More football teams go independent, just as Demons return to fold

Santa Fe High started a trend — and just when it’s about to leave it.

Last week’s announcement that Albuquerque’s Rio Grande and Albuquerque High were going the independent route for football might have been a surprise to some people around the state. However, it shouldn’t be, considering the history of those two programs.

For the Ravens, they are following the path Santa Fe High set last year when it opted for independence in the midst of what is now a 33-game losing streak. The Ravens are mired in a

37-game losing skid, while the Bulldogs are just four years removed from ending their state-record 43-game streak of “Ls.”

Interestingly, Albuquerque High, which recovered from that horrific period and posted 17 wins since 2014, feels it can’t compete in a district that includes Clovis, Eldorado, La Cueva, Manzano and Sandia. Oh, and Rio Grande. Funny, I thought those excuses were made only for the Rio Rancho schools (and yes, I recognize the 6A champion and runner-up are in the same anticipated district with

the Bulldogs and Ravens).

Still, the underlying issue here is how quickly those schools made the decision to go independent. It’s as if they don’t want to even try and compete. You can make the argument for Rio Grande, especially because of the struggles they have had over the past three-plus seasons.

You can make the argument that it does no good. Ask the Demons.

Santa Fe High opted out of the district format because of low numbers, the risk of injury for younger players and — you guessed it — a lack of wins.

The Demons improved their numbers to 46 players, and they all stuck it out through another frustrating winless season. Of course, their decision to

return to district play was made easier when the program went to 5A (with district mates Capital, Los Alamos and Del Norte), but even Santa Fe High head coach Andrew Martinez admitted by the end of the year the independent route wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be.

Santa Fe High couldn’t get a full 10-game schedule because of the dearth of available teams when the district season began. Losing to 2A Escalante didn’t help morale, and it was already low after an 0-7 record heading into that game. The other thing the Demons lost out on was recognition — specifically all-district and North-South considerations. You won’t find a single Santa Fe

High player on the all-star game roster this summer, and that was because of the team’s absence from a district.

Ultimately, Santa Fe High is back in a district because it needs to compete — for wins, for recognition, for something. The concept of independence, while paved with good intentions, takes away the sense of competitive desire that you find on most football fields. To be playing for something is what kids ultimately want, and they deserve it.

To find a reason to not compete for something as simple as your starting quarterback to get honorable mention all-district is a disservice to them.

It’s also a disservice to the concept of competition.