Demons push for win after 33-game losing streak
Santa Fe High still searching for a way to snap 3-season, 33-game losing streak
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The offseason and preseason for the Santa Fe High football program offer glimmers of hope. About 50 Demons showed up to summer workouts, including 10-15 incoming freshmen. The number grew to 66 players once the school year began — this despite Santa Fe High coming off its third straight winless season and carrying a 33-game losing streak.
Then came the Aug. 15 scrimmage against Class 3A contender West Las Vegas. As good as Demons head coach Andrew Martinez felt the first nine days of practice went, the scrimmage confirmed that this group is still not quite ready for prime time. That was clearly evident on the defensive side. Tackling was sloppy, assignments were missed and the young Demons played timidly against the Dons for much of the 2½-hour workout designed to get teams ready for season openers this weekend.
In a theme that mimicked the struggles of last year’s 0-9 season, Martinez said Santa Fe High’s problem isn’t about how it prepares for games.
“Something happens when the lights go on,” Martinez said, befuddled at how to translate good practices into good execution in games or scrimmages.
But it is the crux of the Demons’ dilemma. A team hungry to shake off their own demons can’t seem to perform when it matters the most. Martinez hopes this week’s worth of practice is good enough to finally pin a W on Santa Fe High’s chest, even though the opening night opponent is Las Vegas
Robertson at Cardinal Field. The Cardinals played in the last three Class 4A championship games and are considered contenders in 3A this year, but Martinez welcomed the challenge.
“Who doesn’t want to go to Robertson and whoop it up?” Martinez said. “I’m like that. You want to go up against a quality team in an environment that will test you physically and emotionally.”
If the win doesn’t happen, then it’s on to Moriarty the next week and Española Valley the week after that. The Demons believe that they will finally break through this season.
“I think there is a really good chance it will happen,” senior quarterback Jackson Cary said. “I’ll be excited to be under center when it happens. It will be awesome.”
Part of the enthusiasm Martinez and the upperclassmen hold is because of the group of sophomores and freshmen. Martinez likes their attitude, which was evident even last year as they practiced with the then-seniors through an 0-9 season.
The underclassmen will be a big part of the Demons’ fate this year. They will make up eight starters on defense and seven on offense.
“These guys are like, ‘I didn’t come here to lose,’ ” Martinez said. “I tell them, ‘That’s great, because neither did I.’ ”
But last week was a prime example of what a young team will encounter. Cary said many of the Demons have not seen varsity play, so there is a steep learning curve in terms of understanding the speed, intensity level and physicality at that level. It took them a while to adapt against the Don, and Cary felt the last half hour of the scrimmage demonstrated that.
“In the moment, they were, like, smacked on their ass,” Cary said. “By the last drive, they tightened up and were used to it more. In practice [after the scrimmage], it felt like the intensity picked up and they started hitting harder and going faster.”
While the younger players are adjusting, the Demons also found that their new-and-improved attitude is attracting other students to come out. Senior Sammy Martinez, a 2017 state wrestling champion, opted to play football, which he hasn’t done since middle school. He is expected to play linebacker and running back
“I missed it,” Martinez said. “I missed it a lot. I regretted not playing, and I was like, ‘Nah, I’m going to do it one more time.’ ”
For the rest of the Demons, they are approaching every game the same way — do it one more time. Cary repeats a phrase that the coaching staff has uttered several times to the players, especially after some of the tough losses last year.
“Water off a duck’s back,” Cary said. “Just keep your head up and work harder on this next play and get this one. Make up for your mistakes and just keep moving.”
And by forging ahead, the Demons hope they can change one thing — losing — for one game.
By doing that, things can’t possibly stay the same, right?