PREP FOOTBALL: ST. PIUS AT A GLANCE
Coach: David Montoya (3rd year; 15-9)
Last season: 8-4; beat Aztec in 4A first round, lost to Bloomfield in 4A quarterfinals
Returning starters: 5 offense, 3 defense Key players: Derek Rivera, sr. (5-11, 185, QB); Isaiah Griffin, sr. (5-8, 160, slot/CB); Aaron Swallows, sr. (6-0, 180, WR/DE); Scott McGaha, sr. (5-8, 155, LB); Ryan McCormick, sr. (5-10, 160, S/ WR/RB); Aaron Deller, jr. (6-2, 270, OL/DL); Garris Rivera, sr. (5-8, 160, LB); Joaquin Medina, soph. (6-1, 190, LB/TE); Marco Ybarra, soph. (5-10, 175, RB/S).
Outlook: It was a tough end to the 2018 season, with QB Rivera out because of a dislocated ankle he suffered the previous week against Aztec, and the Sartans simply unable to move the ball without him in a loss to Bloomfield. But Rivera is back and ready to roll, and this offense also returns its top three receivers, led by Griffin. He accounted for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage with 16 touchdowns a year ago. St. Pius graduated 17 seniors. It’s not so much the skill positions that were hit but sort of the meat-and-potatoes group, where Montoya is going to plug in some new faces with little varsity experience. That includes the offensive line, where only Deller comes back as a 2018 starter. McCormick is probably this team’s best all-around athlete, and he and McGaha are the top playmakers on that defense. Depth at linebacker is a concern. The Sartans, given Taos’ big graduating class from a state championship season, could become a favorite in their district.
2019 schedule (x-denotes District 2/5-4A game) Aug. 24, Goddard (C), 3 p.m.
Aug. 31, Piedra Vista (C), 1 p.m.
Sept. 6, at Kirtland Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20, at Portales, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28, Aztec (C), 1 p.m. x-Oct. 4, at Pojoaque Valley, 7 p.m. x-Oct. 10, Bernalillo (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 18, at Taos, 7 p.m. x-Oct. 26, Española Valley (C), 6 p.m. x-Nov. 1, at Grants, 7 p.m.
Circle the date: There are several terrific options to be found here, including a roadie at last year’s 4A state champion, Taos, a team the Sartans shredded last year at Milne. I will choose the trip to Portales. Those two staged a terrific battle last year in Albuquerque, with St. Pius winning 21-20.