Freedom’s end means prep season set to begin

Five days of freedom are left. That cold shudder you just felt is the reverberation of every football coach in the state realizing that the fun is over. It’s time for the 2016-17 school year to begin. A week later, the rest of the fall sport coaches (cross-country, volleyball, boys and girls soccer) will share a similar vibe with the first day of practice, but football will ring the warning bell for everybody.

Can it be that the summer came and went like a New Mexico thunderstorm? In a word, yes. So, it’s time to tantalize prep sports fans up North with the looming expectations that come with the preseason. Is Capital the best football program in Santa Fe? For the first time in 10 years, the Jaguars come into the season as the team to beat — at least when it comes to the mythical city championship. Just beat St. Michael’s for once. To take it another step forward, Capital comes in as the team to beat in District 2-5A. While do-everything quarterback Augie Larrañaga is now running track at Adams State College, Mark Segura looks to be in the driver’s seat behind center. However, the Jaguars have talent across the board, from running back J.R. Vargas, receivers Abraham Sanchez and a potential do-everything talent in St. Michael’s transfer Chross Jaramillo.

Will Santa Fe fare better in District 2-6A? In football, the Demons might have a shot at a win, perhaps even in the district. They will find it hard to compete with the likes of Albuquerque Eldorado, Sandia and La Cueva as well as Clovis, but they stand a chance against Manzano. That mantra likely rings true in soccer, but Santa Fe High might be better than the Lady Wildcats and the Lady Monarchs in volleyball and cross-country. So things are looking up for the flagship public school in the city.

What will District 2-4A football look like? Well, let’s put it this way: mark Oct. 22 on your calendar. That is when Las Vegas Robertson comes to St. Michael’s with the 2-4A title on the line. Taos might be a year away from making it a three-team race, but the Horsemen and the Cardinals will reign supreme in the district — and in 4A for that matter — this season.

Can Pecos repeat as Class 3A boys cross-country champ? How about we go with “perhaps” for now. With alignment returning Zuni back to the fold, it makes the class a three-team battle among the Thunderbirds, the Panthers and the Laguna Acoma Hawks. Pecos has the reigning 3A individual champion returning in Julian Garcia and a wealth of talent, but will it be enough?

What about Española Valley in football? Richard Martinez might be the best thing to happen for Jesus Maes. The former Questa head coach took over the Sundevils in July, and it will take some time for he and the team to mesh. Española lost a ton of seniors from last year’s transformative run, so it might take a step back. With most people in The Valley transfixed on the basketball coach, the pressure won’t be on Maes — yet.

Can it be that the summer came and went like a New Mexico thunderstorm? In a word, yes.