PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: BELEN
Coach: Ty House (1st year)
Last season: 7-5; beat Valencia in 5A first round, lost to Los Lunas in 5A quarterfinals
Returning starters: N/A Key players: Luke Aragon, sr. (5-9, 170, QB); Ben Hirschfield, jr. (5-9, 160, WR/ DB); Gavin Chavez, jr. (5-10, 160, S/WR); Chris Lucero, jr. (5-8, 180, S); Sotero Maestas, jr. (6-0, 230, OT/DT); Sefe Aragon, sr. (5-7, 180, MLB); Austin Johnson, sr. (5-7, 200, C).
Outlook: House, 31, has had only about three months to integrate himself with his new school and these players, so the Eagles could be forgiven if they are slow starters this season. House takes over after seven years in Hobbs as an assistant, and will look to put his own fingerprint on a program that has won 75 games (over eight per season) this decade. “I definitely know this community’s desire to win, and I kind of like it,” he said. “It motivates me and pushes me.” Belen, House said, will appear to be a spread team, but the Eagles haven’t given up on the ground game if that’s what’s required. He likes what he’s got in QB Aragon, a solid thrower. There is speed in this offense, and receivers Hirschfield and Chavez will be utilized frequently. But the Eagles have to replace the stellar Diego Casillas in the backfield, and that will be nearly impossible. House figures the Eagles will rotate several players. Aragon and Chavez at safety spark the defense. A big plus: Belen has several athletes who played in the state final two years ago. That experience should be quite beneficial.
2019 schedule (x-denotes District 5-5A game) Aug. 23, Del Norte, 7 p.m. Aug. 30, at Farmington, 7 p.m. Sept. 6, Artesia, 7 p.m. Sept. 13, Highland, 7 p.m. Sept. 20, Piedra Vista, 7 p.m. Sept. 27, at Roswell, 7 p.m. Oct. 4, at Deming, 7 p.m. x-Oct. 19, at Valley (M), 1 p.m. x-Oct. 25, Valencia, 7 p.m. x-Nov. 2, at Los Lunas, 1 p.m.
Circle the date: Artesia has one visit north, and it’s Week 3 at Belen, which then gets its first major test against a 5A heavyweight.