A capsule preview of the 2018 Manzano Monarchs
Coach: Phillip Martinez (1st year) Last season: 13-0; Class 6A state champions Returning starters: 5 offense, 2 defense
Key players: Jed Edgar, sr. (6-1, 230, C/NG); Xavier IveySaud, sr. (6-1, 190, RB/SS); Jack Blankenship, sr. (6-4, 170, WR/FS); Dakota Powell, sr. (6-3, 180, QB); Austin Walker, sr. (6-2, 215, OLB); Zeke Fox, sr. (5-8, 175, CB/ slot); Brandon Largo, sr. (6-1, 200, G); Chris Valdez, jr. (6-1, 220, G/DE); Austin Erickson, jr. (6-1, 160, WR); Stone Davis, jr. (5-9, 170, MLB).
Outlook: The Monarchs graduated quite a few key pieces off that championship team — more on the defensive side. Powell has experience at QB at the varsity level (pre-Jordan Byrd), and he’s a tremendous athlete. Blankenship and Erickson (younger brother of Andrew), combined with Powell’s throwing ability, make Manzano more dangerous vertically — and therefore more balanced, perhaps — than it was last year. Ivey-Saud is the true gem in this offense, having run for 1,631 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. He’s a durable and dependable three-year starter, capable of carrying the ball 30-plus times a week if need be, and also will be featured in the defensive secondary this year. It’s probably not unrealistic to expect that Manzano will not be fully formed early on, and the defense — a fierce unit the last two seasons, overseen by Martinez — will need some time to find its way. “I do expect some growing pains,” Martinez said. It’s up to this group to find its own identity as it puts 2017 behind them, although Ivey-Saud said many of these seniors have been together for years, going back to YAFL, and chemistry remains solid. Can Martinez, 6A’s youngest coach (29), help to foster the same type of team dynamic that his predecessor, Chad Adcox, was able to bring out of this program the last couple of years? As the season opens, the Monarchs probably have some catching up to do in their district with the likes of La Cueva and Eldorado.
2018 schedule (x-denotes District 2/5-6A game)
Aug. 25, at Las Cruces (FOD), 1 p.m. Aug. 31, at Rio Grande (M), 7 p.m. Sept. 8, Centennial (W), 1 p.m. Sept. 14, Volcano Vista (W), 7 p.m. Sept. 21, at West Mesa (C), 7 p.m. Sept. 28, IDLE x-Oct 4, at La Cueva (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 12, Clovis (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 19, at Sandia (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 25, Eldorado (W), 7 p.m. Nov. 3, Albuquerque High (W), 1 p.m. Circle the date: That Volcano Vista game in Week 4 looms as a very tasty nondistrict matchup for the Monarchs.