield (C), 1 p.m. Aug. 31, at Sandia (W), 7 p.m. Sept. 7, at Carlsbad, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14, Eldorado (C), 7 p.m. Sept. 21, IDLE
Sept. 28, Rio Grande (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 4, Cleveland (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 12, at Volcano Vista (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 19, Rio Rancho (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 26, at Cibola (C), 7 p.m. x-Nov. 1, West Mesa (C), 7 p.m.
Circle the date: Let’s see how this retooled offense has come along by the time it faces a stern challenge against Eldorado in Week 4.